HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT TAKING YOUR KIDS ON A TRIP ON B-ROADS AND WANDERING DOWN SOME COUNTRY LANES? HOW ABOUT COMPETING IN A LOCAL CX RACE? IS A MOUNTAIN BIKE REALLY THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THIS? WE THINK NOT. WE THINK KIDS NEED A REAL GRAVEL BIKE, JUST LIKE GROWN-UPS DO. 
THE RAG JR WAS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING PROJECTS IN A WHILE. SCALING DOWN A GRAVEL BIKE PROVED HARDER THAN WE EXPECTED, HOWEVER INVESTING TIME AND ENERGY INTO THE DEVELOPMENT WAS WORTHWHILE. SOME OF THE FEATURES WORTH MENTIONING INCLUDE AN ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED COCKPIT, HANDLEBARS WITH THE OPTIMUM DROP AND REACH, CORRECTLY POSITIONED HOODS FOR SMALL HANDS, SCALED DOWN 35MM GRAVEL TIRES WITH A FAST-ROLLING TREAD AND SHORT CRANKS WITH A NARROW Q-FACTOR. THE GEOMETRY OF THE LIGHTWEIGHT FRAME AND FORK TOOK TIME TO DIAL IN, AND FINALLY WE ARRIVED AT NUMBERS THAT WILL COMFORTABLY FIT KIDS FROM 135CM TO 150CM TALL (THE LOWER END OF THE RANGE WILL REQUIRE FITTING A SHORTER STEM).  
ALTHOUGH GETTING USED TO A DROP BAR BIKE CAN TAKE TIME, THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO MASTER THE SKILLS IS WORTH IT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IF YOU SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME RIDING FAST, OPEN DIRT ROADS IN RELATIVELY FLAT TERRAIN. THE RANGE OF A CHILD ON A MINI-GRAVEL BIKE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN ON ANY MOUNTAIN BIKE. ALSO, FULL LENGTH FENDERS OPEN UP OPTIONS FOR COMFORTABLE RIDING IN THE WET. THE RAG JR MAY ALSO APPEAL TO KIDS WANTING TO TRY CYCLOCROSS, ALLOWING THEM TO BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH THE RIDING POSITION.. IN FACT, SCHWALBE PRODUCES 26” CYCLOCROSS SPECIFIC TIRES WITH A VERY AGGRESSIVE TREAD, PERFECT FOR PLAYING AROUND IN THE MUD. 
WE LOVE THE RAG JR, THIS BIKE SIMPLY ROCKS AND EVERY KID THAT IS SERIOUS ABOUT CYCLING SHOULD HAVE ONE OF THESE IN THEIR QUIVER.  

SPECS

Frame NS AL6061-T6 custom formed and butted tubes, tapered integrated headtube, 135x10mm dropouts

Fork NS Gravel+ JR AL6061-T6 fork, 1.5T, 10mm dropouts

Size one size

Headset GW integrated tapered IS42/52, sealed

Stem RAG+ Stem 31.8 60mm, angle, - 8°

Handlebar NS Flare JR 31.8, 360mm

Bartape Velo VLT-8111

Brakes Tektro Aries (mech) 160mm w/ Microshift SB-490 short reach levers

Shifter Microshift SB-490(S)

Derailleur Microshift RD-M619M, 9spd

Bottom bracket FSA BSA square taper 68mm

Cranks NS JR 150mm 34t

Chain KMC, 9spd

Cassette Microshift 11-42t, 9spd

Rims Shining A-250 26”, 24h

Front Hub KT 100x9mm QR

Rear Hub KT 135x9mm QR

Spokes Spokes w/14mm nipples

Tires Kenda Kapture 26x1.5"

Seatpost Kalloy 27.2mm

Saddle Octane OneRocker JR

Pedals NS Nylon JR

MAIN FEATURES

- Tough and light alloy frame and fork
- Kids specific geometry designed around 26" wheels fits kids from 135cm - 150cm tall
- mechanical disc brakes
- MICROSHIFT ADVENT 1x9 drivetrain W/ CLUTCH
- beefy 26" gravel tires
- Kid's specific saddle, handlebars & brake leversspecial kid's specific crankset with low q-factor