<https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WacBBLaQ7Bs/V0eR8EQv-AI/AAAAAAAAGwc/pcuvfKg9C9Uvz97ibk7Z5I0ECnmxQ-ddQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG> I agree 100% with Leah. Disappointing.
I bought an Islabike for my 6 year old in March. He loves the bike. I will say that if they were offering the "pro" series at that time, I would have seriously considered going in another direction. For me the issue is not necessarily the safety of carbon--I will assume that is really no more of an issue these days than any other material. (but carbon steerer? Really?) For me the issue is the blatant attempt to make kids want the "pro stuff." Now, companies have long used pro names to sell merch, from baseball gloves to sneakers to bicycles (Sears had a "Ted Williams" bicycle.) But the ever-increasing specialization and technization of professional racing bicycles makes it kind of absurd to create a kid's bike in this image. Here is the bike for the Age 4 set (the only one without disc brakes, by the way): Cnoc 16 Pro Series Age 4+ / $1199.99 *The first bike we all dreamed of and the most important bike you’ll ever buy.* *The Cnoc 16 Pro Series is a superb introduction to riding for the young cyclist in your life. Stunning specifications and features will give them an unforgettable experience at one of the most important stages of their cycling development.* Riiiiiggght. The main takeaway a young cyclist will get during this "most important stage of their cycling development" is that, to really succeed, you need to buy the bling, baby. But hey, we need to create good little consumers, and what better time in life to sink your brand in? In the How We've Used Carbon Fiber section, there's this: > > This decision to adopt the use of carbon fiber has lead to us designing > and developing our own range of perfectly proportioned, ultra-light forks, > specifically tailored to work perfectly with our Pro Series frames. > > The Pro Series forks are constructed of Toray T700s standard modulus > unidirectional carbon fiber. ..blah blah technomumbojumbo blah blah... > > > *Through manipulation of the fork shape we have been able to achieve the > ride qualities we were looking for.* (My emphasis) Our exclusive > monocoque design features gently curved fork legs which reduce in size > towards the center allowing the fork to flex evenly along its entire length > for ride comfort, while flattened profiles retain steering sharpness.... > > > By using multiple unidirectional carbon fiber layers in varying degrees > throughout the fork we can also adjust the fork characteristics....blah > blah multidirectional blah blah layup...blah blah > > For the ultimate in lightweight, the forks feature full carbon > construction of the legs, crown and steerer. Because they are designed for > lighter riders we have been able to build them significantly lighter than > equivalent adults models whilst still being strong enough to withstand > rigorous loads — over and above testing... > > > We’ve incorporated a neat internal routing for the brake hose on our disc > brake models, keeping the cable out of harms way and removing the need for > a screw-on clamp. > Seriously? How would you know that you've achieved "the ride qualities 'you' were looking for?" By tooling around the test track on a 16" wheeled bicycle? Come on. Keeping the cable out of harm's way? What about the revolving discs that the pros recently decided to ban? Sheesh. I had to think long and hard before laying out in the neighborhood of $600 for a bike my 6-year-old will outgrown in 2 years max. I did it because he has shown a real interest and enjoyment in bicycling, and it is something we do together, and the bike's features had a true cost for benefit logic. Plus I figured a chunk of that would be recouped at resale, or his younger cousin would ride it. $1200 for a 4-year-old's bicycle is, honestly, nuts. And not just because it is out of my price range. My son's mother wanted to buy him the same bicycle to have when he is with her! I said please, no, let's just get the bike back and forth. What kind of values would we be teaching by getting him two of the same bicycle? Or a "pro" bike that looks just as menacing and depressing as today's "real race bicycle" and goes well above and beyond what any kid needs (or really, should have) at that age? The "regular" Islabikes come in bright, fun kid colors. The "pro" bikes come in stealth matte black with blood red highlighting. I understand there are arguments for the existence of these things--hey, if you have the money and you want the "best" why not? Hey, life is competition, give the kid an edge. Hey, why not emulate your "heroes. "Hey, why not rent that baby elephant for your kid's 7th birthday party. Hey, etc. etc. It goes without saying that this is strictly my point of view. I think in another post about the Islabikes I mused about a collaboration between Rivendell and Islabike. Guess they went another way. It really is a bummer. Mack and I will still enjoy our rides together just as much, but I'll be way less likely to talk up the bike to other parents. Because yeah, it does matter what you decide to make and sell. Not that my little non-recommendations by omission will make a difference, but oh well. On Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 5:03:46 PM UTC-4, LeahFoy wrote: > > You may remember my past thread about needing a good bike for my 7 year > old child. The List graciously pointed me to Islabikes. The Portland dealer > was lovely; the rep asked what I ride, and was very complimentary upon > hearing it is a Rivendell. Islabikes create bikes that just make good sense > - ergonomics aside, they have provisions for racks and panniers and > fenders, good stuff. I began to think of them as "Riv-ish." > > Imagine my dismay today when I saw the unveiling of their new "pro line" > of bikes. Carbon forks! In children's bikes! Lighter carbon than their > competitors, even! Oh, let's not even tell Grant. Not after yesterday's > BLUG post... > http://www.islabikes.com/pro-research-and-development/ > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
