Frog Road 58
The Frog Road 58 makes a good first drop handlebar bike for those wanting to start riding on roads, circuits or at cyclocross events.
The frame has clearance to fit both slick road tyres and more grippy cyclocross tyres, which makes this a good choice kids bike for youngsters racing in triathlons and cyclocross as well as riding on the roads.
When we reviewed the Frog Road 58, one thing our 7 year old tester really liked is that it comes with auxiliary brake levers on the handlebar tops. These are very useful if your child is not confident enough to lean forward onto the drop handlebars. [sc name="bike-club-frog-bikes" bike_name="Frog Road 58" ][/sc]
Cube Acid 200
Cube’s entry level 20″ wheel offering is a 7 speed bike, the Cube Acid 200, which helps make the transitions to gears easier. 21 or more gears that you get on some kids bikes just confuses things – more to remember and more to go wrong!
Cube realise that kids aren’t always the most careful or thoughtful so features of this bike include a modulator on the front brake to stop them slamming on too quickly, plus an easily replaceable derailleur hanger – the bit that changes the gears that gets damaged when kids drop their bike on the floor gears side down (TOP TIP – teach them to lay their bike down derailleur side upwards!)
We’ve reviewed a number of different Cube kids bikes over the years and have always been impressed with the quality.
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Cube Cubie 120
The Cubie 120 has a lightweight aluminium frame and forks and comes with child sized brake levers, a chain protector and a carry handle on the rear of the saddle for when you end up having to carry it.
The rear brake on the Cubie 120 is a coaster brake, which is operated by your child pedalling backwards, whilst the front brake is a v-brake on the rim, operated by the brake lever. Coaster brakes are very popular on the continent and in the US but are not very common in the UK.
They’re a good idea if your child isn’t ready to operate a brake lever, but they will have to learn how to do this when they move up to larger bikes.