I think that a few companies (Scott, Trek) had the right idea with their rigid Plus-bike concept for 20" and 24" wheeled bikes. The rigid forks are lighter and the tires do as much as a cheap, heavy, unserviceable kids' fork anyway. In theory, it also frees up money to be spent elsewhere on the bike.
I think there's huge potential to min-max kids' mountain bike rigs. For example, spec much smaller chainrings that will work with basic 5spd drivetrains to give kids gears, they need for climbing instead of a bunch they don't even use on the road.
It's an area of deep interest for me. This spring/summer I'm planning to put together a commuter/city/gravel rig for my daughter for riding around and locking up at school and it'll hopefully be a chance to visit these ideas.
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Her mountain bike is Gucci. But we did pull in a lot of older used parts - including the drivetrain - which both saved money and provided significantly better shifting than cheaper new parts. I tell all my friends to reach out to the DINKS in their lives and find out what they have squirreled away they'll never use again (Guide brakes, old 9-speed drivetrain, nice rigid post, 31.8 stem, 160mm rotors). Trade for beer, or actually, a lot of folks I know who don't have kids are still stoked to see groms out on bikes.
Feb. 14, 2022, 10:25 a.m. - Andrew Major
I think that a few companies (Scott, Trek) had the right idea with their rigid Plus-bike concept for 20" and 24" wheeled bikes. The rigid forks are lighter and the tires do as much as a cheap, heavy, unserviceable kids' fork anyway. In theory, it also frees up money to be spent elsewhere on the bike. I think there's huge potential to min-max kids' mountain bike rigs. For example, spec much smaller chainrings that will work with basic 5spd drivetrains to give kids gears, they need for climbing instead of a bunch they don't even use on the road. It's an area of deep interest for me. This spring/summer I'm planning to put together a commuter/city/gravel rig for my daughter for riding around and locking up at school and it'll hopefully be a chance to visit these ideas. \-\-\-\-\- Her mountain bike is Gucci. But we did pull in a lot of older used parts - including the drivetrain - which both saved money and provided significantly better shifting than cheaper new parts. I tell all my friends to reach out to the DINKS in their lives and find out what they have squirreled away they'll never use again (Guide brakes, old 9-speed drivetrain, nice rigid post, 31.8 stem, 160mm rotors). Trade for beer, or actually, a lot of folks I know who don't have kids are still stoked to see groms out on bikes. 