Frog is a British bicycle company with a mission – to create the best kids’ bikes they can. The couple who created Frog bikes are parents of young cyclists themselves. Being cycling enthusiasts, they know that if a bike is to delight, a good place to start is to make sure it’s as light as possible and that it fits properly. This is even more true for children than it is for adults. Growing kids are going to have problems if asked to pedal and manoeuvre bikes that are more than half their weight (sadly this happens). That’s why we are proud to introduce a company that is committed to one goal – making cycling a pleasure from the start. The Frog hybrid range covers every children’s age group from toddlers to youth.
All kids bike or have a look at our kids cycles sale.
Contents and Quick Links
- What’s So Great About Frog Bikes?
- Frog Sizing
- Different Styles of Frog Bikes
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is so Great About Frog Kids Hybrid Bikes?
Frog bikes have been incredibly popular since they burst onto the scene over 10 years ago. But what makes Frog the perfect bike for children? There are a number of reasons which we will list here.
Lightweight
In the past, kids bikes were seen as a bit of an afterthought to the more lucrative adult bike market. Frog were one of the first companies to dedicate time and attention to kids bikes by producing a super-lightweight frame and forks that children find easy to ride. This is also a big benefit for parents as you will inevitably end up carrying the bike at times.
Each bike is finished off with lightweight kit to really keep the weight down and make the bike as enjoyable as possible for the little ones.
Kids Specific Componentry
Harking back to the past again, children’s bikes were usually finished off with adult-sized components, specifically brake levers and gears. This waas problematic as smaller hands struggled to pull the brake levers and shift the gears. Once again, Frog to the rescue. Frog kids bikes are all finished off with age-specific componentry with smaller components on the smaller bikes that gradually get bigger as the sizes get bigger.
The introduction of these age-specific components not only makes the bike safer, it also increases the confidence of the child on the bike.
Geometry
The fact that kids grow so quickly is a factor that Frog bikes have also thought about in great depth. The geometry, or shape, of the bikes allows for around 2 to 3 years of growing room if the child is on the bottom end of the size. We usually recommend visiting out stores so that our colleagues can place your child on the size that will give the best longevity, without being too big.
In a Nutshell
Frog bikes are great because-
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Lightweight Frame and Forks
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Child-friendly brake levers and gears
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Geometry that allows for growth
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Include mudguards (on the hybrid versions)
Frog Sizing
| Frog Model | Approx Min. Inside Leg | Approx Age | Wheel Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frog 38 | 38cm | 3 – 4 | 14 Inch |
| Frog 44 | 44cm | 4 – 5 | 16 Inch |
| Frog 47 | 47cm | 4 – 6 | 18 Inch |
| Frog 53 | 53cm | 5 – 7 | 20 Inch |
| Frog 61 | 61cm | 8 – 10 | 24 Inch |
| Frog 67 | 67cm | 10 – 12 | 26 Inch |
With any bike, adult or kids, specification is important but getting the right bike size is everything. A factor that endeared us to Frog is that their bikes are sized by leg length rather than more crude measures such as wheel size, frame size or age. To find out your kid’s Frog size bring him/her along to one of our shops, or check our online Frog Size Guide
If you are not able to get into store to see the Frog bike sizes, Frog have planned for this too. Each Frog Bike is named as a number which corresponds to the minimum inside leg length required to sit on this bike. for example, the Frog 47 has a minimum inside leg measurement of 47cm.
We will always try to size so that as the child grows, there is plenty of room to grow into. What we look for when sizing is that when the saddle is lowest, the child has the balls of their feet on the ground so that they can comfortably stop and hold the bike up on their own. We also check to see that there is sufficient standover height over the crossbar so there are no nasty accidents if the child has to stop suddenly.
For more tips on what to look for when buying the right size bike, read our full kids bike buying guide
Different styles of Frog bikes
We currently stock Frog Hybrid bikes but Frog do produce lots more styles to choose from. We will have a brief look at these here.
Frog Balance Bikes
Balance bikes are designed as an entry level bike for toddlers, before they get their first pedal bikes. Allows children to get used to balance before making the step up to a full children’s bike. These normally suit 18 months to approximately 3 years.
Frog Hybrid Bike
These are the flat-handlebar bikes that prove to be the most popular bikes for kids. These bikes are great on tarmac, paths and light gravel. We have even seen these up at trail centres.
Frog Road Bikes
These are for a very similar purpose to adult road bikes – to be as fast and efficient as possible from a to b. Skinny tyres, drop handlebars, everything your child needs to become the next Cavendish or Vos.
Frog Track Bikes
Again, these are similar to adult track bikes only smaller. Designed to be used on the track only, they are fixed gear (no freewheeling), and have no breaks. A very specific bike for your child.
Frog Mountain Bikes
For the children that want to ride more technical trails, there are Frog Mountain bikes. These are kitted out with front suspension and disc brakes to take on trail centres.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is our favourite part of the blog, the frequently asked questions section. Lets see what the internet has for us about Frog Bikes.
What is a Frog kids’ bike and why do UK parents pick them?
Frog are a British company that puts children at the forefront of their bicycle design. They design well though out, lightweight bikes for kids, that increase safety, enjoyment, and confidence. Each frame and fork is of lightweight design and the components are chosen to suit smaller hands.
UK parents pick Frog kids bikes because they know they will encourage their child or children to cycle, and that they will be safe doing so.
Are Frog Bikes right For My Child’s Age/Height?
Another one of the positives about Frog is that they have an entire range of models that suit from 18 months (Frog Tadpole balance bikes) to 14 years old (Frog 74). There are models for all ages and heights of children so the answer to this is a resounding ‘Yes’.
How are Frog bikes different from cheaper kids’ bikes?
It is Frog Bikes’ differences over cheaper kids bikes that sets them apart. A cheap children’s bike will likely be made from steel or heavier aluminium making them harder to cycle for kids. These same cheap bikes will also likely have adult sized brake levers and gear levers that are harder for kids to operate.
Frog bikes, on the other hand, use lightweight frames and children friendly componentry making them safer and more fun to use.
Which Frog model should I choose?
This very much depends on the age and height of your child. When sizing in store, we would always look to fit kids on the biggest bike that is comfortable and safe to allow the maximum longevity. The exception to this is if the young rider lacks confidence and would benefit from a slightly smaller bike for the time being.
How heavy are Frog bikes?
As we have stated, Frog bikes are some of the lightest kids bikes available. Below is an approximate weight chart for the hybrid Frogs.
Kickstand
Frog manufacture a kickstand for their hybrid bikes. There is the universal BB mounted one here, or a frame mount version here. We recommend purchasing kickstands to avoid the bike being dropped on the ground when not in use.
Lights
You can easily fir front lights to any frog bike as you would on an adult bike. The only issue here is when the saddle height is too low to place a rear light on the seatpost. In this scenario, you would just mount the light to one of the seatstays or clip it onto the rider themselves.
What if my child outgrows the bike quickly, will I lose money?
Another great thing about Frog bikes is that they hold their value really well. If your child outgrows the bike quickly, you will likely get a good chunk of your outlay back when you sell it on. You might not get back quite what you paid but we would never consider this a waste of money if your child enjoys it and has fun, even if for a shorter time than expected.
All Available Frog Bikes
Here are all the Frog Kids Bikes we have available at the moment.
- Frog 38 – Green, Pink, Red, Spotty
- Frog 44 – Electric Blue, Pink, Red, Green
- Frog 47 – Electric Blue, Green, Pink, Red
- Frog 53 – Pink, Electric Blue, Green, Red
- Frog 61 – Green, Black, Electric Blue, Red
- Frog 67 – Dark Grey, Electric Blue, Green