Children’s bike specialist, Islabikes, has updated its range for 2020 with significant changes made to most models along with additional size options for its Creig mountain bike.
Islabikes also claims to have made every model significantly lighter than the outgoing versions, while spec refinements and tweaks to appearance further distinguish the new bikes.
Islabikes 2020 range overview
2020 Islabikes Rothan balance bike
As well as a new lick of paint, the Islabike Rothan balance bike has seen a switch to tyres with a folding bead for 2020. This not only saves weight but also time and effort when fixing a puncture.
- Islabikes Rothan balance bike: £179.99
2020 Islabikes Cnoc
The Cnoc is Islabikes’ introduction to bikes with a drivetrain, albeit one that’s sealed to keep fingers safe and clothing clean. It’s available with 14in, 16in and 20in wheels to suit riders from the age of three years.
Islabikes has worked hard to reduce the Q-factor (that’s the horizontal width between where pedals attach) in order to improve the efficiency and positioning of smaller riders on its bikes.
To achieve this, Islabikes has switched to a 90mm rear hub width — that’s 20mm narrower than the already custom hubs the current Cnoc uses.
This narrower hub width combined with changes at the chainstays and bottom bracket of the Cnoc frame make for a narrower Q-factor that Islabikes says does not negatively impact the bike's chainline or create abnormally long chainstays.
The 2020 Cnoc claims to be over half a kilo lighter than the previous generation model. It can even be fitted with a set of dedicated mudguards.
- Islabikes Cnoc 14in and 16in: £319.99
- Islabikes Cnoc 20in: £349.99
2020 Islabikes Beinn
The Beinn is a longstanding part of the Islabikes line up and is known for its versatility. Four different wheel sizes mean the Beinn is available in options to suit riders from the age of five right the way through to young adults.
For 2020, the Beinn has gained a lighter, straight blade fork made from aluminium and now features an 11-34t 7-speed cassette across the range for a wider spread of gears and further weight reduction.
- Islabikes Beinn 20in, small and large: £399.99
- Islabikes Beinn 24in: £469.99
- Islabikes Beinn 26in and 27in: £499.99
2020 Islabikes Luath
The Islabikes Luath is a popular children’s cyclocross bike but naturally makes a capable junior road or gravel bike too. Four size options make this bike suitable for riders aged from around eight years through to mid-teens.
Islabikes has fully acknowledged this versatility for the 2020 model year and now each Luath will be sold with a choice of three Islabikes tyres, with road, gravel and cyclocross rubber available.
Tektro cable disc brakes are fitted as standard and are paired with easy reach levers and Islabikes’ custom shape dropped handlebar to optimise position for those with smaller hands.
An upgraded drivetrain means the new Luath features a low Q-factor crankset that rotates on a 30mm axle and uses a direct mount and narrow-wide chainring for improved chain retention when the going gets rough.
Islabikes claims a weight saving of "almost 1kg" over the previous Luath with this new model.
- Islabikes Luath 24in and 26in: £699.99
- Islabikes Luath 700 small and large: £799.99
2020 Islabikes Creig
The Islabikes Creig mountain bike now sports more progressive geometry with a longer, lower and slacker approach for 2020.
The range has been extended to accommodate smaller and larger riders than before thanks to the addition of 20in and 27.5in wheel versions — that’s on top of the already established 24in and 26in bikes.
The smallest bike uses a straight blade rigid aluminium fork, while all other Creigs get a RockShox 30 Gold, which is a lighter and more tuneable part than the outgoing Creig was specced with.
All Creigs use SRAM Level TL hydraulic disc brakes as well as Islabikes’ own 30mm axle, low Q-factor crankset with direct-mount and narrow-wide chainrings. A switch to SRAM X3 trigger shifters over the Grip Shift parts fitted to current Creig models has been driven by customer feedback.
Each Creig will take minimal effort to go tubeless thanks to tubeless-ready Stan’s No Tubes rims and Vee Tire Crown Gem 2.25in tyres — again, tubeless-ready, as standard.
- Islabikes Creig 20in: £699.99
- Islabikes Creig 24in, 26in, 27.5in: £899.99
All 2020 Islabikes models are available exclusively via the Islabikes website.
