WHY DOES WHEEL SIZE MATTER SO MUCH?
The right frame size is essential to ensure that the bike fits your child perfectly and is easy to ride. Do you know what is the most common mistake parents make when buying a children's bike?
Buying a bigger size thinking the child will "grow into it". Such a bike may last longer, but it will be neither pleasant, healthy nor safe for the child to ride.
Try to imagine.
You are riding a bike that is too big for you. How will you feel? You'll feel unsteady, you'll feel scared because you'll have trouble reaching the ground and the brakes safely. Your body will be unnaturally stretched on the bike and you may even feel pain in your back, arms or legs. Riding like this is definitely no fun.
Kids feel the same way, so choosing the right size is really key.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR FRAME IS TOO LONG?
The child sits on the bike too stretched out and has trouble reaching the handlebars.
The child is unstable and insecure. Too big a bike is harder to control and the child may have trouble turning or keeping balance.
When the child is sitting in the saddle with the foot on the pedal in the bottom position, the leg is extended and the toe does not reach the ground.
The child's back, legs or arms may hurt when riding - overloading selected muscle groups. In addition, prolonged sitting in the wrong position can negatively affect the development of the child's musculoskeletal system.
HOW IS THAT RIGHT?
The child should sit relaxed on the bike and have a straight back. This ensures correct spinal positioning and the prevention of back pain. The child has a better view of the surroundings and can react better to changes on the road.
When the child is sitting on the saddle and has one foot on the pedal in the bottom position, the knee should be slightly bent. This angle allows efficient pedalling and transfers power to the pedals. It also protects the knee joint from excessive loading.
The child should be able to touch the ground with the toes. This will not only give him a sense of security, but will also make it easier to get on and off the bike.
HANDLEBARS MATTER TOO
The ill-fitting handlebars are also a problem. Too wide handlebars force the child into a bad sitting position - the child loses stability, is unsteady and has a harder time turning. On the other hand, too narrow handlebars mean that the child's chest is not open enough. This impairs breathing and causes the child to have much less leverage and not be able to turn quickly enough to react to a potential problem, which can significantly affect the safety of their ride.
So what is the ideal handlebar size?
The width of the child's shoulders plus five to ten centimetres. This allows for a comfortable hand position, a good grip and easy and safe turning.
A UNIVERSAL TABLE? IT DOES NOT EXIST!
When choosing a bike, remember that each manufacturer has its own size chart. This often varies from model to model. And what else to look out for? Never just go by the recommended age - the height of the child and their preference for cycling is a crucial factor.
IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE HERE IN THE BEANY:
PiLooking for a reliable travel companion for school and clubs? Then the superlight Beany ZERO is the obvious choice.
Does your child have racing ambitions and is going to MTB races? Then the Beany Blaster XC is the best choice.
Does your child have adrenaline running through his veins and no terrain is an obstacle for him? Then there's the uncompromising Beany Blaster.
For those who love the unpredictable, there's the Beany Pulse, which whizzes along gravel roads and forest roots alike.
AND WHAT SIZE FRAME TO LOOK FOR? OUR TABLE WILL ADVISE YOU
| Height of the child/train in which he/she will ride | Height of child 75-95 cm | Child height 90-110 cm | HEIGHT of child 105-124 cm | Height of child 110-130 cm | Height of child 115-135 cM | Child height 120- 140 cm | Child height 125-145 cm | Child height 130-150CM | Child height 135-155 CM | Child height 145-165 cm | Child height 155-175 cm | Child height 165-185 cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainly asphalt surface, cycle paths, moderate forest paths | BEANY ZERO 12 | BEANY ZERO 16 | BEANY ZERO 20 | BEANY ZERO 24 | BEANY ZERO 26 | BEANY ZERO 27,5 (13,5" FRAME) | BEANY ZERO 27,5 (FRAME 15") | BEANY ZERO 29 (17" FRAME) | BEANY ZERO 29 (19" FRAME) | |||
| Any terrain, mountain terrain, jumps, trails, obstacles, challenging trails | BEANY BLASTER 20 | BEANY BLASTER 24 | BEANY BLASTER 26 | BEANY BLASTER 27,5 | BEANY BLASTER 29 (17" FRAME) | BEANY BLASTER 29 (19" FRAME) | ||||||
| fast mountain trails, racing mtb trails | BEANY BLASTER XC 20 | BEANY BLASTER XC 24 | ||||||||||
| Gravel roads, fast asphalt, forest and dirt roads | BEANY PULSE 26 | BEANY PULSE 700 (15" FRAME) | BEANY PULSE 700 (17" FRAME) |
But the best option is to try the bike. Every child is different. While one child will be fine with the 20" size, another with longer legs will be fine with the 24" size.
WHERE TO GO?
You can visit an authorised shop where experienced sales staff will be happy to advise you and let you try out the bike. For advice and a new bike you can also go to our Beany LAB in Vrchlabí, where we have all sizes and types of our bikes available. You can try out what fits your child perfectly and check out our winter sports range.
Alternatively, you can find a full list of Beany dealers at the link below.
