Which bike for an 11-year-old - 24 inches?

Hi,

I’ve browsed the forum but can’t find an answer to my question: Which brand offers bikes suitable for bike touring for an 11-year-old / 140 cm tall? The D4 range is really limited... We’re looking at covering about 50/60 km max per day.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Hi, I’ve never had to look for this kind of thing before, but in my opinion, Decathlon is the last place you should buy a bike—especially if you’re looking for something a bit out of the ordinary. If I were you, I’d look for a second-hand bike that belonged to a kid who was part of a cycling club. By changing the gear ratios, it should make a great bike that meets your criteria.

Hi, Faced with the same issue as you, I turned to the Frog brand. They make bikes that are really well-suited for kids. They’re pricier than a Decathlon bike, but you can find them on Leboncoin. My daughter’s 24-inch bike weighs the same as her old 20-inch D4 bike. We’re really happy with it! See ya,

For example, this one:

https://www.troc-velo.com/fr-fr/annonce/velo-route-enfant-24-pouces-3896372

Or this one, which is a great bike just a little bigger:

https://www.troc-velo.com/fr-fr/annonce/course-enfant-3870739

You can also check out the Austrian brand Woom. My kids loved using a Woom 5—it’s a simple, lightweight bike that’s perfect for travel (we did a 6,000 km trip across Europe without any issues, just a worn-out tire to replace...). For kids over 1.40m, the Woom 6 would probably be a better fit, as the Woom 5 will quickly become too small. Their customer service is great—I contacted them for a couple of minor things, and they were always super responsive. Like Frog bikes, they’re pricier than entry-level options, but the quality is there, and they hold their value well when reselling. For kids more than adults, I think weight is a key factor to consider! You’ll also find plenty of info on the Velotaf forum / child commuting bike category.

Hi Wegg

Thanks for your advice; I’ve decided I won’t go to the big chain store—their product doesn’t meet my needs—but I don’t think I’ll adapt a second-hand bike either (I’m not knowledgeable enough, don’t have the time, or the skills to change the gearing; plus, the stem needs to be adjustable). I’ll probably go for a ready-made WROOM 6 (though it’s a bit pricey), like Kik59 suggested. Thanks anyway!

Thanks Cipolin

I’ll follow the advice and avoid the big chain store; the Frog bikes seem good, but I don’t think their stems are adjustable. I’ll check out Wroom as Kik59 suggested. Thanks anyway!

Hi Kik59

The WROOM bikes are pretty good. The adjustable stem is great—it adapts as your child grows and allows for a less hunched position on the handlebars. The downside is the price, but it *is* an investment before resale... Thanks for the tip!

Hi, For our 11-year-old son, we bought the Ridgeback Dimension 24-inch. It’s sold at Cyclable for 500 €, but we found it on Leboncoin after an intensive search (and at worst, it resells really well second-hand). This bike is very lightweight and perfect for his small build. He was able to easily carry his two rear panniers and a handlebar bag for several months. We also have the 20-inch model, which we kept for his little brother since it held up well after multiple trips. Have a great day