In a message dated 10/30/01 1:28:38 AM Eastern Standard Time, easyseagle@hotmail.com writes:
<< I have a thirteen year old son that wants to ride with me on the road but I cant find a bike short enough for him he has a 24" inseam. The only thing I have found so far is girls bikes and he is embarrassed to ride them. There has to be a bike out there that I can build or buy that he can ride and I can afford can anyone help? >>
As far a used or vintage bikes I think you are in for a tough search for a small drop bar bike. There have been many varieties of "midget racers". Mel Pinto Imports used to have a nice selection of 16", 20", 22", & 24 " (or metric equivalent) wheel Gitanes in the old days" but there were relatively few sold. In the last year someone was trying to sell a 24" wheel Olmo (IMO, for a lot of $) but I think that ad expired.. Maybe you should place a wanted ad in the CR classifieds? <A HREF="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/wanted.htm">Classic Rendezvous Wanted </A>
Anyone out there on the CR list have a midget racer just waiting for a new
owner? I solved this problem by making my son a 20" sewup tired, 531 bike.
See it here:
http://www.cyclesdeoro.com/
Sorry, it is not for sale.... (He is now in his 2nd year in engineering at NC State !)
(WARNING! Non Vintage content starting now!) As far as current models, cycles de ORO has a 2002 model 43 CM Fuji with 650 wheels that looks darn small and I think Trek (I am not a dealer for that brand) has a pretty neat 24" wheel road bike this year. You should try your small person on those. And how about the Giant OCR-3? In the "small" size, it has a very low top tube with it's non classic "compact" design.
Dale
Dale Brown cycles de ORO, Inc. 1410 Mill Street Greensboro, North Carolina USA 27408 336-274-5959 Fax 336-274-6360 <A HREF="http://www.cyclesdeoro.com">cyclesdeORO.com</A> <A HREF="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/main.htm">Classic Rendezvous</A>