The Best Bicycles for Girls

Marin Tiny Trail

Unlike most 16-inch bikes that offer only coaster brakes, this mini mountain bike lets girls practice hand braking with a rear hand brake. This helps girls transition toward bikes with more parts. Detachable training wheels let girls build their coordination and confidence. A front suspension fork eases the bumps on the bike path and lets them match mom and dad's mountain bike. The Tiny Trail is priced at $225 (as of 2010) and can be found at marinbikes.com.

Electra Hawaii

The Electra Hawaii comes in 16-, 20- and 24-inch, and will fit girls of all ages who want a simple and classic beach cruiser. The Hawaii ($220) is a single-speed bike with coaster brakes. This means there aren't any external parts that may break, catch clothes or become greasy. This is a great bike for family trips to the beach or to ride around town and not have to worry about major upkeep. You can look at the Hawaii at electrabike.com.

Scott Contessa Jr

The Scott Contessa Jr comes in 20- and 24-inch sizes. This junior mountain bike comes with front and rear hand brakes, front suspension and enough gears to make it up any hill. This bike is a great choice for girls who are ready to hit the trails. At $379.99, this bike may not take years of beating like a high-priced mountain bike will, but it will serve as a good transition bike before it's time to size up into adult frames. Find the Contessa Jr at scottusa.com.

Specialized Dolce Triple

The Specialized Dolce Triple is a women's specific road bike with frame sizes that will fit girls close to 5 feet. The bike comes with narrower handle bars and a women's specific seat for a more comfortable fit for girls. This is the bike for girls who are ready to race or join mom and dad for a weekend charity ride. The $940 price tag reflects quality parts that will require less maintenance compared with a less expensive bike with lower-end components. Shop for Specialized bikes at specialized.com.