School Bike for 12-year old

[BrumJim]

Thought I would ask here too.

My son is looking for a bike to get him to and from school. Is looking for a mountain bike or similar (to contrast with his other two). Not looking to spend a lot of money.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I'd start looking here: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bicycle-repair-and-recycling-charities-uk-the-list.301124/

This one doesn't seem too far from you: https://thebikeproject.co.uk/

 

[DCLane]

Can I suggest something: get him to build or restore one with you. That way he learns and also knows what to do but, if it needs fettling, he's not too far away from home. And kudos to him for riding to/from school: son no. 2 decided to do that when starting secondary school and still has the cyclo-cross bike he used from age 14.

 

[Oldhippy]

No ideas but can I just say how pleasing it is to see a child wanting to ride to school. I thought it was a long gone era. I remember my school had two long rows of cycle racks for cycling to school and there still weren't enough.

 

[FishFright]

How tall is he ?
I have a Islabike Beinn 26 going spare , the blue one. Needs a clean and whatnot . Has mudguards which is handy for school commute
Not my pic ofc

 

[BrumJim]

How tall is he ?
I have a Islabike Beinn 26 going spare , the blue one. Needs a clean and whatnot . Has mudguards which is handy for school commute
Not my pic ofc

View attachment 763258

Still just shy of 5'.

 

[FishFright]

Still just shy of 5'.

It will fit him fine.

 

[ColinJ]

No ideas but can I just say how pleasing it is to see a child wanting to ride to school. I thought it was a long gone era. I remember my school had two long rows of cycle racks for cycling to school and there still weren't enough.

Ditto.

I volunteered to make space in my school bike rack by using a crappy combination lock and thereby having my bike stolen!

 

[BrumJim]

No ideas but can I just say how pleasing it is to see a child wanting to ride to school. I thought it was a long gone era. I remember my school had two long rows of cycle racks for cycling to school and there still weren't enough.

He's lucky in that school is less than a mile away, although we often extend the morning ride. He is unlucky in that it is 100ft higher than home, but gets a downhill ride in the evening.

At less than a mile he has a choice of walk or bike. No way am I driving him there, and bus would take longer.