Diamondback

Podium 650c Youth Road Bike

They're too big for that 24-inch-wheeled mountain bike you bought them (seemingly yesterday), but they're not quite big enough for a full-sized adult machine just yet. If this is the problem you face when trying to find a ride so your kid can pedal along, meet the Diamondback Podium 650c Youth Road Bike, built around the "in-between" 650c wheel size for a just-right fit that will also accommodate him or her during a few years of growth.

The Podium 650c's frame is built of 6061 aluminum — a treated version of the metal with an ideal blend of low weight and strength. Understanding the importance of confidence in helping young athletes push themselves, Diamondback dialed in a touch of flex to the bike's rear triangle for the sake of ride comfort, and thus, better control. The steerer tube is long enough so that riders can sit relatively upright, helping them not just stay comfortable but also keep their eyes up at the road and at what's going on around them. The straight-blade alloy fork is light but stout for worry-free durability and predictable steering, and a comfortable Diamondback Equip saddle and contoured handlebars are gender-neutral and promise to be kind to riders of all skill levels.

Diamondback also knows that half of what deters young riders from riding more is the breaking of unreliable parts that come on most youth bikes, which is why it stocks the Podium 650c with a fantastic drivetrain. The Shimano Claris system has 16 speeds that span a wide range of ratios, to help riders keep up — daresay, even pass — the grown-ups on the climbs. It's a drivetrain even found on entry-to-mid-range adult bikes, thanks to its ease of use and superb reliability. Claris brakes front and rear also demonstrate that Diamondback wasn't willing to cut corners, especially where safety is concerned.

The Diamondback Podium 650c Youth Road Bike comes in the color Blue and in only one size. It's intended to be a bike that young riders can grow with, between the approximate heights of 4'6" (137cm) and 4'11" (150cm). Shorter riders would fit better on the Podium 24, while taller ones would be more comfortable on the Podium 700c.