Culprit Junior Kids & 650C Aero Road Bikes Makes Small Fast

Agree with PDXFixed, the Junior 2 must use 650C wheels (571mm ERD) NOT the larger (and fatter tired) 650B.

Have to say, at those prices, these machines look absolutely killer!

Why would a kid need a race worthy bike?? Kids don’t really care what they’re riding as long as it’s cool and they’ll have fun doing it. No kid that young *needs* a road spec bike… poor girl seems to be obligated to ride it cause the father says so.

Whoever fit that girl on that bike should be ashamed. Her feet are way behind her button on the upstroke. Top tube is wayyyyyy too long.

It doesn’t make sense if only certain parts scale down.

nice hat they are trying to produce something few companies offer. I agree with the brake/hand observation.
Personally, I think flat bars make more sense for at least the junior one.
the kid is so small, getting aero might not be too much of a concern?
mzungu, welcome to having kids. If you don’t buy them things they will grow out of, they will be pretty bored, and also naked.

I think you guys are missing the point a bit.

The guy who designed these was simply trying to fill a gap in the market which DOES exist, atmo. There are plenty of kids who could crush a few CAT V’s if they weren’t forced (by the available products out there) to ride 24″ wheeled mountain bikes or whatever.

It’d be foolish to get one of these for a kid who has expressed no desire at all to race, but if your son/daughter loves to ride on the road with you or was showing real potential at a young age, now at least there is the choice to make the investment to get them an appropriately-sized bike.

There is no way a kid this size is gaining anything from an aero bike. It’s cool that someone wants kids to have cool looking bikes and all but it seems really uncomfortable and wasteful. A light bike with simpler components and appropriate size seems like a better move.

Poor girl can’t reach the brakes. “Here, honey, you should be able to go really fast on this, hope you can slow down.”

BMX

Psi I think you’ve missed the point of my post. I’m questioning whether it’s a good thing to be molding this mentality into our kids that they need aero wheels, drop bars, fitness training, skinny tires, counting calories, shedding grams, etc To enjoy the sport when in reality biking for kids should be about getting outdoors, exploring and having fun.

@ Andy:

No adult **needs** a road bike. No difference between kids and adults, a toy is a toy regardless of age. The only adults for whom road bikes are not toys are the pros. As for molding impressions into kids have you seen how many supposedly intelligent adults are still dumb enought to think a few ounces on the weight of a bike actually matters or how many people “need” a set of Zipp wheels to finish their local century?

@ Brett:

Yeah, the kid isn’t gaining anything from having an aero bike. Guess what, neither are the vast majority of adults who own them! The benefits of an aero bike don’t really kick in until you’re pushing past 25 MPH and even then the gains are pretty minor. Vast majority of riders are incapable of riding that fast for sustained period.

Bottom line is the entire upper end of the bike industry is dependent on people buying things they don’t really need and don’t really offer any tangible benefits. Furthermore, there is NOTHING wrong with this just like there’s nothing wrong with driving a Porsche that can do 150MPH when the maximum legal speed limit is less than half that. Toys are fun and if you can afford them why not own them? Only stupid part is when you try to rationalize or claim to need them.

@ Chris

I agree 100%

I also agree with David, here.

Anything to get gets out and about is terrific. I’ve been in homes where everyone was on their own laptop, including four kids. It wasn’t pretty. I went out back and swam in the pool.

Anyone else hearing the sound of helicopter parents hovering above already?

I love the idea of kids on road bikes, but this is too expensive for something that will last 2 years… Felt and others make 650c and 24″ road bikes for kids for around 800$.
It’ over built, I know if you have the money, and the idea of daddy’s lil racer is fine, but this is a niche market – these bikes fall somewhere in between big name bike companies and the custom built rigs.
Also – I think the little girl in the picture is actually not riding the bike, just sitting on it while its held up out of frame. Her hair is not moving from air movement, and there is not blur or distortion from motion…. And I agree, the reach to the levers is a massive gap – yes you can shim it in, it’s unfortunate that there is not a big enough market to make smaller than adult size shift levers and hoods

my 8 year old would kill to have this, i have him on a hotrock and he wants more speed on the road. and who cares if he grows out of it, there is always some other kid that will want it. i personally think the kids market needs a decent 26″ wheel size road bike with canti or long arm side pulls. make it so they can put on a 32 and a fender. these 24″ kids road bikes are hard to find tires for. ” 24 inch” ..wait… is it really 520? or 540? or 507?

my 5 year old also needed more speed to keep up with the 8 year olds so i got him a 20″ wheeled geared torker/redline which is a good fast cheap ride but needs better cranks. but this culprit 20″ uses 105 BCD 5 bolt?? why not 94bcd? i wouldn’t touch that with a long pole. check out the little cranks from origin 8.

Thank you all for your comments. The purpose for this bike is to offer a bike to meet an unmet market. Of course there are less expensive bikes for little ones, but we also sell high end carbon bikes and wanted a junior bike to match our product line. We are a carbon bike brand, but saw an opportunity to build an alloy bike in a market that is still fairly new and growing. For those who find the price too high, yes, it is a high spec’d bike. Not all need or want it. and that is the consumers option.

There are a few parents seeking this bike for 20″ wheels. its a niche market. 650 will have a much higher demand with the quality of workmanship and components.

Keep following culpritbicycles.com for more to come if you want to follow news. Culprit’s carbon bike prices will be released next week at Eurobike show.

I read everything from the start and I saw how the comments changed as people had time to think about it a little more. I agree with what many are saying- this is not about need, but want.

I participate in races and triathlons – My son(7years) has a MTB and a Road bike, but not a good fit like this. When he said he wanted to do the Kids’ triathlon, I started looking around for something like what I have- knowing the importance of fit and parts. Couldn’t find anything resembling a kid’s race bike that is ready to race – like the adult bikes. Don’t want flat bars- he wanted something like Dad.

Bought what i could find- dropped the saddle all the way down -frame is too big.
– changed the stem – top tube is too long.
– handlebar is too wide. Can’t get anything smaller/

So right now he has an OK set up, but could be a lot better on one of these. We did a 40km bike ride 3 weeks ago on his not too good set up and he loved it. I am sure he will love it more if the set up was better. But do that on a wide tire, everyday cheap bike! Kid will hate the idea of riding very soon. I am not pushing my kid to do anything- this is up to him. But what he wants to do – I would like him to enjoy it! That’s why we ride and participate- I don’t race, I participate and I make sure my kids understand the difference.

Yes- they will outgrow the bike, but they will enjoy their ride- How many of us who rides a lot, upgrades parts and bikes every year or every 2 years? MANY!!! We don’t need it! It is all about enjoying!
If they outgrow it – I think this will make for a very good second hand market with high value. Meaning then the parents won’t mind spending a little more on the NEW bike as they know that they will get a good price on selling it to somebody else. I can even see parents forming groups- “Ok- you buy now for your kid and when the bike is to small, then I buy from you for my kid and then I will sell it to my other friend who has a younger child”. Nothing wrong with that. With good quality parts and frame, etc. and a hand me down network between parents-, a higher price I think is justified for sure.

Bottom line – I would want my kid on this! It looks good and he will enjoy it !!!!
Just my 2c!!

I received the junior 2 bike today. It is an excellent product. High quality piece. The price is very reasonable when you consider what you are getting. There is enough adjustability to keep a kid riding for several years. I would definitely recommend this bike to others.

FYI,
While priced high…Felt’s 47cm DA1, DA2, DA3 and DA4 650 wheel bikes are smaller. Stack is 433 and reach is 387.

I bought the Junior 2 for my son 2 years ago. He loves it and races in junior triathlons with it. The 650 wheels make a huge difference in speed and handling and he still has another year left on this steed. The refit every 6 months is the only hassle, but worth every penny when I see him out crushing 25 mile training rides with adults and smoking the competition at his races.

I really don’t care how old this post is – that’s a silly problem, anyway. I OWN and RIDE a Culprit Jr.2 in TT’s and in touring. The wheels are pieces of crap but the rest of the bike is insane, especially up hills. My 4-year-old grandson currently rides a 12 inch Hotrock that weighs 17 lbs., about a pound less than my bike. That is truly insane. He is begging Papa and me for a decent road bike with “hand brakes and not funny looking frame”. And, yeah, bragging rights, he goes 4 miles at 6-8 mph on that crap he has now.