Why your child needs a bike fit
Children grow quickly and in spurts, the patterns of human growth are affected by many factors, and this is why bike fitting and frame sizing in juniors is so important. It’s the same as growing out of running shoes. Cycling – and the composition of the bike with the rider – affects all areas of a child’s growth:
- Rates of growth of epithelial plates
- Different segmental bone growth rates
- Development of the foot
- Spinal alignment and symmetry
- Pelvic muscle development
- Urogenital development – particularly in boys
Much of a junior bike fit is similar to that for adults, though aspects such safety and comfort and areas such as bar width and crank length have far more impact for kids – and the common practice of purchasing a bike that the child will grow into is sometimes not the answer.
It is always important to ensure you have the correctly sized bike, as well as the appropriate bike-fit set-up and advice around when to review your child’s positioning. When recommending a frame size and cycling shoes for juniors, we will always take into account the scope for that extra growth if this happens.
How often should you fit your child?
Our process is to have an Initial Bike Fit where we start the bike-fitting process. Then given the vast difference of growth rates in children, we suggest keeping an eye on the growth rate (by self-monitoring height) and if there is a growth rate of more than 1.5 cm we suggest a review.
Cycling is so good for juniors – for a healthy lifestyle, improved attention and mental health, and physical conditioning – not to mention that it is fun. Ensure your child has a bike fit performed on a regular basis – at minimum once a year – to maximise the effectiveness and comfort, not to mention safety, of this rewarding recreational activity. Put simply, a junior bike fit is your child’s ticket to riding success, and remember comfort is performance.
How often should you fit your child?
Our process is to have an Initial Bike Fit where we start the bike-fitting process. Then given the vast difference of growth rates in children, we suggest keeping an eye on the growth rate (by self-monitoring height) and if there is a growth rate of more than 1.5 cm we suggest a review.
Our 2-step junior bike-fitting process
Step 1:
Initial Bike Fit $179.00, which is a longer consultation that goes for 1.5 hours.
Step 2:
Review process, a 30-60 minute consultation and review where we give self-monitoring techniques so you know when to make the next review appointment.
$39.50 per half hour.