At first glance, the 24-inch bicycle does not have many surprises to offer. A gear shift? Smaller bikes have them, too. Mountain bikes and children's racing bikes? There are also already smaller. So what is there to say about the 24-inch bike at all, they are not simply adult bikes in small format?
The most important point has nothing to do with the bike itself, it's more about where the bike will travel. Because at the age of around 10 years, children leave the safe environment of the sidewalk nice and slowly and ride on the road for the first time. And for that, a bicycle needs special equipment!
1. At what age do girls and boys ride a bicycle in 24 inches?
It is generally recommended to choose children's bikes not according to the age of the child, but based on the size. A children's bike with 24 inches fits a height of about 135cm or an inner leg length of 65cm. Age specifications are much less accurate here, because at this age boys in particular often make a huge shot in the height and are then within a few weeks a few centimeters taller. Generally, an age from 8 years is specified for this bike size. Since the saddle and handlebars can usually be adjusted, the bikes then fit about until the age of 10 or 12. You can order bikes here in the online store in this size of different brand manufacturers, to many of them there is a size recommendation of the manufacturer - how exactly it turns out, you will learn in the article description.
Grundätzlich fits a children's bike in 24 inches for children with about 135cm height or an inner leg length of about 65cm, or at the age of 8 to 10 or 12 years.
2. interesting facts about children's bicycle with 24 inches
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Bikes in 24 inches are, in terms of appearance, actually no longer children's bikes. The cute proportions, the bright colors, the simple equipment - everything that makes smaller bikes suitable for small children is gradually disappearing. Even the addition of a pennant on a long bar or a doll seat is likely to be refused by the offspring. What remains is a frame geometry that is based on a child's body measurements. The lowest possible step makes it easier to get on and off the bike. The seating posture should still be as upright as possible, so children can better see what's going on around them. Most bikes with 24 inches are casual all-rounders with a wide range of uses. They ride reliably around town, are comfortable enough for day rides, and can handle some light off-roading. Many are hybrid bikes or cross bikes, some more city bikes or touring bikes. But there are also already specialized bikes like road bikes or MTBs.
Many of our brand manufacturers initially do without add-on parts such as mudguards or luggage racks. Mostly the mounting eyelets are available for this, so you can retrofit what your child needs on the road. A roadworthy equipment is mandatory in road traffic, however, more on this below.
Almost all children's bikes with 24 inches have a shift, many also have disc brakes, if not, there are rim brakes or a coaster. The tires with 24 inch diameter can build up decent speed, so children can already keep up well on a bike tour. There are different widths and profiles that make the bike more off-road or particularly suitable for everyday rides on asphalt. Many bikes also already have a suspension fork, which makes the bike more comfortable on uneven paths, rigid forks are, however, lighter and more efficient.
A light children's bike children can handle particularly easily, it is of course easier to move from place. A bike with little weight also makes it easier for kids to stay in control. Therefore, if your child will be riding a lot, a lightweight bike is a good investment. The bikes usually have aluminum frames and weigh about 8 to 12 kilos, so there are significant differences in weight.
A 24-inch children's bike:
- Should have a geometry that adapts to a child's anatomy
- should place the child in an upright sitting position
- Can have a derailleur or hub gears
- may have off-road tires
- has disc brakes, rim brakes or a coaster brake
- is available with or without suspension fork
- needs a StVZO-compliant equipment if it is to move on public paths and roads
- can be equipped with luggage rack and mudguards
- weighs 8 to 12 kg
3. How to buy the right children's bike
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To find a suitable children's bike, you must first measure the leg length. If it is between about 65 and 75cm, a 24-inch bike is probably just the right bike. Sometimes manufacturers also specify the body size, so if you want to buy such a model, you need to know this in advance.
Children's bikes you can usually individually adjust. If you adjust the saddle and handlebars well, your child will sit comfortably and also be able to pedal efficiently.
But not only the frame and thus the fit of the bike must continue to be suitable for children, of course the attachments of a 24-inch bike must also fit children well. This means that the handlebars and crank are not too wide, and the saddle and grips should also be child-sized.
"Fit" here, however, also means that the bike's build and features match your plans.
If you want to experience mountain bike adventures together with your child, you should buy a 24-inch MTB, there are already hardtails in this size with suspension fork and appropriate tires. For sporty families there are also more and more race bikes and gravel bikes in children's size, also here in the store you can find some. However, you should never lose sight of your child's riding ability with all sporting ambition and overtax it with a performance bike.
If the whole family goes on bike tours together, a children's touring bike is very practical. A City bike, which is to serve as a means of transport for the routes to school or to the sports club, must be less sporty, but a comfort equipment with mudguards and luggage rack can not hurt here at all. These good-natured bikes often score points with a geometry that forgives minor riding errors. It gives your child security and does not lead directly to a fall in unplanned steering maneuvers.
4. The right gear for a children's 24 inch bike
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Almost all bikes with 24 inches have a gear shift. Many bikes in this size have a 1x derailleur with 7 to 12 gears. There are also 2x gears with up to 24 gears, but they are only recommended for really sporty kids who also use the wide range. All others have with the single circuit less stress, hassle and weight on the wheel.
Just the bikes that are intended for the city or will be traveling mainly in flat landscapes, often ride better with a hub gear, because it is in the Hhinterradnabe not only well protected and almost maintenance-free, but also easy to operate. Hub gears are available in this wheel size still in combination with a coaster brake.
Many children get along particularly well with a circuit with Twist grip, so even derailleurs are often combined with a twist grip.
5. From now on it's time to hit the road!
The 24-inch bicycle will probably accompany your child through an important phase of growing up. Up until age 8, kids aren't allowed to ride in the street; they have to use the sidewalk. This is now changing, at 8 to 10 years children are allowed to ride on the sidewalk or road, from 10 years the young road users should then ride on the road or use the bike path. Therefore, the bicycle test is also taken at this time in many schools.
To ensure that these first experiences in road traffic proceed safely, two things are particularly important:
> Your child must be able to operate the bike safely without thinking much; he or she must be able to concentrate on the traffic. More important than the "coolest bike" is therefore the bike that your child can handle best. Here, your offspring will benefit from equipment that is not too out of hand and works without a lot of thought, and a bike with good-natured handling characteristics will also contribute to safety.
> In order for it to be allowed to ride on public roads, the bike must be roadworthy, it needs lights, reflectors, brakes and a bell. If you don't have these features, you can order and upgrade them separately here in our online store. More information on traffic-safe bike can also be found in our blog!
6.Should you buy a branded kids bike?
Always cheap children's bikes are offered in discount stores. But are they worth the money? Or is a bike from a well-known brand the better choice? And which of them is the best?
Generally, the quality of a good children's bike is usually higher, and also in terms of construction, branded bikes clearly surpass the bikes you can buy at dumping prices. There are manufacturers that only build children's bikes. These bikes often have components that are quite suitable for children, after all, these manufacturers do nothing all day but rack their brains over kids on bikes. Other manufacturers build all sorts of bicycles, so they have plenty of experience building bikes and can apply that knowledge to building kids' bikes. In terms of price, these companies can often offer advantages as well, because they buy huge quantities from the component manufacturers and thus get special rates that they can pass along.
If you buy a kids bike from a good brand like Trek, Orbea, Giant, Cannondale or Pyro, there are two other advantages. The price may be a bit higher here, but you're likely to have less trouble with bike breakdowns, and you'll also have longer to wait for wear on the drivetrain or brakes. This increases the resale value when your child outgrows the bike. You will find here in the online store children's bikes from well-known manufacturers, each of them builds its bikes according to slightly different aspects, so there is a suitable bike for every child!
