Learn how to remove decals on your bicycle

An 18" wheel size bike is perfect for a six years old child if he or she is not tall enough yet for a 20" wheel size bike.  He is likely too tall for a 16" wheel size bicycle, which is possibly what he or she is currently cycling on.

Recently, my disbutributors have 18" wheel size bicycles to offer and I have been stocking them for the bike shop.  These are some models available.

Yesterday, a six years old child came with his parents and grandparents to select a bicycle for his birthday.  It will be a gift from his grandparents.  He likes the above 18" wheel size bike in blue.  However, both the parents and grandparents objected because there were lots of Chinese writings on the bicycle. 

I told them that they should be able to remove the decals on the frame and mudguard by heating over them with a hair dryer.  In the end, they opt to go to another bike shop to try to find another bike to his liking.  

I could tell that the child likes the bike very much so I took the trouble to remove the stickers today.  As I heated the decal with the hair dryer and it loosen up, I used the flat of a knife to push it out further.

It took me sometime to remove them as I also need to remove the sticky residue left behind by using an insulation tape.

I have done my best and I am sure his family members will no longer have any objections to his choice.  I hope to see you back for this bike, kid. 

According to a test ran by The Kitchn, the easiest way to remove sticky stickers is by using vinegar. This is how you should do it:

-soak a paper towel with vinegar.
-place it over the sticker.
-depending on thickness of stickers, let it sit for 5 up to 15 minutes.

-try lifting the sticker off the surface after 5 minutes. 
-leave paper towel with vinegar to sit for a bit longer if it is still difficult to remove the decals.

This information is very useful for parents who bought a pink bike for their daugther whose younger sibling is a boy.

They can remove the pink or girlish decals by following the above instructions I have provided when it is time to pass the bike down to their son.

What size BMX bike should I get?

Children age six and above should not have any problem cycling on a 20" BMX.  If the toptube is 18" to 20" in length, a child of 5ft 3in in height should still be able to ride on the bike comfortably.

The good part about BMX is that if you opt for a larger size bike and the reach is too far for you at the moment, its handlebar is high and can be moved forward nearer towards you as you sit on the saddle.

Sit on the BMX of your choice, adjust the seatpost so that the tip of your feet touches the floor while you sit on the saddle. Place your hands on the handlebar and feel if it is a comfortable reach for you. Adjust the handlebar forward if it is too far away. Note that your arms should be stretched out comfortably. If your elbows are bent as you hold the handlebar, look for one with a longer toptube length.

In choosing wheel size, make sure that it is easy for you to find the tyres and tubes when replacements are required. Some tyres with size in fractions maybe difficult to find. Examples of such sizes are 20x1 3/8, 20x1 1/8, 24x1 3/8, 24x1 1/8, 26x1 1/8.