Re: [CR]Small drop bar bikes (was: bike for my son)

(Example: Framebuilders:Doug Fattic)

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 11:33:24 -0500
From: "Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com>
Organization: Friday's Computer
To: OROBOYZ@aol.com
Cc: easyseagle@hotmail.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Small drop bar bikes (was: bike for my son)
References: <170.3213aad.291026ea@aol.com>


Being that this might have been off topic, I replied off-list, but since we're here, I'll repeat.

My 9 old is merrily riding the smallest size of Terry road bike with the seat all the way down, and my son is 50th percentile in terms of height for his age. They measure about 43cm in the seat tube and 48 in the top tube, 24" front wheel, 700 rear. He actually stole it from my wife, who was none too pleased!

If my 9 year old can do that, I'm sure your 13 year old can as well. My wife also fits the next size up in a Terry, which is about 48 in the seat tube and 49 in the top tube, so she's switched to that size because she knows she'll get another year or two before that, too, gets stolen from under her. The larger size might work better for your 13 year old.

These Terry's, in both sizes, come up regularly in the newsgroups and on ebay and are generally quite inexpensive. Complete bikes with front double and rear six-speed are usually no more than $150. Most of those we've found seem to date from the late 80's when the Terry Despatch and Gambit models were sold. There is also a Miyata that's nearly identical to the Terry's, so much so that I asked Georgina Terry if she'd licensed the design to Miyata. She said no, she hadn't, but the resemblance was so strong that they took to referring to it as a Terryaki <smile>.

We've had no problem getting either sewups or clincher tires, or rims, for the 24" size in front. And my son is having no trouble shifting or braking with the 8-speed Ergo levers.

-S-

OROBOYZ@aol.com wrote:
>
> 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/Dales_frames/DB_Ryans.htm
>
> 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>