[rocwandrer]

I'm looking to hear people's experiences with their kids on 24+ on snow.

My 70 lb daughter on 24x2.6 crown gems at 5 psi gets some impressive float over mud and in sand. Makes me think my uphill battle against a department store grade 20x4 bike might be unnecessary. Maybe go with some wider rims and a 24x2.8 on the front of the carbon 24+ bike for the winter instead of sinking money into a boat anchor?

 

[bme107]

I built up a 24+ with 50mm trials rims and 2.4 then 3.0 tires for my then 9yo son. After he grew out of it my daughter rode it for about the same years. At the time in 2013 there were no off the shelf options for kids. They loved it year round like that while participating in our club’s weekly kids rides from 4-10miles.

As far as strictly for snow, we live in MD, so snow conditions are not great. We get a few dustings and then like one huge 2ft dump a year where any bike struggles. Then it’s melted and gone in 5 days.

On the few occasions we had 4-6” that lasted for a while the bike did only ok. There are no groomed trails so finesse is needed to make forward progress and not wash out or bog down to a stop. They just weren’t that interested in it. Comparatively. Once a year give it a go for 30min but not worth trying again the following day.

It may or may not work for you. Lots of other factors about the kid and conditions than strictly the equipment to consider.

 

[NYrr496]

I think I remember a chick that used to post on here that was small and used to ride a 24" Specialized if there was such a thing. I just remember she had a fat bike with 24" wheels and posted pics of her riding it in snow.

 

[rocwandrer]

I think I remember a chick that used to post on here that was small and used to ride a 24" Specialized if there was such a thing. I just remember she had a fat bike with 24" wheels and posted pics of her riding it in snow.

Specialized did sell both 20" and 24" fat bikes. There were a lot better than anything for that market I've seen in stock anywhere (and I'd love to get her one) but still heavier than a carbon 24+ setup. 24x4" tires are a little bigger diameter than xc 26" tires. We have a 20x4 fatbike which I have been improving. It will never not be heavy. It started out 3/4 of her weight. She got heavier and it got lighter. Now it is half her weight. Still not good. I'm no weight weenie, but imagine riding a bike that weighed half what you weigh. In snow. Up a hill.

 

[rocwandrer]

I built up a 24+ with 50mm trials rims and 2.4 then 3.0 tires for my then 9yo son. After he grew out of it my daughter rode it for about the same years. At the time in 2013 there were no off the shelf options for kids. They loved it year round like that while participating in our club’s weekly kids rides from 4-10miles.

As far as strictly for snow, we live in MD, so snow conditions are not great. We get a few dustings and then like one huge 2ft dump a year where any bike struggles. Then it’s melted and gone in 5 days.

On the few occasions we had 4-6” that lasted for a while the bike did only ok. There are no groomed trails so finesse is needed to make forward progress and not wash out or bog down to a stop. They just weren’t that interested in it. Comparatively. Once a year give it a go for 30min but not worth trying again the following day.

It may or may not work for you. Lots of other factors about the kid and conditions than strictly the equipment to consider.

This is the sort of thing I was picturing, but I was hoping someone who lives where there are groomed, or snowshoed, or snowmobile trails would say how well it works. What did you use for rims?

 

[brentos]

This is the sort of thing I was picturing, but I was hoping someone who lives where there are groomed, or snowshoed, or snowmobile trails would say how well it works. What did you use for rims?

We have lots of groomed trails where we live (Marquette, MI), and a 24" bike w/ 2.8" tires on 28mm internal rims worked quite well for my 65lb 9 yr old last year.

Honestly, it's probably a better option than the 24" Specialized Fat Boy we picked up this year. It's cool, but it's quite a bit heavier and fits really large. We were hoping it would work for our 8 year old this year...but I'm afraid it's far too big, and he'll find himself on the 24x2.8 bike that our older son was on last year.

 

[fisico]

I have done the 24 and 20 in Specialized kids fat bikes.

Here are my observations:

1. They are heavy
2. The specialized rims SUCK (there is no bead shelf, so the bead will drop off to the inside of the rim at anything lower than 9psi)
3. Gearing SUCKS too

On the 24 in bike
-built a new wheelset with Bitex hubs and HED BAD rims. Stock tires work tubeless down to zero PSI now and shaved several pounds of the weight
-changed from stock 9sp 32-34 gearing to 11sp 30-46
-changed mech brakes for cheap hydro
-carbon bar (the stock one is really heavy)
-dropper post
-weight is somewhere around 28 lbs now, I think. Not great, but the kid can get up a hill now.

On the 20 in bike
-changed gearing from 9sp 32-34 to 10sp 30-42
-swapped brakes
-carbon bar
-could never get the wheels to work right and never found a replacement rim that looked promising to run a 4.0 tire on. Running around 2 psi the tire wobbles quit a bit because it partially slides off the rim towards the inside. I could never get it to work tubeless at low pressure either.
-still at 30+ lbs.
-I just use a towee to get the kid to the top of the hill. Going down isn’t a problem.

Overall, I would say the 24 is worth it if you live somewhere with decent snow, as long as you are willing to make some modification. At least wheels and gearing needs work.
The 20 in bike doesn’t work unless you only ride downhill or can somehow figure out the dilemma with the wheels. I think in that size you are better off with a plus bike, especially since the kids weigh so little at that age.

Hope this helps.

 

[bme107]

This is the sort of thing I was picturing, but I was hoping someone who lives where there are groomed, or snowshoed, or snowmobile trails would say how well it works. What did you use for rims?

Neon trials

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Was based off new old stock 26”XC frame from Nashbar clearance sale. I shaved the rim brake bosses off the stays for tire clearance.
Used 100mm QR Exotic carbon fork from eBay. They had tons of A-C’s available to get the fit right.

Remember back in the day there was not much available…..