A "real" road bike for young riders

Giant TCR Espoir 24 bicycle

There's nothing like enjoying a bike ride with the whole family. A casual spin on the local bike path, or cruise through the neighborhood down to the ice cream shop makes lifetime memories.

But for you "serious" riders, you find yourself having to choose. Go out on my own for a fast "real" ride, or bring the kids along and resign yourself to enjoying the scenery without breaking a sweat.

Now, you don't have to choose. If your young Johnny or Janie Cyclist is ready to take the step up to the next level of riding, but isn't quite ready for a full-size adult bike, check out this new option from Giant Bicycles.

The Giant TCR Espoir 24 is a kid-sized bike built like a "real" road bike. It features the same Giant ALUXX aluminum frame as mom and dad's bikes, with Giant's OverDrive tapered fork for responsiveness and control.

Add in a Shimano 2x8 drive train, with 48/34 chainrings on the compact crankset, Shimano Claris integrated brake/shift levers, Shimano Claris derailers, and a Shimano 11-30 cassette for plenty of gear range to crank up any hills. The brake levers have adjustable reach to accommodate smaller hands. The 24-inch diameter wheels roll on 1-inch wide Kenda Koncept tires with a smooth road tread.

The whole thing weighs in at just 20 pounds 3 ounces, which includes the pedals with toe clips and straps.

At $699.99, the Giant TCR Espoir 24 lets your young cyclist go just as fast as you, or dare we say faster?