The best junior bike frames are built from aluminium alloy. This material is lightweight and robust, making it perfect for all types of junior cycles. Steel frames are just as strong as alloy, but are significantly heavier making them harder for youngsters to ride. Rigid forks are best for road cycling with aluminium alloy forks being lighter weight than steel ones. Rigid forks are also good for light off-roading, but a suspension fork will give a smoother ride on rough surfaces. For proper off-road tracks a suspension fork is ideal.

Most junior bikes feature derailleur gears to make cycling up and down hills easier. However more gears aren’t necessarily better. Bikes listed as having more than 10 gears usually feature double front chainrings, which many kids find difficult to manage. Single front chainrings with 6, 7, 8 or 9 speed cassettes are easier to use, especially on mountain and hybrid bikes, and still provide plenty of gear options for the climbs. Road bike style junior bikes usually have double chainrings like their adult counterparts. These bikes are ideal for keen young road cyclists who want the performance of an adult bike.

Saddle Height

If your child is relatively unexperienced, then set the saddle height so that they can put both feet flat on the ground. This will give them the confidence to stop and start whenever they like and reduce the chances of them falling off. Once they are comfortable on the bike you can move the saddle up for a more efficient cycling position. See our saddle height-how to for step by step instructions.

Handlebar Height

While this is less important than saddle height, you can also adjust the handlebar height on junior bikes. This is easily done by repositioning the spacers (on a A-headset) or by loosening the expander bolt and repositioning the stem before retightening (on a quill stem). Start with the stem in its lowest position then move it higher it as they grow to maintain the ideal riding position.