It’s great to see such a strong mountain biking culture developing at both high school and primary school level in Gauteng. It’s not ideal that some kids are on expensive high-end bikes and others are on borrowed cheap bikes, but that’s how it is. Here’s what your kid requires – at least – in a bike to ensure he/she can be competitive. Note – it doesn’t cost the earth.

Most of the racing done by primary and high-school kids in Gauteng is lap racing. This is also known as XCO (Cross-country Olympic) racing, which is a set number of laps on a shortish circuit ranging from 2km-4km in distance. There’s usually a combination of gravel and grass sections with some courses including more challenging features such as jumps, roll-downs, drop-offs, roots and rocks.

Most school-based event organisers keep the courses low risk and high speed, while a level up at club or provincial events, there are usually more technical courses that require a reasonable level of skill, which requires the ability to read the conditions and ride them appropriately so as to not crash. 

Right up to the age of 15, youngsters don’t really need a full-suspension bike. In fact, even over that age, riders can still be competitive on most Gauteng courses on a hardtail bike combined with the right level of skill, some reliable components, good physical conditioning from training, and ambition. 

However, for kids that excel and are very competitive at the provincial and national level, a full-suspension, lighter bike will be an advantage from the ages of 14 or 15, depending on the kid’s size and ability.

FRAME: For most kids, an aluminium frame hardtail is ideal to start racing on. Aluminium is fairly lightweight and very durable. It’s also more affordable than carbon fibre. Be sure to get the correct size and not fall into the trap of buying a bigger bike so that he/she can grow into it. If they are racing on the wrong size bike, they will not have optimal speed or control and will either lose interest or crash. Or both. 

SUSPENSION FORK: A suspension fork with at least 80mm, but ideally 100mm of travel will give your kid the ability to roll over rough surfaces with some composure. This also enables him/her to navigate poor line choices without a major penalty, keeping him/her on the bike and in contention.

WHEELSET: Ideally, you want a tubeless wheelset. Punctures are part of mountain bike racing but a tubeless wheelset with the appropriate tyres will reduce of the risk of punctures significantly! This wheelset will have aluminium rims and a modern hub with sealed bearings. This ensures the bike rolls smoothly and efficiently.

BRAKESET: You should aim for a bike with hydraulic disc brakes. If your kid has decent brakes, he/she will have increased control and this improves confidence. Most disc brakes are hydraulic, but some are mechanical. Hydraulic is better, but both outperform old-style rim brakes significantly. Small hands and fingers usually require adjustable levers so they can be reached easily. Don’t skimp on this – it’s crucial.

DRIVETRAIN: Simplicity is key when it comes to shifting gears in a race. Ideally, you want a single chainring up front with either 10, 11 or 12 cogs on the cassette at the rear. More than one chainring up front creates confusion and can lead to dropped chains and even crashes. 

WHEELSIZE: This is very dependent on the size of your kid. At primary school, wheel size can include 24, 26, 27.5 and even 29 inch. At high school, it is most likely going to be 26, 27.5 or 29 inch.

BIKE SIZE: As mentioned earlier, don’t compromise on this. The right size bike can be the difference between your kid having fun and feeling confident and losing control, feeling vulnerable and losing his/her desire to race. There’s a dynamic second-hand mountain bike market for racing kids, but there are also new bikes at excellent prices currently that may just be ideal for your kid. Prepare to search for a bit to find the ideal bike and don’t just settle for something that’s not really aligned with the above description.

GET ADVICE: The best place to get advice on the appropriate mountain bike for your kid that’s keen to race is from parents of kids that have been racing mountain bikes for a while and your local bike shop. Lynnwood Cyclery has years of experience in helping get kids on the right bike. Speak to a sales consultant for guidance on what really is a very important investment in your kid’s health and fitness.