Diamondback

Podium 700c Youth Road Bike

Any aspiring young cyclists who had a chance to watch the 2014 Tour of Utah were no doubt as blown away as all of us by Eric Young's epic sprint finish victory in Stage Five aboard his Diamondback Podium. Screaming across the line after a heroic 300 meter off-the-front pull at the end, Young stamped his name proudly on the tour and into the minds of anyone who saw what he did. For the up-and-comers who want to be the next Eric Young, Diamondback offers the Podium road rocket in three different sizes, the largest of which is this Podium 700c Youth Road Bike.

The Podium 700c'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 comfort when 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 while at it, it wrapped the wheels in 25mm tires — slightly larger, more durable, and more comfortable over the road's bumps and bruises compared to the 23mm tires found on most 700c-wheel bikes, even for adults. The straight-blade alloy fork is light but stout for worry-free durability and predictable steering, and a comfortable Diamondback Equip saddle and ergonomically 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 specs the Podium 700c 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 700c 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 4'8" (142cm) and 5'1" (155cm).