IslaBikes debut new pro series for kids
Islabikes has launched a new ‘Pro Series’ range, offering kids a range of performance builds using the best components the firm could currently source.
At the forefront of children’s bicycle design since coming to market with dedicated product in 2006, the new additions create a new category of premium lightweight children’s bikes.
The Pro Series will sit above the current Islabikes range targeting the cycling enthusiast and young racer. With their race pedigree, the bikes are perfect for those young riders looking to push themselves to the limits of their potential and require a bike that can fuel their ambition.
Today’s announcement offers:
Holistic Design
All Pro Series bikes benefit from Islabikes’ holistic design process, a process used in the design of every Islabike. Custom handlebars, chainsets, pedals, grips, saddles and seatposts have all been designed in house to provide a true child-specific fit. These components have been optimised to work together with Islabikes frames as a complete package, ensuring that optimum reach, stand-over and Q-Factor are all delivered in one package for a comfortable and confidence inspiring ride for young people.
The Islabikes Pro Series range will feature four different model families covering Starter Bikes, Cyclocross, Cross Country Mountain Biking and Mixed Terrain Riding.
Isla Rowntree, Founder of Islabikes, says: “Every year we attend numerous races and cycling festivals with our bikes. At certain events, Tweedlove and cyclocross races in particular, we have been in awe of the speed and skill levels of some of the young riders. I wanted to deliver a range of even lighter, higher specification, performance focused Islabikes with all the benefits of our holistic design approach for
those whose lives revolve around youth cycling competition. We have designed full carbon forks that perfectly match the geometry of each bicycle size, low Q factor cranks, our own superlight and grippy cyclocross tyres and sprinkled each bike with titanium and aluminium finishing bits to shave off the last bit of weight. These are serious bikes for children who are serious about their cycling. I hope we see some of their names crop up as Olympians in the future.”
Luath Pro Series £1599.99
Ideal bikes for the cyclocross enthusiast and budding racer, the Luath Pro Series is optimised in both fit and performance.
Geometry of the Luath Pro Series mimics that of the Luath models in the current range for true cyclocross style geometry. The Luath inspires confidence thanks to a long wheel base and relatively slack head angle which helps keep the bike stable. The bike, with its custom designed Islabikes full carbon fork, has also been designed to eliminate toe overlap with the front wheel – especially important when at lower speeds. Young riders carry their weight differently to adults with their centre of gravity based closer to their hips – adults have greater weight in the torso. To cater for this, the Luath has a relatively steep seat tube angle which helps to keep weight central. This steeper seat tube angle further assists with reach for smaller arms. The Luath features a super low bottom bracket, something which is made possible thanks to the new super low Q-Factor Islabikes cranks. As a result, the bikes offer very low stand over heights. Finally, the bikes have been designed to provide ample tyre clearance for mud shedding capability.
Control points are very important – especially for smaller riders. Islabikes have produced their own child specific drop handlebars that measure just 22.2mm in diameter. This benefits smaller hands and allows for a tighter bend in the drops. All small details that add up to deliver control and inspire confidence.
Tyres are an extremely important consideration in cyclocross and with limited choice available for children, Islabikes decided to invest in their own dedicated cyclocross tyre. Measuring 33c when paired with a Stan’s rim, the Grèim Islabikes Cyclocross tyres meet all UCI regulations for racing. Lightweight, with a folding bead they are tubeless compatible – all bikes ship with a tubeless valve. The tyres offer excellent grip in the mud and yet roll well on hard pack. 185tpi kevlar construction ensures a supple ride and cream sidewalls complete a classy finish.
Stopping power is taken care of by Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes for all weather reliability. Mechanical brakes have been selected as the levers are better suited for smaller riders and offer greater reach adjustment than their hydraulic counterparts.
Creig Pro Series £1499.99
Available in both 24 and 26 inch wheel sizes, the Creig Pro Series is a lightweight XC mountainbike that is ready to rip.
Both bikes have been specced with the Rockshox 30 Gold TK forks. These forks have been specifically selected due to their narrow 30mm stanchions which reduces overall friction meaning they can be run at much lower pressures. Light riders need to be able to run these low pressures to allow them to get proper use and travel from the fork.
Islabikes have worked closely with Stan’s Rims. The Pro Series Creig comes with Stan’s NoTube Rims in all wheel sizes meaning these bikes can be run tubeless with the Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres. Not only do tubeless setups allow for lower pressures and more control, they are also lighter overall and have added puncture resistance benefits.
Geometry on the Creig is cross country orientated. Islabikes have designed their own low Q-Factor cranks to bring the child’s legs closer together, instantly improving the pedalling ergonomics. That’s not the only benefit. Because the distance between the pedals is reduced it means Islabikes have been able to further lower the bottom bracket closer to the ground and still maintain a safe lean angle. This helps reduce overall standover height further meaning children can get their feet down when they want to stop, helping them to feel safer in the saddle.
Beinn 20 Pro Series £999.99
The Beinn Pro Series is a proper mountain bike for smaller riders which has been inspired by observing first hand the skills of young riders.
Being aimed at smaller riders, weight is an important factor for all Islabikes. The Pro Series takes this a step further. The Beinn 20 Pro Series features a custom carbon fibre fork which Islabikes have designed from the ground up. Low spoke counts and aluminum nipples have been used in the wheels to help keep rotating weight to a minimum.
One of the biggest difficulties in designing the Pro Series Beinn 20 was finding a cassette with a wide enough ratio. The only available options are 10 speed however, due to the short chainstays, smaller bikes have chain alignment difficulties due to the acute angles involved which result in increased chain wear and frequently dropped chains. To overcome this problem Islabikes have specced a 10 speed SRAM cassette and converted it to 9 speed by removing the 15 and 17 tooth sprockets and replacing with a 16 tooth. The result is a wide range cassette to help manage all terrains with even spaced gearing and optimised chainline.
A real enthusiasts mountainbike wouldn’t be complete without disc brakes. The Pro Series Beinn 20 is no exception and comes specced with Avid DB5 hydraulic disc brakes which deliver reliable stopping power with a great deal of modulation and control. Islabikes own Rèidh tyres and Stan’s rims mean this bike, like the Pro Series Creig and Luath, can also be run tubeless.
Cnoc Pro Series £799.99
The Cnoc Pro Series perfectly illustrates Islabikes’ approach to holistic design. Almost every element of this bike has been custom designed and manufactured by Islabikes, each working together in harmony to deliver the complete package.
A smooth welded 7005 aluminium frame keeps weight low, but perhaps the most striking lightweight feature of this bike is its full carbon fork. Custom designed and made by Islabikes, with full carbon fork legs, crown and steerer, this fork provides huge weight savings and delivers excellent steering agility.
Further weight savings come from Islabikes’ custom Rèidh tyres which feature a very supple 185 TPI Kevlar construction. A custom tread pattern has been optimised to provide fast, but grippy, performance for lighter riders. The result is a bike that accelerates more readily, effortlessly turning pedalling effort into forward motion.
Titanium and carbon are exotic materials normally reserved for high quality adult bikes. The Cnoc Pro Series however, benefits from a hollow titanium bottom bracket with carbon shell. Weight is kept to a minimum and sealed cartridge bearings ensure smooth pedaling efficiency. As with all bikes in the Pro Series range, the Cnoc makes use of Islabikes’ full carbon 25.4mm seatpost.
Islabikes own pedals also feature titanium axles and pins keeping the weight to a minimum. Completing this bespoke package are Islabikes own super narrow handlebars, grips, stem and saddle ensuring all contact points have been made specific to the needs of children.
At 4.8kg, the Cnoc Pro Series saves a huge 1.3kg over the already lightweight current Cnoc.
The Islabikes Pro Series is available to pre-order now. For more information on Islabikes: www.islabikes.co.uk
