Youth Road Bicycle

Culprit’s Junior sets roadway bicycles are presented in two sizes, a 20″ wheeled version in addition to 650C version tested by my son, Harrison. Through the spec to the frame, they’re directed at the performance crowd – like in, moms and dads who are into biking and understand just why better parts alllow for a much better experience.

Aside from wheel and framework dimensions, both models are extremely similar: 7005 alloy tubing with aero shaping, Token tires, Shimano 105 derailleurs/cassette/chain, TRP brakes and Microshift levers/shifters. They both utilize the same aero-shaped carbon seatpost with double offset clamp opportunities. Cockpit is a Culprit branded alloy club and stem and thin, conventional searching overall performance saddle, not some puffy perch like of many kid’s mountain bicycles.

Where they vary has been crank length and forks. Both use customized CNC’d three-piece cranksets, with 140mm and 152mm supply lengths dependent on model. Gearing can also be adjusted towards the intended many years and their strength, with a 40/32 on Junior One and 46/36 on Junior Two. Small bicycle uses a 7005 alloy hand, although larger Junior Two improvements to a carbon fork with alloy steerer.

Solid spec for a kid’s bicycle, and when they’re all assembled and also you get your kid out on the trail to you, that is when it gets special…

DETAILS & BODY WEIGHT

At the start, it seems just the high end rushing bike. An integrated, hidden headset and smooth welds complement interior cable routing and aero downtube, seat pipe and chainstays to give it a very streamlined appearance.

The handbuilt Token tires finish off the aero advantages with 30mm deep (front) and 40mm deep (backside) wheels and bladed spokes. They’re wrapped in Kenda Koncept Lite 650x23c tires.

The steerer comes a lot lengthy, permitting you to set the level to fit your child’s development. Handlebar drop is fairly brief, and I also sized bar width at 35.5cm center to center. We left the stem near the top of the steerer to keep Harrison in an even more upright riding position – here’s why:

Microshift levers were spec’d because they’re somewhat smaller compared to Shimano’s levers, much better fitting smaller hands. Brake lever get to is pretty near the taverns, but he’s appropriate between sizes regarding the frame’s recommended aging system (Culprit additionally provides minimum stand over heights on their site). Once we very first rode the bikes at DealerCamp final summer time, the Junior One ended up being borderline too tiny and will have nearly immediately already been outgrown. The Junior Two was borderline too large, but with an age rating of 10-13 years of age, I knew he’d grow into it.

As such, his hands aren’t rather large enough to brake through the hoods, so he rides in falls. Hence, I kept the handlebars as high as feasible. While he grows, we’ll adjust appropriately.

The seatpost is an extended, aero-shaped carbon dietary fiber post with an alloy top providing you with two roles.

Shift cable routing exits simply in front of the base bracket layer. An external bearing BB means effortless replacement with a greater end product if required. The Junior Two’s cranks utilize 110BCD chainrings, so also those can be simply changed. Note just how smooth the welds tend to be, too…very quite.

With a Shimano 105 setup and CNC’d chainrings, it's spec’d a lot better than numerous adult bicycles costing hundreds much more. And, really, it's built strong adequate to be ridden by really short grownups, too, so it’s not likely a 65-80lb kid’s likely to tear it too bad. Unless they begin jumping things.

Other small details feature downtube water bottle cage mount, alloy cage pedals, Token headset and chromoly railed saddle. Real weight when it comes to complete cycle is 18.72lbs (8.49kg).

A PARENT’S EVALUATION WITH OUT RIDDEN THE BICYCLE

In the last day of DealerCamp 2013, Harrison (after that 8-1/2 years old) found at fault around lunchtime. While the exhibitors had been boxing things up at the end of your day, he had been however out operating. There clearly was no way we had been leaving Park City without that bicycle. Therefore, Josh (Colp, creator of Culprit) and I also made a deal, the bicycle ended up being bought and an evaluation guaranteed.

As a cyclist just who happens to be a parent (or the other way around – concerns, right?), witnessing my boy worked up about operating and attempting to go quickly warms the center. So that as an aficionado of fine bikes and components -not to say finally mastering the worth of getting the nice material as soon as as opposed to the bad material several times over- at fault has proven to-be a good choice. Not merely is the components spec impressive for a kid’s bicycle, however the frame is solid and can deliver many years of use as a result of wise design and design.

While MicroShift wouldn’t be my option for my own bicycles, it seems sensible right here plus it works completely good. As does the rest in the bicycle. Actually, I haven’t invested more than 20 mins tuning the bicycle or inflating tires inside 10 months we’ve had it.

The Junior Two retails for $1, 100, which can be about $300 to $400 a lot more than various other bike-shop-quality kids road bicycles we’ve seen recently. For the, I’d say you obtain better wheels, an aero frame and solid spec. In addition, you have the reassurance knowing that your kid won’t outgrow it in 2 many years, which it's durable adequate to outlast their particular entry into the tweens.

HARRISON’S (UNEDITED) REVIEW

Hi, my name is Harrison i will be 9 and I’m gonna tell you about my Culprit-junior two. It can get truly fast down mountain. I enjoy carry on brief rides with my father threw the neighborhood. Additionally we often drive with pals across the area. Among my personal favorite locations going would be to spring garden bakery a cafe not to distant from our home. The thing I don’t really like about it is the fact that If only you can decrease the seat a tad bit more. Whenever I struck harsh spots it handles pretty well like its to not ever rough therefore’s easy to steer or any thing. It’s my very first road-bike and thus far for my first road bike it is my favorite, so buy your kid a Culprit-junior two!