Don’t know what bike to buy for my daughter’s 12th

[vickster]

How about this, £50 spare from budget and she can grow into it as needed
https://www.discountcyclesdirect.co... Terra Linda SC2 Ladies Hybrid Commuter Bike'

 

[Booboohoohoo]

How about this, £50 spare from budget and she can grow into it as needed
https://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=18680&Item='Marin Terra Linda SC2 Ladies Hybrid Commuter Bike'

It would be nice to spend less than the absolute maximum. Thank you for suggesting this one.

 

[Booboohoohoo]

Have a look at www.islabikes.co.uk - great bikes for youngsters... although their website seems to be down and delivery times are likely to be longer than a few days... you may be able to find a decent one second hand locally though.

They look lovely but are more than I can afford sadly. This is my worry that on my budget I will just buy something that will not last long, wear quickly and break all over ☹️

 

[Booboohoohoo]

Thank you will check it out!

I really like it! Also. it only weighs 11kg😄. As daughter has hypermobility she struggles with lifting and carrying. She has been riding my Dawes Dutchess but has to be helped to lift it over any obstacles etc. Also as I am 165 she is unlikely to end up being very tall...

 

[MichaelW2]

For a rider of 5'0", 24" wheel makes for easy handling. 26" can be considered a big wheel.

 

[Reynard]

I really like it! Also. it only weighs 11kg😄. As daughter has hypermobility she struggles with lifting and carrying. She has been riding my Dawes Dutchess but has to be helped to lift it over any obstacles etc. Also as I am 165 she is unlikely to end up being very tall...

It looks like they've recently changed the Wiggins range, and the new Chartres 26 has a different spec to the one that I have (no disc brakes, only a single chainring up front), as well as a different paint job, although admittedly the RRP is cheaper than when they first came out four years ago.

May be worth looking in the classifieds for a used one perhaps?

 

[Booboohoohoo]

For a rider of 5'0", 24" wheel makes for easy handling. 26" can be considered a big wheel.

I didn’t know that, will add it to the list of requirements...

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I didn’t know that, will add it to the list of requirements...

Although, the 26" wheel will future-proof the fit of the bike for much longer, I'd suggest. My 9+yo's on 24s for that purpose and I'm anticipating moving her up again next year, perhaps the year after (who really know, mind!)

 

[vickster]

I really like it! Also. it only weighs 11kg😄. As daughter has hypermobility she struggles with lifting and carrying. She has been riding my Dawes Dutchess but has to be helped to lift it over any obstacles etc. Also as I am 165 she is unlikely to end up being very tall...

How tall is her father or previous generations?
My mother at her peak was 5’1.5
...I’m 5’9.5...
My father at his tallest was 6’4...which might explain things somewhat 😄

 

[Cycleops]

All good suggestions so far but knowing children and especially girls the colour exceeds any technical aspects we are likely to discuss so I would just confer with her on this very important aspect of her new mount .

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Depending on her size I'd recommend either a Carrera Saruna 24, or the Carrera Subway 26, my daughter has the smaller version of the Saruna and it's an awesome little hybrid. She tackles woodland and farm tracks on it no problem, they're currently 230 pounds at Halfords. The larger Subway is 320.
The Wiggins Chartres is good too, that would be another sound choice.

 

[RobinS]

Re suggestions for practical hybrid. Remember she is 12 years old and wants a mountain bike. Adult logic says a hybrid is more suitable but she may not be happy with a sensible "granny choice"!
Example - when she was 14 my eldest granddaughter was given a 20 year old Univega mountain bike, in excellent condition. Initially she refused to ride it, not because it was 20 years old, not because it was a rigid, not because it was a hand me down from her granny, but because it was fitted with slicks. All her Army Cadet friends, and school friends had MTBs with knobbly tyres - 14 year old logic told her it was not a proper MTB with slicks, even though she only ever rode on tarmac - once it was fitted with knobblies she loved it!