It's no wonder kids don't cycle



In article <1ibg84w.chzaeh1ytjmf6N%
[email protected]>, Ekul Namsob
[email protected] says...
> Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > On 28/01/2008 20:36, Ekul Namsob wrote:
> > > Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >>And if a parent wants to ask a question before buying one they don't
> > >>seem to answer e-mails :-(
> > >
> > > I'm surprised. They responded swiftly to the emails I sent them in
> > > November. My daughter is now exceedingly happy with her Beinn 20"
> >
> > I sent one 3 weeks ago and haven't had a response. Perhaps I should try
> > resending it, otherwise I'll have to get round to phoning them. It's
> > reassuring that at least 3 urc regulars have received prompt responses.
> >
> > One of the things I wanted to know was how far in advance I might need
> > to order. My son's birthday is at the beginning of April.
>
> It's often useful to remember that email is perhaps the least useful
> means of ensuring the delivery of a message.
>
Good old-fashioned FAX is still the best in many cases - you do still
have that old dialup modem, don't you? :)
 
David Martin said the following on 28/01/2008 15:45:

> Do you have his email address? I could do with a new anchor for the
> boat.

I hope this is a decent sized boat :)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/
 
On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:44:25 -0000, Rob Morley <[email protected]>
wrote:

>In article <1ibg84w.chzaeh1ytjmf6N%
>[email protected]>, Ekul Namsob
>[email protected] says...
>> Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> > On 28/01/2008 20:36, Ekul Namsob wrote:
>> > > Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
>> > >>And if a parent wants to ask a question before buying one they don't
>> > >>seem to answer e-mails :-(
>> > >
>> > > I'm surprised. They responded swiftly to the emails I sent them in
>> > > November. My daughter is now exceedingly happy with her Beinn 20"
>> >
>> > I sent one 3 weeks ago and haven't had a response. Perhaps I should try
>> > resending it, otherwise I'll have to get round to phoning them. It's
>> > reassuring that at least 3 urc regulars have received prompt responses.
>> >
>> > One of the things I wanted to know was how far in advance I might need
>> > to order. My son's birthday is at the beginning of April.
>>
>> It's often useful to remember that email is perhaps the least useful
>> means of ensuring the delivery of a message.
>>
>Good old-fashioned FAX is still the best in many cases - you do still
>have that old dialup modem, don't you? :)

Isla doesn't have a fax machine!

His email may have ended up in Isla's spam folder. With her email on
the Web, it is highly likely that Isla suffers from being spammed, and
no filters are 100% reliable.
 
On Mon, 28 Jan 2008, Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> One of the things I wanted to know was how far in advance I might need
> to order. My son's birthday is at the beginning of April.

In the run-up to christmas, it was about a week - but they may have
had stock and staff built up especially.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|
 
On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:14:25 +0000, Tom Crispin
<[email protected]> wrote:

>The poor quality of children's bikes is a major concern of mine. It
>is virtually impossible to buy a simple dimond frame child's bikes in
>LBSs, certainly for children aged 7 - 13. Islabikes are superb, but
>the price is beyond the range of most parents (though the same parents
>seem quite happy to spend twice as much on a games' console for their
>child).

I couldn't agree more. I have spent ages looking for suitable bikes
for my kids. After buying a BSO for my oldest, which he never rides I
have decided that it is impossible to get a decent child's bike for a
reasonable cost. All the LBSs and Halfords only seem sell bikes with
full suspension and too many gears for kids. Combined this with
frames that weigh a ton. Why can't they make simpler bikes with 5
gears and brakes that work?

(And no, I haven't bought my kids a games console, despite the nagging
I get.)

>On another note, when I was in China at Christmas I bought two
>children's bikes, one for my 5 year old neice and one for my three
>year old nephew. They are both half Chinese and live in China. The
>two bikes cost a grand total of £19, including bells, baskets,
>mudguards and racks.

Get me a few next time you're there ;-)

M.
 
On 28 Jan 2008 20:40:31 GMT, Ian Smith <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Mon, 28 Jan, Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On 28/01/2008 07:14, Tom Crispin wrote:
>
>> > Islabikes are superb, but the price is beyond the range of most
>> > parents
>>
>> And if a parent wants to ask a question before buying one they don't
>> seem to answer e-mails :-(
>
>Strange - they answered mine. I sent it 11:30 am on a Saturday, had
>an answer just before 12:45 the same day (from Isla Rowntree). I
>subsequently spoke on the telephone twice on Monday morning (once to
>Isla, once to someone else) and ordered Monday afternoon.
>
>Daughter is very happy with the bike too.
>
>As has been noted, the price is a little more than a basic childs
>bike, but I don't think it's actually beyond the range of most parents
>- it is within the price range of other toys / hobbies / recreational
>gear. The Cnoc 16 is 123 quid (110 if you don't want mudguards) - but
>a Raleigh 16" girls bikes are not much cheaper - 'Kool Miss' is 95,
>and a 'Molly' is 100.

For older children their offerings get much more expensive - the Beinn
24 & 26 are £200 and £250 respectively and mudguards are extra. That's
too expensive for me. (My bike, which I commute to work on every day,
only cost a little more.) I'm not saying they are not good bikes. I
have never seen one. I just wish there was something in between the
BSO and these. There used to be.

>A Nintendo Wii is apparently more than twice the price, and most
>parents seem to think that's affordable...

Not me.

M.
 
Mark writtificated

> For older children their offerings get much more expensive - the Beinn
> 24 & 26 are œ200 and œ250 respectively and mudguards are extra. That's
> too expensive for me. (My bike, which I commute to work on every day,
> only cost a little more.) I'm not saying they are not good bikes. I
> have never seen one. I just wish there was something in between the
> BSO and these. There used to be.

According to EBC wot where I worked for a bit, no one wants the something-
in-between. Quite why they thought this I'm not sure, 'cos loads of the
customers wanted something similar to a 24" wheel version of their Courier
- that would have been the perfect something-in-between.

I mentioned it to the Boss and the Bigger Boss but they didn't agree. What
does someone who spent all day listening to the customers know about what
the customers want? :-/
 
Quoting Ian Smith <[email protected]>:
>A Nintendo Wii is apparently more than twice the price, and most
>parents seem to think that's affordable...

Well, you can't play with your sprog's tiny bicycle...
--
David Damerell <[email protected]> Kill the tomato!
Today is Stilday, January - a weekend.
 
Mark T
<pleasegivegenerously@warmail*turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com.invalid>
wrote:

> Mark writtificated
>
> > For older children their offerings get much more expensive - the Beinn
> > 24 & 26 are ˛200 and ˛250 respectively and mudguards are extra. That's
> > too expensive for me. (My bike, which I commute to work on every day,
> > only cost a little more.) I'm not saying they are not good bikes. I
> > have never seen one. I just wish there was something in between the
> > BSO and these. There used to be.
>
> According to EBC wot where I worked for a bit, no one wants the something-
> in-between. Quite why they thought this I'm not sure, 'cos loads of the
> customers wanted something similar to a 24" wheel version of their Courier
> - that would have been the perfect something-in-between.

I wonder whether the problem is that it would cost no less to build a
24" Courier than it would to build a full-size Courier? By that point,
one is firmly into Islabike territory, as far as pricing is concerned.

Cheers,
Luke


--
Red Rose Ramblings, the diary of an Essex boy in
exile in Lancashire <http://www.shrimper.org.uk>
 
On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:56:41 +0000, Mark
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On 28 Jan 2008 20:40:31 GMT, Ian Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 28 Jan, Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> On 28/01/2008 07:14, Tom Crispin wrote:
>>
>>> > Islabikes are superb, but the price is beyond the range of most
>>> > parents
>>>
>>> And if a parent wants to ask a question before buying one they don't
>>> seem to answer e-mails :-(
>>
>>Strange - they answered mine. I sent it 11:30 am on a Saturday, had
>>an answer just before 12:45 the same day (from Isla Rowntree). I
>>subsequently spoke on the telephone twice on Monday morning (once to
>>Isla, once to someone else) and ordered Monday afternoon.
>>
>>Daughter is very happy with the bike too.
>>
>>As has been noted, the price is a little more than a basic childs
>>bike, but I don't think it's actually beyond the range of most parents
>>- it is within the price range of other toys / hobbies / recreational
>>gear. The Cnoc 16 is 123 quid (110 if you don't want mudguards) - but
>>a Raleigh 16" girls bikes are not much cheaper - 'Kool Miss' is 95,
>>and a 'Molly' is 100.
>
>For older children their offerings get much more expensive - the Beinn
>24 & 26 are £200 and £250 respectively and mudguards are extra. That's
>too expensive for me. (My bike, which I commute to work on every day,
>only cost a little more.) I'm not saying they are not good bikes. I
>have never seen one. I just wish there was something in between the
>BSO and these. There used to be.

These seem to be pretty good, suitable for girls and boys:
http://www.raleigh.co.uk/bikedetails.aspx?ID=1047

I have, in the past, has problems with the wheel bearings go on
Raleigh bikes, but they offer excellent service, and sent me a new
wheel.

Islabikes also take back bikes children have grown out of. It may be
worth emailing them and asking if they have any secondhand bikes
available for sale. Let us know how quickly you get a response.

>>A Nintendo Wii is apparently more than twice the price, and most
>>parents seem to think that's affordable...
>
>Not me.
>
>M.
 
On 29 Jan 2008, David Damerell <[email protected]> wrote:
> Quoting Ian Smith <[email protected]>:
> >A Nintendo Wii is apparently more than twice the price, and most
> >parents seem to think that's affordable...
>
> Well, you can't play with your sprog's tiny bicycle...

Actually, I can ride it faster than she can run.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|
 
On 28/01/2008 23:07, Ekul Namsob wrote:
> It's often useful to remember that email is perhaps the least useful
> means of ensuring the delivery of a message.

I never forget.

Prompt reply this time, anyway, answering all my questions.

--
Danny Colyer <http://www.redpedals.co.uk>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"The plural of anecdote is not data" - Frank Kotsonis
 
Tim Woodall wrote:
> A couple of weeks ago I acquired a kids bike in the front garden. I rang
> up the police to tell them and left it there.
>
> It was still there today so I took it to the police station (where I was
> told to take it) and then on to the tip (because the police station
> didn't know why I'd been told to take it to them and I should just get
> rid of it)
>
> But I couldn't believe it when I picked it up. I did't weigh it but it
> must have been 11-13kg - around the weight of my Brompton when the front
> pannier is on it. I don't know how much kids weigh but I wouldn't be too
> surprised if the bike was heavier than the kid that was supposed to ride
> it.

We bought the best bike we could for our 4-year old. It still weighs
more than my commuting bike.
 
In article <[email protected]>, Ian Smith
[email protected] says...
> On 29 Jan 2008, David Damerell <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Quoting Ian Smith <[email protected]>:
> > >A Nintendo Wii is apparently more than twice the price, and most
> > >parents seem to think that's affordable...
> >
> > Well, you can't play with your sprog's tiny bicycle...
>
> Actually, I can ride it faster than she can run.
>
*******. :)
 
In article <[email protected]>, Tom Crispin
[email protected]e says...
> On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:44:25 -0000, Rob Morley <[email protected]>
> wrote:

> >Good old-fashioned FAX is still the best in many cases - you do still
> >have that old dialup modem, don't you? :)
>
> Isla doesn't have a fax machine!
>
Then she should go to Freecycle and get herself one. :)
 
On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:04:39 +0000, Tom Crispin
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:56:41 +0000, Mark
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>On 28 Jan 2008 20:40:31 GMT, Ian Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>On Mon, 28 Jan, Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> On 28/01/2008 07:14, Tom Crispin wrote:
>>>
>>>> > Islabikes are superb, but the price is beyond the range of most
>>>> > parents
>>>>
>>>> And if a parent wants to ask a question before buying one they don't
>>>> seem to answer e-mails :-(
>>>
>>>Strange - they answered mine. I sent it 11:30 am on a Saturday, had
>>>an answer just before 12:45 the same day (from Isla Rowntree). I
>>>subsequently spoke on the telephone twice on Monday morning (once to
>>>Isla, once to someone else) and ordered Monday afternoon.
>>>
>>>Daughter is very happy with the bike too.
>>>
>>>As has been noted, the price is a little more than a basic childs
>>>bike, but I don't think it's actually beyond the range of most parents
>>>- it is within the price range of other toys / hobbies / recreational
>>>gear. The Cnoc 16 is 123 quid (110 if you don't want mudguards) - but
>>>a Raleigh 16" girls bikes are not much cheaper - 'Kool Miss' is 95,
>>>and a 'Molly' is 100.
>>
>>For older children their offerings get much more expensive - the Beinn
>>24 & 26 are £200 and £250 respectively and mudguards are extra. That's
>>too expensive for me. (My bike, which I commute to work on every day,
>>only cost a little more.) I'm not saying they are not good bikes. I
>>have never seen one. I just wish there was something in between the
>>BSO and these. There used to be.
>
>These seem to be pretty good, suitable for girls and boys:
>http://www.raleigh.co.uk/bikedetails.aspx?ID=1047

They do look a lot better. I never found that one when I was
searching before and I have not seen any in the shops.

>I have, in the past, has problems with the wheel bearings go on
>Raleigh bikes, but they offer excellent service, and sent me a new
>wheel.
>
>Islabikes also take back bikes children have grown out of. It may be
>worth emailing them and asking if they have any secondhand bikes
>available for sale. Let us know how quickly you get a response.

I have just bought an older secondhand bike but I'll give them a try.

M.
 
On Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:45:50 -0000, Rob Morley <[email protected]>
wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>, Tom Crispin
>[email protected] says...
>> On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:44:25 -0000, Rob Morley <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>
>> >Good old-fashioned FAX is still the best in many cases - you do still
>> >have that old dialup modem, don't you? :)
>>
>> Isla doesn't have a fax machine!
>>
>Then she should go to Freecycle and get herself one. :)

Electronic mail is more environmentally friendly.
 
On Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:22:06 -0000, Rob Morley <[email protected]>
wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>, Zog The Undeniable
>[email protected] says...
>
>> We bought the best bike we could for our 4-year old. It still weighs
>> more than my commuting bike.
>>
>Islabikes Cnoc 16?

Puky bikes are possibly better than Islabikes for children that age.
www.amba-marketing.com/products.php?cid=24&pid=147



And how about this for a 24" children's bike?
www.amba-marketing.com/products.php?cid=24&pid=695
7 hub gears with back pedal brake and hub dynamo.

The price hasn't been released yet, but I reckon it'll be over £300.
 
On 30/01/2008 20:28, Tom Crispin wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:22:06 -0000, Rob Morley <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>>In article <[email protected]>, Zog The Undeniable
>>[email protected] says...
>>
>>>We bought the best bike we could for our 4-year old. It still weighs
>>>more than my commuting bike.
>>
>>Islabikes Cnoc 16?
>
> Puky bikes are possibly better than Islabikes for children that age.
> www.amba-marketing.com/products.php?cid=24&pid=147

I would dispute that simply because Puky bikes are significantly heavier.

When I was looking at bikes for my then-4-yo daughter, it came down to a
choice between the Islabikes CNOC 14 and the Puky Z2. I felt that the
Islabikes was technically the better bike, but more important as far as
she was concerned was that the Puky was available in pink and had a flag
on the front:
<http://www.redpedals.co.uk/jenny/0206-0706.html>

My soon-to-be-4-yo son has been shown both bikes, including all of the
colour schemes available from Puky, and much prefers the look of the
Islabikes. He comes up to me when I'm using the computer and asks to
see the bike that he's getting for his birthday. So, he'll be getting
either the CNOC 14 or the CNOC 16, depending on how much he grows over
the next few weeks (when I measured his inside leg 3 weeks ago he was
2cm short of the minimum for the CNOC 16).

So, later in the year, I'll be able to make a direct comparison between
Islabikes and Puky.

--
Danny Colyer <http://www.redpedals.co.uk>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"The plural of anecdote is not data" - Frank Kotsonis
 
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