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One
of the most common mistakes people make when buying kids' bikes
is getting a bicycle that's too large, so the child can "grow into"
it. This might sound like a good idea, but it's not. A child will
have a hard time controlling a bike that's too large, and won't
feel confident as a result. A properly sized bike will be safer
because it will be easier to control, and a lot more fun.
You
size kids' bikes just as you size bikes for adults, meaning you
are looking for 1-2 inches of crotch clearance over the top tube.
Give at least 2 inches of room if the bike is going to be ridden
over rugged terrain, as you would with a mountain bike or BMX bike.
It's best if you can bring the child with you to the store to size
the bicycle. If you're shopping for a bike as a surprise, you can
use a tape measure to measure the child's inseam (distance from
the crotch to the ground, when standing), subtract an inch or two
and then use that as the standover height (distance from the ground
to the top tube) for the bicycle. Make sure you measure to an imaginary,
horizontal top tube on girls' bikes, just as you do for women's
bikes. |