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Child size brakes, but not an Islabike? Retrofitting minature brakes?

7 replies

BeehavingBaby · 06/05/2013 09:18

DD was lucky enough to have a CNOC 16 as a gift which has been great for over 2 years and will be used by her sisters, happy with the investment but a 20" Islabike is so far out of range ATM and also would be uncomfortable leaving such an expensive bike on the drive/ to one side at the park etc would really make trips out a bit tense I think.

Anyway, bought a super sturdy Ridgeback 20" from eBay in great nick but the brakes are huge. DD is a dainty 7 year old and they are so big in proportion to her hands as to be ridiculous, years away from being usable . She is basically sharing the CNOC 16" with her sister but looks a bit knees around her ears on it and they can't share for ever.

Holy grail probably but are there any cheaper bikes with small brakes I could look at. Up to £200 maybe, compared to £350 for the Islabike?

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BeehavingBaby · 06/05/2013 09:22

PS. Should have said, I know you can adjust the reach but even so, the plasit fitting/ casing section still leaves the brake lever too far from the handle.

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BeehavingBaby · 06/05/2013 09:23

plastic

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Habbibu · 11/05/2013 13:58

I'd have thought you'd be able to pick up a Beinn 20 for under £200 on ebay. Specialized hotrock is a good bike - again, bigger and heavier than Islabikes, but I think that's typical of most brands, but I think, having seen friends' kids' bikes that the hotrock is lighter than the ridgeback. You should be able to get one for a decent price on eBay. Islabikes hold their value really well, but the waiting time to get money back with than one child is off putting!

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lljkk · 17/05/2013 14:58

You could try contacting Islabikes to ask about where they get their small brake levers from. This tactic hasn't worked in past for me, though.

Best bet, I think would be to trawl carboot sales for a small bike with small brake levers that you can cannabalise.

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BeehavingBaby · 19/05/2013 18:41

I have sourced the identical brakes to the islabike ones for £8.99, just need to get them put on now

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lljkk · 19/05/2013 19:34

ooh! WEll done, where did you get them from?

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BeehavingBaby · 19/05/2013 19:53

I can't remember but they're like these www.wiggle.co.uk/tektro-ts325a-junior-mtb-v-brake-levers/#BVRRWidgetID
One review says they're not the same as the islabike ones, but they look the same to me . Anyway, I have high hopes!