Youth gets a serious competitor for the future. Ridley introduces with the YUNGSTR an entirely new segment: a high-performance carbon bike for young riders aged between 8 and 12. Not a toy, not a scaled-down version of an adult road bike, but a competition machine designed from scratch which lets children discover three disciplines right away: road, gravel and cyclocross.
For Cyclingreview.co.uk, we looked at what makes this introduction so special - and why the YUNGSTR is an important signal for youth cycling.
A carbon youth frame with ambitions
According to the press release, Ridley wants a child's first bike to be more than a memory. It should be the start of something big. That is why the YUNGSTR is built around a Ultra-light carbon frame weighing just 929 grams and an overall weight of 8.9 kilos. These are figures you normally see in adult all-road bikes, but optimised for smaller riders.
The frame gets hydraulic disc brakes, which is far from standard for this age group, but is a huge plus in terms of control and safety during training and youth games.
Three bikes in one: road, cross and gravel
With the YUNGSTR, Ridley builds a bike that fully grows with the interests (and talent) of young riders.
- Tyre freedom: 42 mm on 650B, 32 mm on 700C
- Quickly change between race tyres, cross profiles or gravel rubber
As a result, one bike changes effortlessly from youth race bike to cross bike or gravel bike. No hassle with separate bikes or difficult setups - and that makes the threshold for trying new disciplines remarkably low.
Specially developed youth geometry
One of the most important details: this is not a scaled-down adult frame. Ridley drew a completely new geometry that is reactive enough for course work, but remains stable on gravel strips and technical cross-country courses. The stem is easy to replace so the bike actually grows with the child. That sounds logical, but in practice it is one of the most common problems with children's bikes: they are either too small or too big. The YUNGSTR tackles this structurally.
Lifetime warranty even in case of resale
Ridley introduces something striking: lifetime warranty that carries over to the next owner.
Meaning:
- the bike retains its value for longer,
- parents get assurance that they are working with quality,
- young riders can progress to larger sizes without risk.
In a world where children quickly grow out of material, this is a smart and customer-friendly concept.
Price and fittings
- MSRP: €2.699
- Group set: Shimano GRX400
That's firmly priced, but in line with carbon all-road models for adults. Ridley therefore positions this bike not as an entry-level bike, but as a full-fledged competition bike.
First impression of Cyclingreview.co.uk
The YUNGSTR is exactly the kind of product the youth segment was missing for years. Where many brands consider children's bikes functional, Ridley puts a performance machine down who takes youth cycling seriously. The weight, geometry and versatility give the bike a unique position in the market.
Whether parents are massively willing to invest almost three thousand euros in an 8- to 12-year-old's equipment, practice will tell. But one thing is certain: Ridley is raising the bar - and that is good news for young talents.
