Capable yet cute

Price: £1,099.99 From: islabikes.co.ukTested by: Ted

Islabikes. The brand almost single-handedly invented the concept of performance bicycles for children. Bikes where the handling was actually thought about. Bikes that had controls that children could actually operate. Bikes that didn’t weigh as much as a Reliant Robin. Or were similarly unstable.

The complete legend and can’t-be-praised-enough titular Isla (Rowntree) herself may no longer be at the company in a day-to-day sense, but Islabikes are still very much designed with the same principles as they’ve always been.

What are these principles exactly? Fundamentally, it’s treating the child with the same level of regard as you would an adult. A bit like being a parent, it’s about thanklessly doing the things that will benefit the child without them even realising it – let alone asking for it.

In many ways, this bike test you’re reading now wouldn’t even have been a thing before Islabikes came along. No one, not even parents, would have read a review of a kid’s bike. Now there are adults without children who like reading about kids’ bikes. Because they are as good, as interesting, as innovative as any other bicycle out there. So, thanks Isla.

The Bike

The Creig 26 has been in Islabikes’ range for approximately yonks. It’s one of its iconic, mainstay offerings in fact. The frame saw a big refresh a couple of years ago which, somewhat typically for the brand, saw some weight savings and some handling improvements. Essentially the Creig 26 got a bit of the ol’ longer, lower, slacker treatment that we’re all very much familiar with on modern adult mountain bikes.