Size bike for an average height 7 or 8 year old.

[wdwfan16]

I want to get my niece and nephew a bike for thier next birthdays. They have never had a bike before so I don't want it to be too large while they are learning to ride but I also don't want it to be too small once they learn.

I see they have 20 inch and then next size is 24 inch. Is a 24 too large? I know that adults are 26 and above, so I am unsure if a 24 inch bike it too large. It seems a 20 inch might be too small.

Since we don't live near them and would have them shipped directly from Walmart, plus our kids are not that old, I an unsure of the size to get.

We will send them once spring arrives.

TIA


ETA: After looking at the bikes I think the 20 inch is the way to go.

Do others agree?

 

[ReneeA]

My 6 year old DD is average size and 16" is just right for her. DS is super tall for 8, and his 20" bike barely fits him (he sits too high off the ground and throws his balance off). He still hauls his 16" bike out all the time to ride so he can keep up with his sister.

 

[dawson5]

we just bought 24's for two of our boys for xmas, they are 12 & 14 (5' and 5'3") The 12 yr old just outgrew the 20. I think they will be alright for a while.

 

[Kit'smommy]

Generally, I would recommend a 20" inch bike for ages 5 to 8 and a 24" bike for ages 7 to 10.

My son will be 6 in a couple of weeks and is 44" tall. He got a nice new Giant back in October and he is fine riding it, but he still can't get himself going. Both of our families are built small and I am sure he will be riding this for another two to three years.

Hope that helps.

 

[mjkacmom]

My 7 year olds ride 16" bikes, and have been riding without training wheels since the age of 4. I think my 8 year old is riding a 16" inch too (again, without training wheels for almost 5 years), but she's short. I don't think the bigger ones even come with training wheels.

One of the tricks to learning to ride without them is to put the child on a bike without them, with the seat lowered enough that the child can easily put his or her feet on the ground, and start off coasting instead of peddling. Riding on hard dirt helps if it's available.

Our rule was no one could go to kindergarten until their training wheels were off (because the earlier they learn, the faster it goes).

Edited to add, don't go with the 20" bikes if they don't know how to ride!

 

[wdwfan16]

Thanks for the replys.

I saw some of the 20 inches say they are for 5-9 year olds and others say 8-12 year olds. If I got the first they would have only 1-2 years but the other could be too big.

When DH and I talked about getting them bikes I thought it would be about a 3 second job. Go to Walmart and pick out the bike. It seems the answer will be harder.

I remember as a kid we would go to the store and sit on the bikes. I would love to do that but it is not possible for us to do this for these two kids.

I am leaning toward the 20 inches in the younger age group.

 

[Kit'smommy]

My DH is a pretty serious roadie and I have riden quite a bit over the years myself. DS learned to ride without training wheels on a 12" Gary Fisher that was already way to small for him. The 16" bikes we looked at fit him perfectly last October, but I am sure we would have been back for a 20" inside of a year.

I would strongly suggest you either visit or call a bike shop that sells higher end bikes (Giants, Specialized, etc) and ask for advice from them. Even if you don't buy from them, most are happy to speak with you and will probably give you the advice you need to make an informed decision.

By the way, I wouldn't go with the 16" bike regardless of whether they know how to ride or not. I think it is just too small. I would probably go with the 20" bikes if they have not riden without training wheels before.

I learned how to ride at the age of 7 (never had training wheels at all) on a 20 inch bike and I was always bottom 25% for height. I only rode it for a couple of years before moving up to a 24 inch.

 

[momsully]

DS8 has a 20 inch bike and it is really getting to be to small for him. We are planning to buy him a 24 inch bike in the spring. DS10 has a 26 inch bike with an extra small frame. This was the best option for him and he has been riding this since his ninth birthday. Eventually he will need a 26 inch bike with a larger frame but this works great for now.

The size that you are quoting is actually the size of the tires. The frame will make a difference in how long the child can actually ride the bike. I agree with the PP to go talk to a bike shop. DH races bikes and both my boys do triathalons and the bike shop is the way to go.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

We just got our kids new bikes for Christmas. DD is an average height 10 yr old....with spider long legs. We got her a 26 inch bike because she had her heart set on a certain bike that they don't make in 24 inch. She can handle it fine but it's probably too big....hopefully she'll grow a bit by summer. DS is 7 and got a 20 inch bike. He's the shortest boy in his class....3rd shortest overall...and his 20 inch is just right. No way he could have had bigger though.

 

[5lilfish]

My DD turns 10 next month. This past summer she was still very comfortable on her 20 inch bike. Her older sister has a 24 inch bike and there is no way she would have been able to ride it safely. She has very good balance and coordination (taught herself to ride a 12 inch bike at 4 yrs old) but she was just too small to handle her sister's bike.

Jess

 

[stego]

reflecting back and looking through the years with my son. Went from 10 to 12 to 16 to 20 to 24 to 26. He's now 14 and riding a 29'er. Yup, like the PP stated: it's the wheel size.

The standard rule is to get what fits. I distinctly remember one Christmas he went out and was just a tiny bit scared but within 15 minutes he just took to it. I've encouraged him ever since he was so little to just get on and ride.

It took way longer with clipless pedals. We went through a phase and he just wouldn't do that. I had to take them back off until he said: I'm ready. Now he's been using clipless for years.

My niece last year got a new bike for her birthday/xmas. When her dad rolled out the bike, she tried to get on and I could tell instantly it was way too big. She was scared and unsure. I kept my big fat mouth shut but remarked to my wife later: my brother cheaped out on 75 dollar wally special. This is a man with a 88k M5 that he NEVER drives in his garage.

So today's lesson: buy what fits for the child. So yeah, they'll outgrow it soon but the important thing is that they get on and ride. Most of the bikes we've just taken after he's outgrown and donated to kids who don't have anything. My son rides everywhere. He's been racing on the TX cup circuit and I am hopeful it will be something he will continue on into his adult years.

 

[mjkacmom]

DISREGARD MY FIRST ANSWER! LOL! Duh, my 7 year olds are on their third bike, and they are 20" bikes, not 16." Again, dd8 (almost 9) has this size, too, but she's only 50" tall, and it's her sister's hand-me-down.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Bikes are not like pants. Pants you should buy with a bit of room to grow, not the same with bikes.

My dd 11 broke her arm last spring because she rode my "way too big for her" to school, tried to stop but couldn't reach the ground with her feet and fell over instead.

Way easier to learn to ride on a too smal bike than a too large bike.

 

[mjkacmom]

Bikes are not like pants. Pants you should buy with a bit of room to grow, not the same with bikes.

My dd 11 broke her arm last spring because she rode my "way too big for her" to school, tried to stop but couldn't reach the ground with her feet and fell over instead.

Way easier to learn to ride on a too smal bike than a too large bike.

My kids who learned the earliest started with a 10" - we called it the clown bike! They could coast, plus their knees were bent when their feet were on the ground, it was that small. I think it's best to learn on a bike that's too small.

 

[John VN]

DW and I had a bike store. We sold Schwinn and other bikes and I will say that for the ages you mentioned, most often a 20" wheel bike would be fine. There are cases where a child could be tall or short but without proper fitting at the store or having an inseam measurement it is hard to judge over the Internet.

This 60yo just got back from a wonderful 65 mile ride this morning so you might be starting them on something that will continue for years.

 

[KiminChicago]

Is it possible for you to get their inseam measurements? Then you could measure the bike from the ground to the seat (in its lowest position) and pick the one that would fit the best. That way you'd know that the kids could put their feet down on the ground and, since the seats are starting out in the lowest position, you'll know that there is at least a couple of inches of growth in them.

 

[wdwfan16]

I did not think of the inseam measurement. That I can get and will then use to measure the bikes. I will go to the store to measure the bikes and then order online. Since I have to ship the bikes I want to buy online.