Scott Scale 26 Rigid
For the old-school mountain biking parents there’s a lot of love and nostalgia for rigid mountain bikes. Without the suspension they’ll be more in tune with the trail, and as a result they can learn some great handling skills to take into their cycling lives, both on-road and off. The Scott Scale 26 compensates for the lack of suspension with plush 2.4” tyres, so the ride will still be very comfortable. It also comes with 16-speed Shimano Tourney gearing and hydraulic disc brakes.
Scott Ransom 600
The Scott Ransom 600 is an excellent option for budding downhill or enduro racers, starting at 135cm in height. The custom butted alloy frame comes equipped with a 140mm X-Fusion Slant RC suspension fork, coupled with a 130mm X-Fusion rear shock, both fine tuned specifically for a child rider.
One of the key features of the Scott Ransom is its Flip Chip technology, which allows you to swap out the 26” wheels for 24” ones, meaning you’ll get a lot more use out of it as your child grows. It also makes a great option if there’s a younger sibling who’ll benefit from it once the elder one is done with it. It also boasts a Syncros Dropper Post and 2.4” Kenda Hellkat tyres, making this a fantastic premium option for the serious rider.
Scott Contessa/Roxter 14
The Scott Contessa/Roxter 14 are great kids bikes suitable for young riders aged 3 to 5 years old.
The main thing to realise about the bike is that the rear brake is a coaster brake. This means that your child needs to pedal backwards to stop their bike. This will happen without them having to use the brake lever for the front brake.
Some young children struggle with brake levers and prefer the backpedalling motion, and can learn to use the single brake lever in their own time. However, do remember that they will need to learn to use two brake levers when they move onto the next sized bike.
Whilst the Scott Contessa/Roxter 14 bikes comes with stabilisers we’d recommend a balance bike instead if they’re not ready to pedal just yet. However, if your child has additional needs and cannot ride a balance bike, then the Contessa/Roxter is a great option.