We recently measured Harley and realised he was around the right height for a VPACE 24 inch Moritz... so we reached out to them (they already sponsor Harley) and they sent one over for Harley to ride for 2024!!!

Now... we understand bikes are expensive, we have to buy our own as we aren't sponsored as parents... so we wanted to find out, does it matter what wheel size you ride?

We got Harley to ride the same trails and features on a 20 inch and a 24 inch wheeled bike.. and not only did we discover that the bigger wheels are a bit faster, he felt more confident so he pushed it harder. He was more out of breath after a run on the 24 inch - not because it's harder work to ride... but because he felt safer riding it so he pedalled harder.

The bigger wheels opened up more rock gardens, more drops and generally longer trails.

So, why get a VPACE? It costs hundreds in import tax to the UK... so just get hold of a YT, Mondraker or Commencal, right? 24 inch wheel bikes are NOT the same. The geometry of them can be very different - with minimum rider heights varying by 15cm!!! Children around 5 years old are growing on average 5cm per year... so that 15cm difference could mean the difference between a kid getting onto a 24 at age 5 or age 8!

So how does VPACE make a 24 inch bike so small? They use the 29er principle! Effectively it's like combining the frame from a 20inch wheel bike with the forks and rear drop out from a 24 inch wheel bike... and it WORKS. Getting onto bigger wheels sooner really has made Harley a better, more confident and safer rider... not to mention faster!

For those who the VPACE is just out of their budget then the next closest bike we found in size was the Marin Rift 24 - kindly loaned to us to try by the guys at @flyup417

Most important to remember - is let your kids enjoy the ride. Don't size up their wheels just for speed or opening up trails they aren't ready for... and at the other end don't hold them back on smaller wheels just to build up their bike handling skills... let your kid enjoy a bike ride on a bike that fits them :)

Oh, and for those who spotted Harley won a MTB race last weekend... yes he was on 24 inch wheels and yes 24 inch wheels do roll faster than 20 inch wheels ... but let's give Harley a moment of glory to feel like a winner as one of the youngest riders in the race, riding faster than kids 2-3years older than him and climbing up onto the top step :p

#mtb #bike #wheels #onealriders #vpace

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