Stiff gears for a 6yo

[David Martin]

It's bike hand me down time.

The wee lad has just got the not so wee lad's old Giant MTX250. Nice bike but it has twist grip gears and he is not strong enough to operate them.
6-speed rear, 3-speed front. Any suggestions on suitable alternative gear change methods?

..d

[Chris N]

Used gripshifts can be notoriously gummy.  Have you tried stripping the units down, replacing the cableas and giving everything a good greasing?  Otherwise, cheap thumbshifters should do the trick - he can use his whole hand to change gear.

[Paul]

Please don't let Frenchie see this thread.

 

[nuttycyclist]

Thumbshifter?

[mark]

Hand strength aside, would a six year old remember to use the gears or would it be just as easy to put the bike into a gear he can pedal comfortably, treating the bike as a single speed until his hands get stronger?

[David Martin]

Hand strength aside, would a six year old remember to use the gears or would it be just as easy to put the bike into a gear he can pedal comfortably, treating the bike as a single speed until his hands get stronger?

Yes and no. It is not flat round here. He does use the gears on his old bike (with a thumb shifter). Using the other set (front mech) is not something he is used to.

..d