Charlotte

By deed on 08/24/2008. Bike tags: Road bike | hybrid | Rino | steel frame

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Frame:
Rino, steel, 48.5cm

Handlebars and Stem:
No name 6061 alu MTB handle bar, Xstasy stem, Race Face grips

Fork and Headset:
Rino chrome fork, 1" threaded, adapted to ahead

Front wheel:
Shimano WH-R540

Rear wheel:
Shimano WH-R540

Crankset and Bottom bracket:
Shimano Deore

Saddle and Seat Post:
Selle Italia Ldy, Promax carbon

Pedals and Chain:
Butterfly pedals, Shimano 105/LX 9x

Cog/Gearing et cetera:
Shimano LX 9x, 12-34 rear, 32 front

Notes:

Built this bike up for my daughter (guess her name's Charlotte). I chose MTB components because kids prefer smaller gears, and usually do not use front derailleurs. Can still upgrade it to 3x9 later. Many thanks to wld Le mech and Thomas from gorilla bicycles for the frame and their kind help.

People who friended this bike Italtrek, latron, bio9

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Interesting

Submitted by Italtrek on 08/24/2008.

At what age would you give a kid a multispeed bike? And when are they ready for a front derailleur?

Your daughter is a lucky young lady to get a bike like this!

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Kids and gears

Submitted by deed on 08/25/2008.

Thx for the compliment.

I guess it depends on every kid. Some use gears sooner, some later, but I'd say before 5 yrs a fixed gear is likely the best option.

My daughter is soon 13 and a front derailleur is still an enigma for her. All kids have or had 2x6 or 3x7 20" or 24" MTB's since they were about 5 or 6 yrs old. I had theached them how to use the gear changers front and rear, but with marginal success, only. Generally, boys are more interested in technics than girls and the front derailleur gets more usage. The older boy (10) is using it, the younger (8 yrs.) not. My wife, after many years of using a 3x8 city bike, always complained about that this gear changing system would not be logic for her (which is true as it's not linear). Since I bought her a new city bike with a Nexus 7 speed internal gear, she's very pleased.

But with that 'Charlotte' bike, I have created a precedence for the girl's younger brothers. They already discuss which colors (with airbrush and flame stuff), weels and gear they want to have for THEIR future custom bike :-)...
D.

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Charlotte

Interesting

Kids and gears