Little brake pads

[Jkmorgan]

Hi there, I'm a newbie here
my daughter has a little tiny Ridgeback that she started riding independently on her 3rd birthday. One year on and the back brakes have had some pretty heavy use. The pads are all but gone.
I have no idea where to buy new ones, or what kind are required.
I hope someone can help as she is losing confidence because I won't let her back on steep hills with only the front brake....

 

[raleighnut]

Hi there, I'm a newbie here
my daughter has a little tiny Ridgeback that she started riding independently on her 3rd birthday. One year on and the back brakes have had some pretty heavy use. The pads are all but gone.
I have no idea where to buy new ones, or what kind are required.
I hope someone can help as she is losing confidence because I won't let her back on steep hills with only the front brake....

Just take them off and go to a bike shop, they will be a standard size pad. If you can't find a bike shop then Halfords will have em.
As for fitting there are a bunch of 'how-to' vids on youtube, it's not difficult to do though.

 

[Jkmorgan]

Thank you

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I sincerely doubt that the pads are worn. A three year old cannot generate enough energy to grind down a set of pads, On cheap kiddies bikes the pads are wedge-shaped to start off with and if you compare them to your pads, they may look half-worn.

 

[lpretro1]

Pads are not a standard size - there are junior sized pads specifically for the kiddy bikes

 

[raleighnut]

Pads are not a standard size - there are junior sized pads specifically for the kiddy bikes

Pads come in many different sizes for road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrids (V-brakes) and kids bikes but each have their own standard.

 

[I like Skol]

My two started out on a small Ridgeback, cracking bikes with much better components than the usual kids 1st bikes most parents buy from the toy store.

Wearing out a set of brake blocks in just a year is easy for them to achieve, especially if they keep using just one brake like yours appears to be doing and if they sometimes ride places that are a bit mucky. I know mine went through a few sets even when very young.
The main requirement is for a brake block that is the right fitting and they need to be short due to the small wheel diameter, long ones won't fit the curve of the rim properly and will either rub the tyre or run off the brake surface towards the spokes. I don't think they will specifically be kids brake blocks, just a short block to suit the application.