Before buying a geared bike for my very keen bike riding 6 year old, I looked at a lot of bikes. I don't think I found any that had proper shifters. The bike we ended up with is a KDS X-Lite. It's an excellent bike (if a little heavy at 12.2kg) and is being ridden with vigour. However, as predicted, the grip shifters are an issue. After 4-5km, he can't shift into easier gears thanks to sweaty hands.
I'm reluctant to buy him a pair of gloves - he'll grow out of them in a month or two. I'm considering finding some proper shifters, but the grips are pretty firmly glued on and it'd be a pain to remove. Does anyone have any other potential solutions? Like a spray that makes the rubber sticky or something like that?
Grip shifters
-
- Posts: 1426
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2013 8:51 pm
- Location: Canberra
- grimbo
- Posts: 320
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:38 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: Grip shifters
Postby grimbo » Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:08 pm
I got my young fellahs gloves 2 years ago when they were 8 and 9 for the same reason, and the gloves are still fitting OK, FWIW.
While the gloves have helped when hands get sweaty, the tektro shifters on one of the bikes are pretty stiff and are still difficult for small hands to twist.
While the gloves have helped when hands get sweaty, the tektro shifters on one of the bikes are pretty stiff and are still difficult for small hands to twist.
"If I can bicycle, I bicycle" ~David Attenborough
- find_bruce
- Moderator
- Posts: 10579
- Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 8:42 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: Grip shifters
Postby find_bruce » Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:11 pm
Most people recommend grip shifters as being easier for little hands.
If he can use it, but his hands become slippery, you could try any one of various sprays on his hands eg stickum
Itac 2 Sports Grip - as used by lawn bowlers and ahem pole dancers, also on evilbay
If he can use it, but his hands become slippery, you could try any one of various sprays on his hands eg stickum
Itac 2 Sports Grip - as used by lawn bowlers and ahem pole dancers, also on evilbay
It doesn't get easier, you just get slower
-
- Posts: 1426
- Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2013 8:51 pm
- Location: Canberra
Re: Grip shifters
Postby lobstermash » Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:21 pm
Yikes, funny how pole dancing gear is often in $20 and $50 denominations
Might go the glove route...
UPDATE: That was easier than I thought... Big W have kids' gloves in various sizes
Might go the glove route...
UPDATE: That was easier than I thought... Big W have kids' gloves in various sizes
Jump to
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+11:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
Brought to you by Bicycles Network Australia | © 1999 - 2024 | Powered by phpBB ®
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.