Leatt DBX 5.5 Junior Neck Brace Review

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Leatt DBX Youth 5.5 Neck Brace Review

Leatt DBX 5.5 Junior Neck Brace Review: We initially purchased Leatt DBX 3 neck braces for our kids when they were racing BMX a few years ago. This is because we saw a lot of crashes in those days and wanted to provide as much protection as we could for our boys. The concept behind a neck brace is to redirect some of the force from the neck to the body and limit extreme range of motion of the neck in the event of a crash.

Leatt neck braces for kids
Leatt neck braces for kids

Early in the summer of 2017, we noticed the DBX 3 brace was not fitting our oldest as well as it used to and decided he needed to move up to a larger size. We upgraded both kids to the DBX 5.5 (one junior and one adult S/M). The Leatt DBX 5.5 is a total re-deisgn when compared to the design DBX 3.

Features of the Leatt DBX 5.5 Junior Neck Brace:

  • Improved adjustability and fit – will grow with growing kids
  • Improved comfort – due to better fit and lower rise from shoulders
  • Easier to get on and off (push button release)
  • Sits lower on shoulders – allows better movement to look around while riding
  • Easier transport and storage – the rear strut folds inward making the brace almost flat
Close up (sorta) of the the Leatt 5.5 DBX Junior neck brace

We’ve had just one minor issue. The brace slightly rubs at contact points of the user’s chest and back. When used for several days in a row this can cause moderate discomfort. We were able to fix this with some well-placed band aids – some people even use tape. This issue should not be regarded as deal-breaker by any means with this product. It’s a very acceptable trade-off for the additional protection the Leatt DBX 5.5 offers your young mountain bikers.

Rear view of Leatt DBX 5.5 junior
Kids wearing Leatt neck braces
Young mountain biker wearing the Leatt DBX 5.5 Junior neck brace with hydration pack
Strut folded in on the Leatt neck brace

Get Your Kid’s Neck Brace Configured Properly

Setting up Leatt neck braces takes some time. Our local bike shop was happy to help us get the braces set-up to fit appropriately. This process took about 5-10 minutes. It’s important that the braces are adjusted and checked for fit while sitting on a bike. If you have to do it on your own, the braces come with well-illustrated instructions.

When it comes to the function and design of a neck brace for mountain biking, every company seems to have their own perspective on how it should be made. Leatt is one of the most popular brands and for good reason. The DBX 5.5 Junior is CE certified while still offering comfort and freedom of moment for the rider. The chassis of the brace has a small amount of flex to it in order to fit different body types. However, it remains rigid enough to still transfer harsh forces away for the spine and disperse it across the body. The CoreFlex rear strut has been designed to break away under sever impacts to ensure the best protection possible. Overall, the DMX 5.5 junior is a great buy for anyone who want their children to have more protection.

Yeah – Our Kids Have Crashed While Wearing Their Neck Braces

Both of our kids have crashed while wearing their neck braces. Our oldest took a pretty good tumble off a step-down and went over the bars. Our youngest has taken several smaller falls when wearing his neck brace. His latest was when he plowed over a berm with speed at a bike park last summer. In our opinion, we believe the neck braces functioned and performed how they should have. The (neck) range of motion in our kids’ falls was limited by the neck braces. Will this always be the case? We have no idea. There are several factors that make each crash unique.

While we obviously hope neither of our kids experiences the type of crash that demonstrates the true value of the Leatt brace, we are happy to have the peace of mind that the extra protection provides.

Lastly, our kids know that it’s their responsibility to wear their neck braces when conditions dictate the need. It’s just like wearing a seatbelt in the car. After a few days getting used to them, it’s just a regular habit. The neck braces go on just like knee pads and elbow pads when the situation is warranted.

Scott Scale RC JR 24 Mountain Bike Review

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Scott Scale RC JR 24 bike review

When you’re looking for a new cross country mountain bike for your kid, chances are you want something that is lightweight, stiff, and spec’d with a great drivetrain. That is the exact thought that went into the Scott Scale RC JR 24 mountain bike. This is a “race ready” children’s mountain bike that can have your little rider flowing along the trails like never before.

The Scott Scale RC JR at Thunder Mountain
The Scott Scale RC JR 24 cruising along the scenic Thunder Mountain trail near Bryce Canyon.
Scott Scale RC JR mountain bike for kids

The Words That Matter The Most

Our kid says…

“This bike is good to pedal uphill because of the weight. It’s a lot lighter than my downhill bike. I like the brakes too. My hands don’t get as tired using my brakes like my last bike.”

At-A-Glance

Standover: About 23"

Stock Weight: 23.0 lbs. We’ve added a Suntour XCR air fork and converted the tires to D-I-Y tubeless.

Our First Look At The Scott Scale RC JR 24 

Race ready is a strong way to describe any bike, but for the most part, this Scott bike lives up to the expectations. There are a couple of things that you may need to change depending on your child. For example, the pedals are the typical inexpensive plastic pair that comes with most bikes. The other thing that might need changed is the fork. For smooth paths the rigid fork will be fine. However, our little mountain biker needed a fork with suspension to help absorb some of the nastier terrain found on trail rides. Overall the bike is a solid build that will encourage natural progression.

Brian Head - on the Scott Scale RC JR 24
Profile view of the Scott Scale RC JR 24

Let’s start off with the frame. It is constructed out of 6061 aluminum that is double butted to increase strength around high stress areas. As a result, the frame is super light and a great platform for the build. Another nice thing about this frame is the curved top tube. You will notice that when looking at the bike, the tube has a flat spot in front of the seat before bending upwards to the head tube. This makes it easy for little riders to swing their leg over the bike when getting on and off.

Next is the drivetrain. It is a simple yet efficient 1×10 speed set up. This means that there is only one chain ring at the front and 10 gears at the back. Our rider loved the simplicity of only having one shifter to worry about. The shifter itself is a SRAM X5 trigger shifter which seems to work quite well with the SRAM GX rear derailleur. The wide range cassette offers quite a good array of gears enabling your child to ride at a fair pace, and climb and descend hills with ease.

Quick release seat post collar on the Scott Scale RC JR 24 in wheel mountain bike for kids
SRAM GX derailleur on the 24 inch Scott Scale RC JR
Tektro hydraulic brakes on the Scott Scale RC JR 24

A bike encouraging your child to pick up their pace can be nice. However, without good brakes, it could get a little bit scary for us parents. Thankfully Scott took this into consideration and gave the bike Tektro hydraulic disk brakes and 60mm rotors to make sure there would never be a problem slowing down. It is especially nice that they used hydraulic brakes over cable as it gives the young ones a chance to control the braking power rather than just being on and off like most cables brakes.

This bike has been designed to fit riders from ages 8 to 10 and is offered in one frame size. It is based around 24” diameter wheels. These work well for short riders because they don’t raise the height of the bike too much. Another great feature about this Scott is that it only weighs about 23 pounds. Most children’s bikes are a fair amount too heavy for them. And, they can tire your kid out quite quickly. This bike on the other hand can be tossed around easily by children on a ride. You’ll immediately notice that they can ride for longer when on the Scott compared to many other bikes.

Kids don’t want boring looking bikes. They want color and a design that will make others double take. This Scott is surely a looker (even from an adult’s perspective). It has clean lines, and a head turning black and neon yellow paint job. It just looks fast, and our rider loves that. Even the Syncros components have been color matched to the frame. This bike gets two thumbs up in the style department.

Riding the Scott Scale RC JR 24 at Bootleg Canyon, Nevada
The Scott Scale RC JR 24 does great across moderately technical terrain. We added an air fork so our kiddo could challenge the chunk of Bootleg Canyon's SD trails.

Our Upgrade – SR Suntour XCR Air Fork

We chose to put front suspension for on our rider’s bike as he is no stranger to rough terrain. In fact, he tends to gravitate towards it. Unlike most kids’ forks, this Suntour is something that really works well for lightweight riders. Since it is air sprung you have the ability to adjust the air pressure for their weight. Once the air pressure is set, you can easily make smaller adjustments to the preload via a knob on top of the right fork leg. Fully extended, the fork offers 80mm of travel but is internally adjustable via spacers to offer as little as 63mm. The XCR children’s air fork turned out to be the perfect complement to the already capable Scott Scale RC JR 24.

We review the Scott Scale RC JR 24
Confident and comfy bike control is exhibited on the Scott Scale RC JR 24.
Scott Scale RC JR with 24 inch wheels and disc brakes

Final Thoughts On This Kids’ 24 Inch Wheel Mountain Bike

The Scott Scale RC JR 24 is a true cross country bike. It looks fast, and rides extremely efficiently under the power of little legs. Depending on your child, upgrading the fork might be a good option for you. However, this is personal preference and many kids will not need it. Our rider loves the bike and always has a good time on it.  If spending a little more than average money makes every trail ride that much more enjoyable, then it is worth it in our minds.

October Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

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October audiobook suggestions for family mountain biking road trips

Audiobooks for Family Road Trips – Being in the car with the entire family is one of my favorites parts of going on mountain bike trips. The kids hardly ever ask “Are we there yet?” if a good story is with us. Most of the time they’re eager to get in the car and drive for hours. If you have not already heard these three suggested audiobooks, we hope you listen to the samples and give them a shot on your next adventure.

Coraline - audiobook for kids on road trip

Coraline – Written and read by Neil Gaiman

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO SAMPLE

Neil Gaiman creates a shadowy adventure in Coraline, a story of a young girl who is tired of her dreary existence. Coraline travels through a mysterious door to a flat that appears strangely like her own. She falls in love with this world and is taken in by her other mother. In place of eyes she has black buttons and despite her otherworldly appearance Coraline is taken in by it all.

After her parents are kidnapped, Coralline travels back through the door to save them. She is confronted by new friends and stranger truths before she strikes a deal to save herself, her parents and her new ghostly friends. Coraline uses her wits and bravery to find her way out of the other world. And she succeeds in dismantling the nightmarish place created by the other mother.

Listen to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on your next mountain biking road trip with kids.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – written by J.K. Rowling and read by Jim Dale

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO SAMPLE

This series is a home run for audiobooks for family road trips. Jim Dale’s soft and commanding voice brings the world of J.K Rowling’s creation to life in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. This is the first story in a series of 7.

Harry Potter is the boy who lived – and is currently under the stairs in his aunt’s home. Treated like a servant, bearing the brunt of his cousin’s bullying, Potter is unaware of his magical heritage. After ten years of living at Four Privet Drive, Harry receives a letter delivered by a gentle giant of a man named Hagrid. Harry learns that he is a Wizard and has been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Guided by Hagrid, Harry prepares for his new life away from his relative’s home. He learns of his fame, retrieves his inheritance, boards the Hogwarts Express and meets Hermione and Ron. Harry’s time in Hogwarts is met with excitement and danger as he is confronted by the villain who tried to kill him as a baby.

The Witches - enjoy it on your next family road trip.

The Witches – written by Roald Dahl

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO SAMPLE

In The Witches, Roald Dahl takes us to a place where witches are real and they hate little children. The narrator is a young boy and his grandmother tells him about the wicked oculists. He learns what they look like and that they can be anyone he encounters.

The narrator travels with his grandmother and when accidentally spying on the withches’ convention at a hotel, he learns that they have a dastardly plan.

Five Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Shoes for Kids – Review

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Five Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Shoe for Kids - Review
Five Ten Freerider Contact mountain biking shoes for kids

New Kids’ Bike Shoe Review Available!

Our 11 year old grew out of the Five Ten Freeriders shown on this page so we had to get him a new pair of mountain biking shoes. Follow the link to learn about the Five Ten Freerider Contact shoes he has been wearing for the 2018 season. Over the course of two weeks, he rode ’em hard every day and never complained about them being uncomfortable.

Mountain Bike Shoes for Kids That Don’t Cut Corners

Do your little ones need to have specialized shoes for mountain biking? Probably not. Can shoes like the Five Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Shoes for kids make a positive difference in the experience of riding a mountain bike? Absolutely!

Brett purchased his initial pair of Five Tens several years ago. After he got them, he kept recommending that I should get some too. After some time, I gave in and bought the women’s Freerider shoes. It was amazing to feel the difference that the shoes made to my riding. The stiff, flat soles on the shoes make full contact with the pedals helping to achieve a planted feeling. Five Ten has been making rock climbing shoes since 1985 and they’re famous for producing shoes that feature their high-frication Stealth rubber on the soles. Their mountain biking shoes have amazing grip as well, while the shallow tread allows for easy foot repositioning when needed.

We decided to purchase Five Ten Freerider Kids mountain biking shoes for our children early last year. Our youngest currently wears the size 2.5 US and our oldest wears 9.5 US. After two seasons of riding in them, the shoes have become an essential part of their cycling gear. Both kids appreciate the “grippiness” of the soles, which have decreased the number of times they slip off the pedals. In our opinion, the toe boxes of the shoes seem to be wider than most. For our kids’ duck-shaped feet, this makes the shoes more comfortable. They still do slip a pedal now-and-then, and the result can look like a scene out of a horror film. Immediately following a gory mauling of the shin, we ask if they want to start wearing shin pads. They always refuse.

5-10 Freerider Mountain Bike Shoe for Kids

Five Ten Freeriders Kids Mountain Bike Shoes

  • Multiple sizes and colors
  • One-piece sole
Suede leather and mesh uppers
  • DottyTM tread on the sole
  • Visit FiveTen.com for more information
mountain bike shoes for kids

Five Ten Freerider Contact available in women’s sizes 5-11 at Adidas Outdoor.

Five Ten Freerider VCS - a mountain biking shoe for kids

Five Ten Freerider VCS available in kids’s sizes 2-10.5k at Adidas Outdoor.

Deity Components Compound Pedal

Deity Components Compound Pedal available at Backcountry.

Race Face Chester Pedal

Race Face Chester Pedal available at Backcountry.

The links above are for affiliate partners. That means if you click on them and make a purchase, we earn a small commission. Read more here.

Five Ten Freerider Kids shoe review, mountain bike
Five Ten Freerider Shoes for Kids
Five Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Shoes for Kids
What our kids say about their 5-10 Freerider mountain bike shoes

What Our Boys Say About Their Five Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Shoes for Kids..

“If you have good pedals (with pins) it almost feels like you’re clipped in.”
“They’re comfortable and I like how my foot doesn’t shift in the shoe. They fit me very well.”
“They last a really long time. They’re the only shoes I haven’t worn out.”

The Pedals You Use With These Shoes Make A Difference

Flat mountain biking pedals with metal pins are also a necessity for these shoes to perform their best. Standard metal “rat-trap” or thick plastic plastic molded pedals with the orange reflectors on them will not take full advantage of the tacky Stealth rubber on the soles of the Five Tens. We currently use flat pedals with pins on our younger son’s bike, a Trek Fuel Ex Jr.

Our boys can be hard on shoes – so much so that we have burned through skate shoes in the span of a few months. However, since we opted to buy big, we are on the second year of use of these shoes (pictured) and they barely look worn. All of us are careful to only wear our mountain biking shoes only for biking so the soles don’t get unnecessary wear-and-tear. The uppers are made with suede leather and mesh.

The shoes perform well off the bike providing decent traction on dirt. And of course, excellent grip on rock and pavement.

If your family rides several times per month, the Five Ten Freerider Mountain Bike Shoes for Kids shoes may make riding even more fun.

The only issue we have had with these mountain biking shoes is that the long laces don’t seem to stay tucked in the shoes well for our younger rider. The laces loose laces have gotten caught on the bike/other objects a few times. If I were purchasing new, I’d buy the Velcro closure shoes for him.

These are not cheap for growing kids. Like other youth mountain biking gear – you can clean them up and try to re-sell them. We have seen used kids’ MTB shoes like these for sale on our local online buy/sell websites and Facebook groups.

Three Audiobooks You May Enjoy On Your Next Mountain Biking Trip With Kids

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Scat, Star Girl, The Strange Case Of Origami Yoda

We’re true believers in audiobooks for road trips with kids. Mountain biking with kids means a lot time in the car. Sometimes, it’s several hours. As I’m writing this, we are on our way to St. George, Utah. My wife is driving and we are on southbound I-15. I affectionately call this route the “S-Z-C”, or Southern Zion Current. This drive is about 320 miles and it takes us 5 hours. Some drives are shorter for us. Park City is only 30 minutes away from our house. And, some of our trips are much longer. Earlier this year, we drove from Salt Lake City, Utah to Bellingham, Washington in one day.

Less screen time is a good thing

Like most families, we try to limit our kids’ screen time. We got rid of cable/satellite TV around 7 years ago and never looked back. Accessing movies on iTunes or RedBox works fine for us. And, one of my guilty pleasures is watching 70’s and 80’s bands perform live on YouTube. Look up The Midnight Special on YouTube and you’ll see fantastic live performances by Blondie, KC And The Sunshine Band, ABBA, and Billy Joel – just to name a few.

We used to have a portable DVD player with two screens in the car, but as our youngest got to be around three years old, we just stopped bringing it on trips and started listening to books on CD. When our youngest was around four years old, he was old enough to complain about listening to books on CD. The conversation went something like this, “Uggggg. Not another story.” About ten minutes later, this was followed shortly by peaceful snoozing for an hour or so at a time. Our complainer’s older brother would always accept that time in the car meant listening to stories.

As a trip nears, we’re always on the prowl for the next book on CD or series of audio books that will make the upcoming drive an atraumatic experience for all four of us.

Without further ado… here are some of the winners we have found so far. If you have some favorites your family has enjoyed, please tell us in the comments below. Why do all these titles begin with the letter “S”? I have no idea. It’s just coincidence.

Scat - by Carl Hiassen

Scat

Comedy and mystery are entwined in Carl Hiaasen’s, Scat. The story is narrated by Ed Asner – the actor mostly known for the voice of Carl from Pixar’s UP and the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Bunny Starch is a biology teacher feared by her students. She disappears after a school trip to Black Vine Swamp.

The children are relieved and when the Principal tells the students that Mrs. Starch left due to a family emergency, Nick and Marta aren’t buying it. The pair of amateur sleuths team up and trust that the classes delinquent, Smoke is involved. On their journey of discovery, Nick and Marta find that a lot of bad things are happening at Black Vine Swamp. They meet Twilly an eco-avenger claiming to be the nephew of Mrs. Scratch. They learn that there are panthers in the swamp and the Red Diamond Energy Company are drilling in the area. Nick and Marta pair up with Smoke, Twilly and Marta to save the panthers and the swamp from the company proving that very different people can come together for a common goal. Books by Hiaasen are definitely some of our audiobooks for road trips with kids.

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO SAMPLE

Stargirl

Stargirl

Protagonist Leo Borlock becomes intrigued by the mystery of Stargirl in Jerry Spinelli’s narrative of teenage nonconformity. Stargirl Caraway is the new girl dressed in odd clothing from different eras. She sings Happy Birthday to every student and is perceived as fake by the most popular girl in school. As time passes Stargirl is embraced by her classmate’s thanks to her place on the cheerleading squad but this is short lived and she is once again shunned due to her differences.

When Leo begins dating Stargirl he realizes that he too is being shunned and tries to change her. Stargirl begins going by her real name Susan and even as she tries to conform she realizes that fitting in doesn’t matter. That her efforts to be “normal” are in vain and that she has betrayed herself by not being Stargirl. When she returns to her usual self Leo breaks things off with her unable to deal with the shunning. During a school dance, Stargirl is once again a star in the school but her time at Mica Area High School has come to an end and she moves away without saying goodbye. Instantly recognizable, John Ritter reads Stargirl like a father putting his daughter to bed.

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO SAMPLE

The Strange Case Of Origami Yoda

The Strange Case Of Origami Yoda

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda is a clever story of a young boy that brings his imagination to life for others. Great things come in small packages and sixth grader Dwight is a small package with a big personality. He is an odd boy at McQuarrie Middle School who creates an Origami Yoda and proceeds to give advice to his classmates. Many students are convinced that Origami Yoda is real and fellow sixth grader Tommy sets out to prove this with the help of his friend Kellen who illustrates the project.

Bully Harvey is not convinced of Yoda’s existence and attempts to disprove Origami Yoda’s connection to the force. Inspired by a real life Origami Yoda and the unique writing associated with Star Wars, Author Tom Angleberger tells his own unique tale about a young outcast you intrigue the mind of students with his Origami Yoda. The story is narrated by Mark Turetsky, Greg Steinbruner, Jonathan Ross, Julia Gibson, and Charlotte Parry.

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO SAMPLE

Need more suggestions on audiobooks for road trips with kids? Take a look at MTB with Kids Summer 2018 Audiobook Suggestions

Trek Fuel Ex Jr. Review

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Trek Fuel Ex Jr Review

Until just a few years ago, part of being a kid meant having to make use of a poorly spec’d, heavy bike with outdated components that really didn’t ride that well. Our favorite bike mechanic called this “The curse of the kid bike”. However, it seems those days are over. Several bike manufacturers are producing high quality bikes aimed at little shredders. Take a close look at the 2016 Trek Fuel Ex Jr.

Trek Fuel Ex Jr. Review - Moab
Our test rider has been putting the Trek Fuel Ex Jr. through its paces all over the place over the last few months. This is the skills park in Moab, Utah.
Trek Fuel Ex Jr. - Our young mountain biker

The Words That Matter The Most

Our kid says…

“I really like this bike because of the rear suspension. Unlike my last bike, I can do jumps and land without getting sketchy or tired out. And, it’s not too heavy.”

At-A-Glance

Standover: About 25.5"

Weight: 30.8 lbs. We’ve added a RockShox Reverb, Deity composite pedals and Bontrager XR4 Expert tires.

Dropping In With The Trek Fuel Ex Jr. 

This mountain bike is one of the first full suspension trail bikes that has the geometry and components to make it perform for a child just the same as a full-sized trail bike works for an adult. Saying that, it also comes at a higher price tag than most kid’s bikes. So the question is, is it worth it? Well the answer to that will of course depend on the types of trails she/he likes to ride.

Our test rider is ten years old, weighs 63.6 lbs. and it 56” tall. His inseam measures 26”. He’s competent on a mountain bike. This allows him to use all the bike’s features to their limits and and offer credible feedback. The bike perform as well as Trek advertises it to. Just like an adult on a full sized bike, our rider was pushing to improve his skill level by riding things that quite frankly, would not be possible on a lower-end children’s bike. Our kid has climbed hills much more comfortably and descended technical terrain with confidence on this rig. He has enjoyed the bike on cross-country rides over 20 miles long. The bike also performs without a flaw on a bike park’s flow trails and technical terrain.

Trek Fuel Ex Jr. review - Robert's Creek
Pedaling the Trek Fuel Ex Jr. in Moab, Utah

We really wanted to have our son try this bike at the end of last season and get him off his old 24” bike with a cheap seized-up fork and cantilever brakes, but he just wasn’t tall enough. As we’ve been riding with our kids, we’ve discovered something we like to call the Bail-ability Factor. This is when your kid has to quickly get off the bike due to steep terrain. a narrow feature, or other technical gnar. The standover height regarding a bike’s Bail-ability Factory is the critical variant. A mountain bike too big will not allow your kid to firmly plant her/his foot on the ground fast enough when they need to his the eject button. Of course crashing happens – but you can limit some of them by having the right size bike.

What Helps Make The Trek Fuel Ex Jr. So Good? The Suspension

The Trek Fuel Ex Jr. has been given a low volume 90mm X-fusion Microlite RL air shock at the rear which works very well under our kid given his light weight. It features a lock-out adjustment for climbing. On the front is a 90mm X-fusion Velvet RL air sprung fork with a lock-out feature as well. Together the front and rear suspension provide all of the traction and bump absorption that your little one will need on a moderately technical trail ride or laps in the bike park. The air suspension also means you can set the air pressures for your child’s specific weight and riding style. Depending on the terrain we’re riding, our young mtb rider will request adjusting the air in the suspension.

Sizing And Components

As far as sizing goes, this mountain bike will fit riders around 4’4” to 5’ tall. The 12.5” frame has been sized to fit small riders but makes use of 26” wheels. 26” wheels might be coming to an end in the adult mountain bike world, but for smaller riders, they offer the ability to roll over terrain relatively easily without raising the bike’s stand over height too much. We love the 26” wheels on this bike because even though our kid may out-grow it in just a season or two, it is the perfect fit for now. It allows him to control the bike and pedal efficiently. We are going to upgrade the wheels to tubeless wth a D-I-Y method or invest in 26” tubeless rims and lighter hubs.

Trek Fuel Ex Jr Review

The top tube on the frame is quite short, there are no reach issues. Just a comfortable and natural riding position.

As with everything else on this bike, the drive train is also child friendly. The cranks used are 160mm long, which are perfect for keeping the little legs spinning. 10 gears are found on the back cassette, and there are two gear rings up front. This offers a wide range of gear ratios for your child, making it easier for them to tackle obstacles such as steep hills. If your child does not have experience with multiple gears, this bike will encourage them to learn when to shift properly.

Trek Fuel Ex Jr. brake and shifter with RockShox Reverb dropper
Trek Fuel Ex Jr. crank and shock
Trek Fuel Ex Jr. rear brake
Trek Fuel Ex Jr. with Shimano Deore rear derailleur

The cockpit is also, you guessed it, child sized. The bars are a narrow but fitting 580mm. Attached to them are good quality Shimano Deore trigger shifters, which is a huge step up from the awkward twist shifters that are often placed on children’s bikes. The brake levers are not adjustable which may not be optimal for shorter fingers. Most kids should not struggle with them though, and if need be, they could always be swapped out. The hydraulic disc brakes do provide ample power which is essential considering the fact that this bike may just make your child ride faster than ever before.

The Bottom Line

This isn’t the bike to buy if your child wants to ride to ride around the neighborhood. If go mountain biking with kids in the dirt, or your child is pushing the limits of their current trail bike, the Trek Fuel Ex Jr. is absolutely worth it. If your child is into downhill racing or taking on expert terrain in the bike parks, you should consider a downhill rig with a 1x drivetrain and dual crown fork. A lighter, hard tail cross-country mountain bike may be the best option if your mountain biking family’s idea of the perfect ride is hammering out climbs at a quick pace and racking up the miles on less technical terrain.

This is a killer all-mountain bike for the right sized young rider. It doesn’t matter if your your mountain biker has strong cycling skills, or if she/he is just starting out. The comfort, and superior build quality that this machine offers will inspire confidence and have your little one excited to hit the trails.

Check out Trek Bikes for their latest updates.

SixSixOne Rage Youth Knee Pad Review

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SixSixOne Rage Youth Knee Pad Review

Rage Youth Knee Pad Review – Providing your kid with knee and elbow protection is a great way to boost his/her confidence on the bike and decrease the risk of a painful injury from a fall. A lot of youth sized products have caught up in the bike industry, but we have struggled to find pads that fit our skinny kids well while being light enough to wear during a longer ride.

SixSixOne Rage youth knee pads are heavy-duty pads with an internal soft cap over the knee and two round, thick EVA foam padding areas on the sides. The Rage knee pads are composed of 50% Neoprene, 15% Kevlar, 15% EVA, 15% Nylon, and 5% Plastic. The back of the knee knee pad is open to release heat and enable full range of motion. Both the top and bottom of these pads can be secured with velcro straps.

Review of SixSixOne Rage Youth Knee Pads

At this stage, the SixSixOne Rage Youth Knee Pads are broken-in and ready for another day of riding.

The overall quality and craftsmanship of these knee pads is very good. Our 10 year old wore them for several days in-a-row; in the mud and rain – and even crashed in them a couple of times. We know that aside from cost, how they look and fit, you always wonder ‘How will these hold up in crash?’. Well, we have the answer for you.

Crashing In The SixSixOne Rage Youth Knee Pads

Our young mountain biker took a digger in the Whistler Bike Park on Crank It Up while wearing his SixSixOne knee pads. It had been raining all day, and with the determination of Icarus, he hopped on one of the wall rides near the top of the trail. These wall rides have vinyl graphics on them and when they’re wet- they are slick. Lacking the right speed and/or angle, our kid slipped out and fell a few feet into the dirt.

The pads protected him on the front and sides of his knees just fine. I like the fact that manufacturers are aware that mountain bike knee pads need to be designed differently than knee pads for other sports.

The Look And The Fit

Rage youth knee pads are black with white screen printed graphics. The velcro straps wrap around the back of the leg and are secured across the front of the knee pad on the top and bottom. They look great.

Side view of the SixSixOne Rage Youth knee guard

Side view of the SixSixOne Rage Youth Knee Pads. We love how they have protection on the exterior right-side and left-side of the knee pads.

Regarding the fit, we stated earlier that our kid has skinny legs. The circumference of your favorite pint glass is about the circumference of our rider’s knees. His knees are so skinny that we tied a couple of knots in the strap so the velcro aligns on the front in order to fasten the pad. It’s our kid’s opinion that this is uncomfortable and leads to chaffing. Dad definitely needs to take the time to shorten up the strap by sewing it properly and getting rid of the knots.


At A Glance:

  • Burley padding saved knees on numerous occasions!
  • Durable – stands up to use/abuse
  • Loose fit over time – the straps stretched and became too loose to secure tightly

Bell Super 2r Helmet Review

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Bell Super 2r Helmet Review - Mountain Biking With Kids

UPDATE: Read our review featuring the Bell Super 3r, too.

Our kids have both hit their faces while falling off a mountain bike. A few years ago, we were making them wear their full-face helmets on any ride that was even slightly technically difficult. They hated wearing their hot full face helmets on cross country trails. But I was traumatized by visions of knocked out teeth and fractured jaws inspired by their previous falls.

The Bell Super2R was a great solution for all of us. This helmet covers more of the head than a regular cross-country helmet – extending farther on the back, sides, and forehead. Bell helmets are comfortable and are easily adjustable to fit securely. The 23 large vents keep it much cooler than a traditional full-face helmet.

  • Bell Super 2r Helmet Review - rear clasp being done by 10-year old
  • 10-year old fastening the side clasp of a Bell Super 2r chin bar- mountain biking with kids
  • Accessory mount for Bell Super 2r helmet review - mountain biking with kids

Chinbar Details

We love that the removable chin-bar can easily be secured hydration packs (and can fit inside a small backpack) for the climbing portion of the trail. The bar can snap onto the helmet while you’re still wearing it, but we usually are not in that big of a rush.

There are three lever buckles that secure the chin-bar to the helmet. These latches are easy for the kids to do by themselves. Note that it is possible to close the latches without having them secured to the helmet, so it’s a good idea to give the chin-bar a tug before you start to ride. Once the chin bar is snapped on, the helmet feels very solid.

Where To Buy The Bell Super 3r

Bell Super 3r MIPS for sale 01

Bell Super 3r MIPS available for kids and adults at Backcountry.

Bell Super 3r MIPs for sale - red

Bell Super 3r MIPS available for kids and adults at Jenson USA.

These are affiliate links. When you visit them and make a purchase, we earn a small commission. More here.

There’s a mount on the top of the helmet which is formatted for a GoPro camera. Additionally, we also discovered that some light manufactures also offer adapters to fit this bolt-on connection.

We have had these helmets for over a year. We have not had any problems with durability. Personally, I feel more confident on descents when I have the “face saver” chin bar snapped into place. Luckily we have not had the opportunity to test the ability of the chin-bar to protect the face in a crash yet. Knock on wood. However, the Bell Super2R helmets are certified with CE EN1078 and CPSC standards, so I still feel that this helmet would be much more protective than a half shell in the event of a crash.

Dakine Shuttle 6L Hydration Pack

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Dakine Shuttle 6L Hydration Pack

A Hydration Pack For Kids

Our family refers to the modern hydration pack accessory as a “bike bag”. For instance: “Wait. You forgot your bike bag?” Or, “Why the hell is your bike bag so heavy?” And, when we’re road trippin’… “Hey! We’re not there yet because we have to make a pee stop every half hour. Why do you keep drinking from your bike bag?!” See? It just doesn’t roll off the tongue with the same eloquence. Maybe we’re too lazy to utter those additional syllables that give the Dakine Shuttle 6L Hydration Pack its due.

  • Dakine Shuttle 6L Hydration Pack - wearing it
  • Dakine Shuttle 6L - inside
  • Dakine Shuttle 6L - back
  • Dakine Shuttle 6L - zipper detial

My younger son really likes his Hydration Pack. Why? Simply because it fits him and it doesn’t hold that much stuff once you have a 2-liter water bladder in there. Sure, there’s still plenty of room for a decent sized knife or small machete, rocks, billions of bullet casings and shotgun shells, stinky old animal bones, and oddly shaped- sharp metal debris he scavenges while on a ride. But, these were designed to fit women. The shortened height/length of the pack and its narrow girth fit my 10 year old, 65 lb kid like tread on tires.

Features of the Dakine Shuttle 6L Hydration Pack

  • Size: about 17 in. tall x 7.5 in. wide
  • Holds a 2L / 70 oz. water bladder
  • Breathable air mesh back panel and shoulder straps
  • Fleece sunglass pocket
  • Removable waist belt with plastic buckle

The zipper tabs/pulls have thin nylon cord looped through them with an additional molded plastic grip so your womprat can get to their snacks with gloves on. The mesh shoulder straps are quite breathable and durable. For additional comfort, there’s a bit of stitched-in padding along the length of the interior that goes against the user’s back. And, on the outer exterior, there are 2 more decent sized pockets. One runs horizontal across the top. The other is a vertical pocket. Adults could use these for car keys, a cell phone, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc. My kid use this additional storage to lovingly ripen his leftover sandwiches. Once I pulled something out of here in a sealed bag and I couldn’t tell what it was… P-B and J? Ham and cheese? Fruit? When it’s green and mushy, your guess is as good as mine.

Anyway, the Dakine Shuttle 6L Hydration Pack has been a wonderful piece of equipment for my son. If you’re looking for a hydration pack for kids, I strongly recommend this. Because it fits my kid, he feels comfortable carrying some of his own stuff for a change. Just don’t tell him that I usually hide one of my spare 27.5 tubes and full-size hex wrench set in there.