[Yak] Bike Friday for a 9 Year Old

[John S. Allen]

At 01:53 PM 9/14/2010, Lou Liserani wrote:
>It's the same problem parents face with any bike as a child grows up 
>rapidly - how long will that new bike last? Our grandson is going 
>through the same thing right now. He is about to turn 13 and is 
>growing fast. His GIANT Defy 3 road bike has made it through two 
>summers, and might make it through three - his parents hope so. 
>Luckily they have 'free' track bikes at Marymoor Velodrome for 
>Juniors. His grandmother's Crusoe (she's 5'8") has been adjustable 
>for him for the last several years - I think he road it for the 
>first time at about 5'0", so the bikes have a good range. I also 
>adjusted my Dahon S1 to his size when he was here two years ago. 
>While we, and now his parents, have Fridays, he won't be getting one 
>until he stops growing, plus he prefers a road bike to practice on.

Yes, folding bicycles adjust to a much wider range of sizes than 
conventional bikes. The main issue with the Friday is the handlebar 
position. A bolt-on stem rather than the fixed-position ultralight 
stem offers more flexibility in height adjustment Riser-type 
handlebars which can swing forward and back, as are stock on many 
Bromptons, allow adjsutment of the reach..

John S. Allen
7 University Park
Waltham, MA  02453-1523  USA
781 891-9307
jsallen at bikexprt.com
http://bikexprt.com