Diamondback

Podium 650c Complete Road Bike - 2016

Your son or daughter has been hinting that their starter mountain bike is getting clunky and worn out, and the pencil marks on the door frame confirm their claims that they've already grown "this much" since last year. It's time for an upgrade to reward your young rider for the hours they've spent practicing their sprinting and cornering in the driveway with something that can bridge the gap between now and the time they're ready for a full-size adult bike. Diamondback's Podium 650c Complete Road Bike is a long way from clunky, and its quality components give it the longevity to grow with them through races, rides, and plenty more on-road practicing.

The Podium 650c's frame is built of 6061 aluminum, the same alloy featured throughout the industry for its ideal blend of low weight and strength. Understanding the importance of confidence in helping young athletes push themselves, Diamondback kept comfort in mind when developing the geometry of the Podium 650c. It gave the bike's rear triangle a touch of flex and engineered a cockpit that wouldn't leave kids stretched out too far in the saddle. The more upright position also allows them to keep their eyes on the road and their head on a swivel. The straight-blade alloy fork is light but stout for worry-free durability and predictable steering, and the comfortable Jr. Diamondback Equip saddle and contoured handlebars are gender-neutral and sized down to accommodate smaller riders of all skill levels.

One of the most frustrating things for any rider is to experience mechanical issues while they're out on a ride, and youth bikes seldom are treated to the same dependable component spec as their adult counterparts. Diamondback's answer to this was to include a Shimano Claris drivetrain on the Podium 650c, which can also be found on entry-to-mid-range adult bikes because of its reliability and ease of use. Shimano Claris offers 16 speeds, so young riders can tackle a variety of terrain with confidence and begin exploring the possibilities of different gear ratios. The frame is designed to accommodate heights between approximately 4'6" and 4'11".