BikeSB617

I am looking for a low cost solution to getting my son riding on unpaved bike paths. We are planning to ride the GAP and C&O trails this summer and need the right bike. He currently rides a Fuji Ace 24 road bike which has 24x1 tires. i ordered larger tires today in the hopes they will fit his frame but I'm not optimistic. My limited research into youth gravel bikes has turned up a model by Giant and another by Diamondback. I am looking for more options and a bike store in Massachusetts or surrounding area that would carry preowned options. Any recommendations?

ATPAH

You've posted in a quiet corner of the forums. You might want to try the family biking or junior racing sub-forums. I have a few thoughts, but they may not be particularly helpful.

You're probably right to be looking for a larger tire. I've ridden a couple sections of the C&O trail on 27c slicks without issue, even in the rain, but I've got a few more years of bike handling practice than most 11 year olds and don't get discouraged if I need to walk around a mudpit. I also wasn't lugging gear, so I was able to keep it light over the rougher stretches.

I would consider looking at hybrid bikes for your son. You can get hybrids with serviceable specs in a wide range of sizes and at a decent price. The weight penalty, which is ordinarily a deal breaker, won't be felt as much on the flat path. If you are up for some frankenbiking, you could even swap for a short stem and throw on drops. Of course, if you're doing that, you could get an early 1990s era mtb for cheap and have some real fun with it.

Obviously, if you could get a deal on a used bike, so much the better, since paying full price for a bike that will fit for 2 years if your lucky is lousy. Lots of shops take bikes on trade-in and have them available on the cheap, but you'll need to ask around.

BikeSB617

Thanks for the advice!

rumrunn6

some ppl who advertise on CL get their "bike size" wrong mixing up terminology like 24" wheel. but a quick search came up with dozens of options for cheap. how rough are those trails? where in MA do you live? your child wil have to test ride these bikes to see what fits & what they like

https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/bi...392031805.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/bi...395435439.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...400965417.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/bi...376259943.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bi...377361235.html