When choosing a mountain bike for your son or daughter, you’ll need to pick one with a slightly smaller frame than you would if you were buying a road or hybrid bike.

How To: Fitting a Kids Bike

Kids bikes tend to be categorised by wheel size rather than frame size ( 6-9 yrs = 18″, 8-12 yrs = 20″ and youth = 24″)

However, on a mountain bike your child will need maximum clearance and so may require a smaller frame size than normal. If possible take your child to a bike shop to try out a few mountain bikes for size. Straddling the bike with their feet flat on the ground they should be able to clear the crossbar. For a road bike you would want there to be about an inch of clearance but for a mountain bike two or three inches would be better.

As a general guide, a child between 152-158cm in height will require a mountain bike with a 13-14inch frame. If you’re unsure which size bike your child will require, it’s always best to take them to a shop for a proper fitting.

Kids mountain bikes can be bought from most shops that sell adult mountain bikes including Halfords, Pearson Cycles and Evans Cycles. They can also be bought online if you’re certain of what size your son or daughter needs. Great online retailers include Wiggle, Trek and Cycle Store.

Everything You Need to Know About Buying A Second Hand Kids Bike

If you’d prefer to purchase a second hand kids mountain bike there are lots of great bargains to be found on eBay. Just remember that whenever possible it’s a great idea to arrange to view and test ride a second hand bike before committing to purchase.