(Reviewers note: though in the above photo of my daughter posing with her test bike isn’t wearing a helmet, children should always wear bike helmets while riding for safety)
What’s a hybrid bike?
Hybrid bikes share the best attributes of mountain & road bikes. Handlebars come with a straight rise for upright comfort not a drop like a road bike and hybrid bikes have a 1x (“one-by”) system versus a 3x system. Your child only shifts with one hand, versus a road bike having the option of switching between gears with both hands. Hybrids are basically road bikes with wider, knobbier tires that offer much more cushion & traction on uneven surfaces than typical road bikes do.
The woom 6 26-inch bike is the perfect hybrid bike for tweens who need a high-quality bike to tackle both the neighborhood and the trails. The woom 6 features all-terrain, smooth-rolling tires, a sturdy, lightweight 22 lb. build, and a wide enough gear range to tackle hills.
Since most tweens can ride both kid & adult bikes, there is a daunting variety of bikes on the market today for parents to choose from. In the interest of full disclosure, I received an editorial unit of a Woom 6 from the manufacturer in exchange for this unpaid fair review.
What does “Woom” mean?
Woom has nothing to do with the English word “womb”. It comes from the German “wuum”, which is like saying “wham”, “bang”, or “pop”, to indicate swift movement.
From balance bikes to 26 inch kids’ bikes, woom bikes has an option for your child from toddler years to tween. Starting out on the woom 1 balance bike at 18-months, your child could grow with woom until they reach the woom 6 26-inch bike in her tweens.
The right bike for your rider
If you’re shopping for a tween, it’s important to be familiar with various types of bikes available for your child, and which bike is best for their style of riding.
Since most tweens can also fit on adult bikes, your options of bikes available is quite substantial.
As a hybrid bike, the woom 6 is a great choice for everyday riders up to 14 who want a lightweight, nimble bike that can seamlessly go from paved roads to compact dirt trails.
Size, Weight & Ride:
Woom bikes compared to other bikes my kids owned are insanely lightweight and are some of the lightest bikes on the market! Many kids bikes on the market weigh close to 40 to 60% of a child’s weight.
Easy assembly
Assembly was about as issue-free as it could be. With well explained directions both in print and digitally. It took only about 45 minutes, total – from box to finishing touches of attaching front and rear reflectors and minor adjustments.
Smooth ride, easy handling
During her many test rides, my expert could tackle most inclines on the woom 6 with minimal gear assistance.Coasting on the downhill, breaking efficiently and scrambling up dirt trails in our local park.
The high quality parts and most importantly, the light weight of the woom 6 is vital for the pure enjoyment of riding, particularly for new riders who may be easily discouraged by an overtly heavy cumbersome bike made for adults.
The woom 6 has a seat height range of 29.5″ to 37.5″ kids ranging in heights from 55″ to 65″ tall. My daughter who is tall and an experienced bike rider, found the woom 6 very comfortable and easy to assemble unassisted, manage to load & unload in our vehicle and ride.
Features:
Adjustable-Height Handlebars
As a versatile hybrid bike, the woom 6 comes with an adjustable height stem which allows the handlebars to be raised or lowered. Adjusting the stem is very simple and requires loosening two Allen bolts.
Narrow-wide Chainring
A narrow-wide chainring alternates the shape of the teeth to allow the chain to better adhere to the chainring as it passes through. As a result, the chain is very unlikely to ever come off on the woom 6 regardless of the terrain.
Ergonomic Locking Grips
These ease the strain on a child’s wrist and hands while riding. The “wing” on their ergonomic grip provides a wider base for the palm of the hand, which helps to decrease fatigue, especially during longer rides.
Drivetrain and Shifter
The woom 6 features 8 speeds with a SRAM grip shifter that works great for the average tween rider. Trails, hills or flat terrain woom 6’s gain ratios (ranging from 1.8 to 5.4) offered plenty of range.
Narrow q-factor
Considering tweens that can ride a woom 6 are likely to fit on adult bikes, woom 6’s narrow q-factor is one of the major benefits of buying a kid-specific 26″ bike like the woom 6.
While tweens can be as tall as some adults, their developing frames are often still narrower than an adult. The q-factor on adult bikes is typically too wide for most tweens, which can negatively affect the efficiency of the downforce of their pedal strokes.
Kickstand
Woom 6 rear-placed kickstand is easy for kids to engage and does a great job keeping the bike upright with a skid-proof end.
Adjustable Saddle
Because the riding profile of a hybrid bike is more upright than a road bike, much of a child’s weight is directly above the saddle.
A comfortable saddle is key for long rides. Fortunately, the saddle that comes with the woom 6 is high quality and ergonomically designed to fit kids.
My daughter had no complaints about the saddle riding all day over a variety of terrains. To help remedy any problems that may arise, the saddle is fully adjustable and can be tilted up or down easily on the fly,
UpCycle program and high resale value:
The most impressive feature of all woom bikes is their Upcycle Program. By purchasing a one-time $59 membership, you’ll be entitled to trade in your outgrown woom and receive a credit of 40% of your original purchase price towards the purchase of a new woom!
This program has no limits to the number of bikes you can trade in, but the bikes need to be in “good” condition upon return.
If you choose not to participate in the UpCycle program, woom bikes’ exceptional quality means that they still have exceptional resale value. A short look on eBay suggests this fact.
So while woom bikes aren’t cheap, (a Woom 6 retails for $599) you have several options for getting the Lion share of your money back once your child has outgrown their woom bike.
Pros:
- Easy assembly with all tools and instructions included as well as handy step-by-step videos
- Top-notch customer service
- Lightweight with a low minimum seat height
- Wide range of gears (8-speed) for tackling various terrains and elevations
- Low center-of-gravity geometry for better balance and maneuverability
- Easy-to-use grip shifters and other high-end components
- Gorgeous, and with a nice variety of “mature” colors available
- Ergonomic grips to prevent wrist strain during long rides
Cons:
- Price ($599 retail) may put this out of the price range of some families
- The profile is too upright for super aggressive riding
BOTTOM LINE:
The Woom 6 is by far the best all round bike my family has reviewed thus far!
The best recreational ride for tweens both beginner & experienced riders. Easy assembly, maintenance, high quality parts and high resale value offset the initial steep price.
The woom 6 is a beautifully designed, safe, stable, and ergonomically correct bike for kids and will serve on a variety of terrains road to trail.
The woom 6, hybrid bike brings together the best of road and mountain bikes to create a comfortable and capable ride for the average child.
MSRP: $599
BEST FOR: Tween riders that want a high-performing bike that can tackle a wide variety of rides. A very sold bike for new & inexperienced riders alike
SEAT HEIGHT: 29.5″ to 37.5″
WEIGHT: 22 lbs
GEARS: 8-speed with SRAM Grip Shifter
FRAME: Aluminum Alloy
GAIN RATIO: 1.8 – 5.4
What is WOOM?
Woom bikes hail from Austria and are the brainchild of Christian Bezdeka and Marcus Ihlenfeld who set out with a goal to build bikes that inspire both children and their parents. A family-run business from day one, the US branch of woom bikes is run by Marcus’ brother Mathias Ihlenfeld, and is based out of Austin, TX.
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