Ridgeback Dimension 20 Review: How it coped with 850km of family cycle touring

The Ridgeback range has recently had a complete overhaul, and the Dimension 20 is the premium option in their first geared kids' bike line-up.

Aimed at children aged 5.5 to 8.5 years old (roughly 112 to 130cm tall), the Ridgeback Dimension 20 is designed for young riders making the step up from a single speed bike to gears, and from shorter rides to bigger adventures.

At £349.99, it's not the cheapest 20 inch geared bike on the market but when we brought the Ridgeback Dimension 20 into Cycle Sprog HQ for a first look we liked what we saw out of the box.

However the real test of any children's bike is what happens once it's ridden day after day, in all weathers, by a young rider.

So we handed the bike over to one of our review families, who took it on a six-week cycle touring adventure across Denmark, Germany and Belgium, covering roughly 850km of tarmac, gravel and grass along the way. Here's what they found.

Disclosure: Madison, the distributors of Ridgeback Bikes, paid Cycle Sprog to write a first impressions review of the Ridgeback Dimension 20 when it first arrived at Cycle Sprog HQ. We were not paid to write a positive review. This article has now been updated free of charge, after one of our review families used the bike as part of their everyday family cycling. All opinions in this updated review are our own and unaffected by payment. We do use affiliate links, so may earn a small commission if you buy through the links on this page, which helps fund the website.

About Ridgeback Bikes

Ridgeback has been building bikes since 1983, when it produced some of the first mass-market mountain bikes sold in the UK.

Over 40 years on, it's a well-established name that's part of the same group behind brands such as Genesis, Saracen, Freewheel and Madison.

The Dimension 20 is part of Ridgeback's newly redesigned children's range, launched earlier in 2026.

About our reviewers

Robyn, age 6, lives with her parents and younger brother Harry.

The family are keen cyclists who enjoy touring, gravel riding, road cycling and mountain biking together, and started riding as a family when Robyn was born so they could keep adventuring with a trailer in tow.

Robyn came to the Ridgeback Dimension 20 from a Yomo 20, already a confident pedaller who could climb gentle hills and handle gravel and rougher terrain.

The family were about to embark on a month long bikepacking holiday with the intention on using it both solo and with a FollowMe tandem (to allow her parents to pull her along behind their bike when needed).

Out of the box: our first look at the Dimension 20

Straight out of the box, the Ridgeback Dimension 20 makes a strong visual impression.

Our test bike came in a deep teal metallic finish called Bengal Blue, nicely matched to beige-wall tyres with a reflective trim.

The frame construction is good, with clean welds throughout, and the Ridgeback branding is understated, a gunmetal grey logo on the down tube and an "R" on the forks and head tube, rather than anything too shouty.

One of the first things we noticed was the frame's low standover height, which makes it easier and safer for a child to get on and off, especially if they're still building confidence. 

The seatpost also drops lower than some other 20” wheel bikes we’ve tested, which gives us confidence that the bike should comfortably suit children at the bottom of the height range.

Setup of the bike was simple, and the gears worked well from the first turn of the pedals, shifting quickly and smoothly. 

The bike has 7 gears, with a single ring at the front, which we always like to see on a children's 20 inch wheel bike. It means they only have to learn to use one gear lever, which makes things so much easier than a bike with too many gears that require changing with both hands. 

There's a protective cage around the rear gear mechanism, which should help it survive the inevitable bumps and knocks of being a child's bike, and a graphic on the top tube that looks like it may help protect from scuffs as little legs swing over the frame.

We were pleased to see mounting points for a bottle cage, rack and mudguards so parents can kit the bike out as needed.

The wheels ran smoothly straight away, with no play or roughness in the hubs, and the Shimano rear hub, derailleur and cassette all point to genuinely good quality components for this price point, not just budget parts with a premium badge.

The saddle is Madison branded, with a reinforced plastic moulding at the base to protect it from scuffs, and a tougher covering on the outer faces to help it survive being propped against walls and fences, which anyone with a young cyclist will know happens a lot.

Two features on the Ridgeback Dimension 20 are aimed at helping smaller riders build confidence and control: the brake levers are reach adjustable using an Allen key, so they can be brought closer to smaller hands, and the handlebar grips are a narrower diameter than you'd find on an adult bike, again to help little hands reach and grip the brakes properly.

What was our 6 year old reviewer’s first impressions of the Ridgeback Dimension 20?

"Wow, I love the colour," was Robyn's reaction on seeing the bike for the first time. 

Her Dad, Dan, was equally impressed, particularly liking the tan-coloured tyre sidewalls and the protective cage around the rear gear mechanism.

Is the Ridgeback Dimension 20 a good fit for a six year old?

Robyn is 122.5cm tall with a 54cm inside leg measurement, comfortably within the Dimension 20's 112cm to 130cm height range.

She started out on the lowest saddle setting, but after a couple of weeks of riding was persuaded to try it higher, eventually settling at around a quarter of the way up the seatpost, where she remained for the rest of the review period.

Ridgeback describes the Dimension 20's frame as "lowered," making it easier for a child to get on and off.

Dan didn't notice a particular difference for Robyn, who is roughly in the middle of the bike's height range, but felt this feature would likely make more of a difference to a child closer to the minimum height, based on comparing it to how his younger son Harry (with a 46.5cm inside leg) stands over the frame.

How did the Ridgeback Dimension 20 perform on gears and hills?

Robyn's previous bike, the Yomo 20, was also geared, so the Dimension 20 wasn't her first experience of changing gear. Even so, Dan felt it would suit a genuine first-timer well too.

The bike uses a Shimano thumb shifter, operated with one thumb rather than a twisting handlebar grip shifter, and Dan was full of praise for it: "I think thumb shifters should be mandatory on all kids bikes. Really easy to use and read which gear she is in."

Editors note:  It’s worth pointing out that thumb shifters aren’t great for kids who have weak thumb joints or are double jointed, so finding the best gear changing mechanism for your child is important.

Over the six weeks, Robyn made good progress in understanding when to change gear for changing terrain, though Dan noted this is still very much a work in progress: "We're definitely getting there. Actually setting in advance of the terrain change isn't quite there, but the rest of this is going well. The gears help her to shift up and down when her speed of pedalling (cadance) changes." 

Crucially, the wide spread of gears meant Robyn was able to climb hills unaided that would previously have needed a tow.

After roughly 850km of riding, the drivetrain (the chain, gears and related parts) had developed a slight noise, which Dan puts down to not having cleaned it during the trip rather than any fault with the bike itself.

How does the Ridgeback Dimension 20 ride on different surfaces?

The wider 2.0 inch tyres were a standout feature for this family. Robyn has previously been quick to complain about a bumpy ride, but Dan found the wider tyres changed that entirely, telling us that "Robyn has a history of complaining when it's bumpy, but the tyres, wide, like posh gravel tyres, have really smoothed it out and made the ride more confortable."

The bike was ridden across grass, gravel and tarmac, in dry conditions and through at least one very wet day, without a single puncture.

Dan felt confident the tyres would perform well in the wet too, based on how they handled wet gravel during the trip. He was also impressed that the wider tyres didn't come at the cost of speed on tarmac.

Are the brakes good on the Ridgeback Dimension 20?

Robyn found the reach-adjustable brake levers (which can be moved closer to the handlebars to suit smaller hands) comfortable to use from the start.

Dan reported the brakes gave her real confidence on descents, and that they continued to work well even after riding through puddles. After six weeks and 850km, the brake pads were also showing no signs of excessive wear.

How heavy is the Ridgeback Dimension 20 in everyday use?

At 9.1kg, the Dimension 20 is marketed as a particularly lightweight bike for a 20 inch geared bike.

Robyn's family found it noticeably heavier than her previous bike, the Yomo 20, by around 1.5kg, though this didn't stop her pushing it up some steep inclines under her own steam when her legs occasionally gave out.

Robyn was also able to pick the bike up herself if it fell over.

Saddle, grips and pedals

Robyn's family only needed to raise the saddle once during the test, a straightforward job using an Allen key, which Dan preferred to a quick-release lever for its reliability.

The saddle came in for particular praise. Despite nearly 850km of riding, Robyn made no complaints about comfort, and on several occasions chose to ride without her padded shorts, something Dan described as speaking volumes given how quickly she's usually vocal about an uncomfortable ride.

Ridgeback's narrower grips and handlebar area are designed to help smaller hands reach the brakes more easily. Dan didn't notice a specific difference here, though he did notice a broader improvement in Robyn's pedalling confidence over the test period. One small niggle: the grips had a tendency to twist slightly on the bars, and Dan suspected they might need replacing over a longer ownership period.

The pedals also impressed, particularly compared to Robyn's previous bike: "We noticed on the Yomo how the pedals were slippery (something that has been since upgraded on newer models), and this bike hasn't had that issue at all."

How did the Ridgeback Dimension 20 cope with 850km of cycle touring?

This is where the Dimension 20 was really put through its paces. Over six weeks, Robyn rode the bike for roughly 500km along the Baltic Sea Cycle Tour over 13 days, some of it towed using a FollowMe Tandem and some ridden independently, followed by a shorter tour along one of Denmark's National Cycle Routes, largely ridden solo aside from busier main roads.

The trip included a mix of tarmac, gravel and one very wet day.

Dan felt the bike had a real impact on Robyn's confidence: "I think this bike has really built Robyn's confidence. The tyres and pedals have encouraged her to push herself and play with exploring balance and speed."

The family even found themselves play-acting as professional cyclists on the ride, something Dan noted would have been "unthinkable" a year earlier.

The bike has a steering limiter, a mechanism that stops the handlebars turning too far, designed to help prevent falls while a child is still learning to coordinate pedalling and steering together. Dan was a big fan of this feature, commenting that it still allowed a good range of movement while adding reassurance for a child who might otherwise wobble the bars too far.

Despite the demanding trip, the bike's paintwork held up well, with no notable rust, wear or damage reported.

Is the Ridgeback Dimension 20 compatible with a FollowMe Tandem?

Yes, but with caveats. The family used the Dimension 20 with both a FollowMe Tandem and also with a Zefal Bike Taxi tow rope.

Due to the location of the bottle cage, Dan had to fit the FollowMe Tandem using what he called an "inverted bar method," with the clamp positioned around 20cm from the pedal crank centre, which deviates from FollowMe's official fitting instructions.

Ridgeback Dimension 20 Specification

If you like to know more about the technical specification of your child's bike, the Dimension 20 comes with:

- A lightweight aluminium frame and forks

- Shimano 7-speed gearing, with a 34t chainring and 12-32 tooth cassette (a wide range of gears, giving an easier option for climbing hills)

- Shimano SL-M315 trigger shifter

- Aluminium V-brakes with adjustable, reach-friendly levers

- Vee Nutrak Speedster tyres in a 20 x 2.0 inch size, with a puncture-resistant belt and reflective sidewall strip

- Sealed CrMo bottom bracket with bearings from German manufacturer Thun

- A steering limiter, which stops the handlebars turning too far and helps prevent falls while a child is still learning to coordinate pedalling and steering at the same time

- A lifetime frame and fork warranty, plus a 2-year parts warranty, both of which are transferable if the bike is sold on

At 9.1kg, it's a lightweight bike for a child to manage, which makes a real difference when they're getting on and off, or pushing it up a kerb (or you’re lifting onto a car roof or up and down steps).

How does the Ridgeback Dimension 20 compare to the Ridgeback MX20?

The Ridgeback kids bike range has two models in each wheel size - the Dimension and the MX. 

The Dimension 20 sits £60 above Ridgeback's MX20 in the range, so is the extra worth it? 

In short, yes, if you can stretch to it, though the MX20 remains a good choice if your budget is tighter.

Both bikes are built around the same frame and fork design, so sizing wise they are identical. However the Dimension fork is lightweight alloy whilst the MX fork is steel, which results in a slightly heavier bike. 

The Dimension has a wider spread of gears (12-32 teeth versus the MX20's 14-28), which in combination with 500g in weight savings compared to the MX20 will make those dreaded climbs that bit easier. The 12 tooth highest gear will also help on downhills compared to the MX20, and so for those Sprogs who are wanting to adventure just a little more, the Dimension is likely to be a more suitable bike.

Elsewhere, the Dimension has aluminium brake levers rather than resin, a lighter aluminium front hub instead of steel, and wheels built with more spokes for extra strength. 

The tyres are wider too, with a puncture-resistant belt and reflective strip that the MX20 doesn't have.

The two bikes also come in different colourways: brighter primary shades on the MX20, versus a more muted deep blue, sand and plum on the Dimension. Colour choice is entirely down to taste, but the Dimension's tones do feel a little more grown up. 

Both bikes come with a lifetime frame and fork warranty and a 2-year parts warranty, which are transferable if you sell the bike on, giving good peace of mind and helping protect its resale value.

Would we recommend the Ridgeback Dimension 20?

Looking back, the family had hoped the bike would build Robyn's confidence and support family adventures, and Dan certainly felt the bike had delivered, describing it as confidence inspiring and a good ride.

Would he recommend it to other families? "Yes, I would. It is a great first geared bike, that will allow you to have adventures and build skills in a wide variety of terrain. It's really recommended if you intend to ride both on smooth and rough surfaces."

And would he buy it himself at full retail price? "Yes. It's a versatile bike at a really good price for a performance kids bike." He added: "We'd recommend this over several other 20 inch bikes that we've tried."

Buying an old-model Dimension 20? What to check first 

Ridgeback updated the Dimension 20 during spring 2026, and the two versions are different enough that it's worth knowing which one you're looking at, whether you've spotted a secondhand bike, or you're buying new from a shop that still has old stock. 

At the time of writing, the previous model is still available from some local bike shops and via the Freewheel website, at an RRP of £419.99, £70 more than the new Dimension 20's £349.99, despite being the outgoing model.

The key things to check:

Age and height fit: The old Dimension 20 is designed for riders aged 6 to 9, roughly 120 to 135cm tall. The new version is pitched lower, at 5.5 to 8.5 years and 112 to 130cm. 

If you're buying secondhand and going by the "Dimension 20" name alone, you could end up with a bike that doesn't suit your child's height as well as you'd expect having read this review, so always check against your child's actual height rather than the model name or the age on the box.

Frame geometry:  The frame shape has changed noticeably between the two versions, with the new model's frame lowered for easier mounting and dismounting, so don't assume the two bikes will feel the same to ride.

Gearing range: The old model's cassette runs 34t 12-28T; the new one is 34t 12-32T, giving a slightly easier bottom gear for hills. Worth knowing if you live in a hilly area. 

Colours:  The old Dimension came in red and teal. The new one comes in a more muted deep blue, sand and plum.

Price: If you're choosing between old stock and the new model at a shop, the new Dimension 20 has a lower RRP (£349.99 vs £419.99)

Should I buy an old model Dimension 20?

On paper, the new bike has the better spec: wider gear range, lower frame, and features specifically aimed at younger riders. We can't see an obvious reason to pay more for the outgoing model unless the fit or colour suits your child better.  

Obviously if you find an older model significantly reduced in your local bike shop or a well maintained secondhand bike, it’s definitely worth considering, so long as you’re comfortable with the specification differences, particularly the sizing.

Other articles you might be interested in:

• Ridgeback kids' bikes: a parent's guide to the MX and Dimension ranges
• Best kids bikes
• Best 20 inch kids bikes for 6 - 8 year olds
• Best 20 inch kids mountain bikes for 5-6 year olds
• Ridgeback kids bikes: a parent's guide to the MX and Dimension ranges