Woom EXPLORE 5

For kids ready to follow parents onto gravel paths and packed singletrack, the Woom EXPLORE 5 is the 24-inch all-terrain kids' bike that bridges the gap between sidewalk pedaling and real off-pavement riding for ages 7 to 11. The lightweight aluminum frame holds complete bike weight to 20.8 lbs, a figure that matters because a rider in the 49 to 57 inch height range can muscle the bike through tight corners and lift it over curbs without fighting the mass that stalls department-store bikes. An 8-speed microSHIFT trigger shifter handles the gear range, and Promax disc brakes with shortened, child-specific levers give small hands consistent stopping power in wet or dusty conditions.

Schwalbe Billy Bonkers tires anchor the contact patch with a tightly spaced micro-knob pattern that rolls quickly on pavement and still bites on dirt, avoiding the drag penalty of a full knobby tread. A kickstand, ergonomic grips, and quick-release seatpost clamp round out the build. Available in Jungle Green, Magnetic Blue, Neon Coral, and Woom Red, the EXPLORE 5 sits between the seven-speed GO 4 below it and the hydraulic-disc EXPLORE 6 above it as the 24-inch step in Woom's lineup that adds mechanical disc brakes and eight gears to the formula.