kids road bike advice

[carl f]

After watching my 8 year old son suffer for 3 laps at the kids hillingdon duathlon on his heavy old mtb the other day iv'e been looking for a new one for him but they are very expensive!. Anyone know of a good deal to be had or if anyone is selling 2nd hand please let me know
Oh and he didn't come last

[carl f]

how much!
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=34163
There were kids at the hillingdon duathlon racing bikes like this ,one even had mini zipp deep section carbon rims, not that i had parent envy or anything
Decathlon do (or used to) do a kids racing bike but can't see it on the web site

[Jon H]

Could be worth getting in touch with some of the clubs that have a lot of kids as members, and ask if anyone's got anything that's been outgrown.

Sutton CC, VCL, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, Lea Valley CC spring to mind.

Or wait till Crystal Palace starts on Tuesday evenings and ask there (or just mug someone).

[Dombo]

Maybe try islabikes, http://www.islabikes.com/bike_pages/luath26.html

[carl f]

Thanks guys good idea he is a member of the vcl so might take him to the track tomorrow eve and put the word out

[Andrew G]

Lots of kids at VCL so I'd be surprised if you couldn't pick up something 2nd/3rd hand as they've been grown out of.
If you go Jon's route of mugging a kid at Palace then you'll probably get an islabike, a lot of them ride those. Not sure there'd be too many 2nd hand there as most seem to ride a bike "they'll grow in to".

Always ebay too as well as the old fashioned card in a newsagent window, and or the free papers, and or the card in the local Sainsburys/Tescos. Also might be worth chatting up the mums at school as there could be hand-me-down bikes from other kids older siblings that aren't wanted anymore, although this last route may only lead to a similar heavy MTB and get you in trouble with Mrs. F.

[Jon H]

[quote="carl f"]Decathlon do (or used to) do a kids racing bike but can't see it on the web site

[carl f]

Nice one thanks Jon
Prefer to take that route than mugging someone at palace but maybe chatting up the mums could be a good idea