next option for a young rider.

RB 24

RB 24

Likes Dirt
Hi everyone.

firstly forgive the silly questions as we are new to 'big wheels' coming from a race bmx scene.

My son aged 11 and around 140cm tall is doing triathlons and he is currently on a 2011 Felt F95 48cm. Great little bike for him so far.

His coach has recommended he stay off a TT or Tri orientated bike as the geo is too aggressive so I understand that.

Was wondering whats a good complete next to get. Looking for something with min Ultegra or Sram stuff (although not sure which is the more better). Whats good wheels? Whats better option less carbon better running gear?

was thinking of spending around the $2000 mark or isnt that enough?

thanks in advance.
 
pistonbroke said:
Maybe try asking him what he likes? And who has a tri coach at 11?
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thanks for the lack of input tiger. :p

I have asked him and the rest of the team he trains with rides Giants.

and as for a coach.... is it any different from someone who gets taught how to play piano or a football coach?
 
RB 24 said:
I have asked him and the rest of the team he trains with rides Giants.

and as for a coach.... is it any different from someone who gets taught how to play piano or a football coach?
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Then buy a Giant. No seriously, they're good, they're cheap and they handle well. Probably stick with something out of their 'comfort' range like a Defy or an OCR as the geo is a bit more stable than their out and out racers like the TCR.

But to be brutally honesty it doesn't matter what he rides he's only going to out grow it in a year or so anyway. Better get a crappy bike that fits him than a nice one that doesn't. Some companies even make 24" road bikes for the juniors, no idea who though, you'd have to google it.

As for the coach, pfft, you don't need a coach at 11, just tell him to ride his bike when he wants to, go for a run when he wants to and take him down to the pool a few times a week. I didn't get a coach till I was 17 and I didn't do too bad.
 
Cool. I was wondering why the giants are so popular. I agree and understand that buying a bike will have a timeline. Same as his race BMX. Kids grow. Just means I can buy more stuff! He has a 24" cruiser and used that for a bit of training and when the shop had the felt we figured it would be better for him.

How is it though a 48 cm felt is smaller than a 43 cm giant specs wise? I thought cm was cm in where they are measured. Bit odd.

The coach thing is something that is new to us. As mentioned we come from BMX racing and he and his brother had a coach in that. So when he was asked to try out for the triathlon squad it went with the coach and the lessons etc.

As long as he is having fun and meeting new friends that's cool with us. Sure beats him playing x box or tv and stuff.
 
RB 24 said:
How is it though a 48 cm felt is smaller than a 43 cm giant specs wise?
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Because some companies use a traditional frame design while others will use a compact or sloping design and it's usually the seat tube that's measured to give a size. The top tube is the most important measurement as it's the least adjustable, you've only got 40mm or so to play with by changing stems, as opposed to 250mm with a seatpost.

Giant- ST- 430mm TT- 520mm
Felt- ST- 480mm TT- 510mm
BMC- ST- 470mm TT- 520mm

Unfortunately there is no standard for measuring bikes, just keep an eye on the Top tube measurements, shouldn't be a problem coming from a BMX background.

As for the coach, BMX and Violin are very skills dependent and definately need a coach, like wise for footy and soccer. While the coach will do some fitness work they will focus primarily on skills, teamwork etc.. Tri on the other hand is very fitness dependent and IMO kids don't benefit from a strict coaching regime. Maybe a swim coach once or twice a week for a bit of technique but that's all I'd go for. If he's motivated and it sounds like he is, just let he loose and let him have some fun. The more fun he has the more he'll want to get out and ride and run. A strict training regime is a sure fire way for a kid to get bored. Kids have a knack of finding their limits doing what their body needs. I wasn't too far off 2hrs for an Olympic distance race before I got a coach and that was only because I was always riding my bike and running because I was having so much fun.
 
I noticed the TT was different yet with the BMX scene the TT us the main thing then the chain stay length. I thought road bikes had a bit more intrigue! Lol

I asked his coach tonight what he thinks would be a good next bike. He suggested a giant ( although biased as he is sponsored by them) yet everyone reckons they are a great bike in the squad. I was more so asking what's a good complete as I did a search on bike exchange and all sorts of brands came up. Some I knew others I didn't.
We are very lucky I think to have the coach who understands that training is to be made fun and enjoyable and he doesn't flog him week in week out. The biggest thing we have noticed that even being a solo sport like BMX the support within the squad and generally everywhere has been great.

Oh and road cycling/ tri is light years ahead of where BMX is at the moment. Leaving us that ride kids bikes to shame. :(

Your answers and response ha been really appreciated and I thank you for your input.

Cheers.
 
RB 24 said:
suggested a giant ( although biased as he is sponsored by them) yet everyone reckons they are a great bike in the squad.
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Let me put it this way, my roadie is a BMC SLC, same thing Cadel Evans was riding 2 seasons ago and I wouldn't be upset if I had to ride a Giant.
 
0psi said:
Let me put it this way, my roadie is a BMC SLC, same thing Cadel Evans was riding 2 seasons ago and I wouldn't be upset if I had to ride a Giant.
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hey that means heaps. Thanks for the heads up. A question though... how do the cheaper Pinnarello stack up against say a Giant TCR or a EMC2?

makes the youngest boys new bmx frame choice easy now after learning heaps here!
 
I'd buy a Giant over a cheap Pinna anyday, you'll get a lot more bang for your buck. With Pinna you pay for the brand whose reputation is built on their top end bikes, the low end models are nothing special.

EMC seem like reasonable value and I've only heard good things but don't have much first hand experience apart from slinging a wrench at one so I can't comment too much but they seem good.

And I'd steer towards the Defy over the TCR as they are a bit more forgiving and comfortable. Full on Racers can be a bit nervous which probably isn't the best for a young fella. The Alloy Defy has a RRP of about $1500 and the Carbon about $2500.
 
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Having gone through this with one of my own kids I'd recommend good quality second-hand over new. I often sold out grown bikes a year later for a price similar to what I’d bought them for. We went from 48 to 50 to 52 to 55 in 3 years! He now rides a 58.

My other recommendation would be to join your local track cycling club. Many have great junior programs. The UCI set gearing levels for the junior age divisions which teaches the kids to spin properly. Cycling clubs with strong juniors (like LACC in Sydney) are also a great source of small second hand bikes and sometimes also have loan bikes you can use for a season.
 
I ride a 43cm/XS Giant TCR2. It's a 2005 model. For a comparison, I'm 160cm, and after much experimentation over the years, it's just right for me with an 80mm stem.

Over the past 6 years I've made a few changes that might be helpful for a junior, smaller, or less powerful rider. Most of these changes are becoming "standard" now, but weren't really around in 2005.

1. compact cranks (a 50/34 up front, rather than a 53/39).

2. a bigger rear cassette (11-28, rather than 11-25). For me, I needed lower gears - there was no way I could comfortably spin a 39/25 low gear up any decent hill. And a 53/11 at the top? In my dreams!

3. shallow reach and drop handlebars. The smallest I've seen have a reach (forward bend to the brake/shifter hoods) of 75-80mm, and a 120mm drop. They're much more common nowadays. Much more useful than the massive bars that came with my bike - I can actually reach and use the drops now!

4. 2005 Ultegra had quite a long reach to the actual brake/shift levers. I bought some Specialized BG shims that angled the levers so that they were closer to the handlebars. That being said, I had a play with current Ultegra and the reach was noticeably more comfortable without shims. Some groupsets (?SRAM) have adjustable lever positions.

I would think that the XS/43cm Giant would be fine until your boy was at least 165cm, and perhaps more with a longer stem.
 
slowK said:
I ride a 43cm/XS Giant TCR2. It's a 2005 model. For a comparison, I'm 160cm, and after much experimentation over the years, it's just right for me with an 80mm stem.

Over the past 6 years I've made a few changes that might be helpful for a junior, smaller, or less powerful rider. Most of these changes are becoming "standard" now, but weren't really around in 2005.

1. compact cranks (a 50/34 up front, rather than a 53/39).

2. a bigger rear cassette (11-28, rather than 11-25). For me, I needed lower gears - there was no way I could comfortably spin a 39/25 low gear up any decent hill. And a 53/11 at the top? In my dreams!

3. shallow reach and drop handlebars. The smallest I've seen have a reach (forward bend to the brake/shifter hoods) of 75-80mm, and a 120mm drop. They're much more common nowadays. Much more useful than the massive bars that came with my bike - I can actually reach and use the drops now!

4. 2005 Ultegra had quite a long reach to the actual brake/shift levers. I bought some Specialized BG shims that angled the levers so that they were closer to the handlebars. That being said, I had a play with current Ultegra and the reach was noticeably more comfortable without shims. Some groupsets (?SRAM) have adjustable lever positions.

I would think that the XS/43cm Giant would be fine until your boy was at least 165cm, and perhaps more with a longer stem.
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fantastic advice.. Thanks guys I appreciate all this input. If I go into a shop with a partial idea I can go in with the mind set not to be sold a bike just for a sale.. although it appears that most good bike shops that sell road bikes dont run like that.

We have queried and hope to join the local Casey cycling club.

Thanks again.
 
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