New to a road bike

[The Dwaff Family]

Bought our eldest(he#s 12yrs) an Islabike Luath 26. Although he had rode a bike before it was not very frequent but it was a heap of rubbish. Decided to get him the Isla so he could hopefully enjoy and want to go out with dad.

With him being new to a road bike, I think we are all a bit unsure about the best way/technique's for him to use to get really used to it. Should the hand position be on the flat, drops or hoods? Or would you teach them to use a mix of all at the beginning? What about breaks to use as he has 4? Gears seem the easiest bit which he can just figure for himself. Although he will be doing mainly road there was no way we wanted him on the slick tyres, but he has the marathon ones. I must say, being a girl, it does look rather nice but it's all about teaching him right so he want's to stick with it.

 

[aberal]

Hoods mostly. But teach him, tops for the uphills, drops for the downhills and speeding, hoods for the rest of it.

 

[The Dwaff Family]

That's great Aberal, thank you I think dad was getting him more on using the drops to have more control of the bike? I don't like the idea of the bar/flat??(is that right terminology?) Doesn't look a very sturdy place!

What about when it comes to braking? I think he should be using the one's on the drops, again more control??? Or should you aim to use the one's on the top bar?

 

[HLaB]

Whatever hand position he does natrually is the best place to start IMO. I would have thought the hoods were best, more stable and access to the brakes but his little hands may not be effective for covering the brakes and he may prefer the flats, I'd let the use of the drops come in its own good time. This is maybe teaching you to suck eggs but (unless the bike is not set up to the UK standards) the left two levers control the back brake (he can use either) and the right two levers control the front brake. I thin the best balance is to feather the back brake to regulate speed and then use the front brake in addition when he actually wants to stop. Good Luck All

 

[The Dwaff Family]

This is why we got an Islabike, so his little hands can reach the brakes better than other 'supposed' kids bikes that are fitted with adult size components! So is it just a case of it depending whereabouts he has his hands at the time as to which brakes he should use to stop? He know's to feather the back brake, but surely you have less balance to use them on the flats as they are so close together so both hands would be pretty much together in the middle rather than at each end?? I am probably not making sense am I? Hence why I have come to seek your expert advice!

 

[rualexander]

Might be better to change the tyres, marathons are good tyres but they can be quite heavy and stiff, no reason to be wary of slicks, the tread pattern on bike tyres doesn't serve any real purpose unless you are off road in mud etc. (or snow in winter i guess).

 

[The Dwaff Family]

We thought the slick(28c)s would just be too slim right now, plus at the mo, due to having another keen little one who will more often than not go cycling with them, some of the route will be taken via the canal towpath, not sure the road tyres would like that too much If he becomes very keen and wants to do more and more, then I would be happy to get slicks instead of his current schwalbe marathons to go on bigger road rides with dad.

 

[HLaB]

This is why we got an Islabike, so his little hands can reach the brakes better than other 'supposed' kids bikes that are fitted with adult size components! So is it just a case of it depending whereabouts he has his hands at the time as to which brakes he should use to stop? He know's to feather the back brake, but surely you have less balance to use them on the flats as they are so close together so both hands would be pretty much together in the middle rather than at each end?? I am probably not making sense am I? Hence why I have come to seek your expert advice!

Using the hoods will put his hands further out and be more stable in theory with some brake access but some folk prefer the more upright position on the flats and better access to the brakes. Do what is natural just now, in the long term (nothing to worry about just now) he'll want to use all the positions (hoods/flats/drops) on longer rides to releave the pressue on his hand but he just want to master riding it just now ps I'm no expert
And like rulealexander says on road bikes treads are only there for fashion & sellabillity, it doesn't actually do much.