GIVE THEM A BIKE THEY'LL ACTUALLY LOVE RIDING
As adults, we spend hours talking about bike weight, gearing, brakes, suspension and getting the correct size.
Then when it comes to children's bikes, we're somehow expected to accept bikes that are heavy, difficult to change gear, badly proportioned and fitted with brake levers small hands struggle to reach.
That doesn't make sense to us.
A child's first experiences on a bike can shape how they feel about cycling for years.
Make the bike unnecessarily heavy and riding uphill becomes harder.
Give them controls that don't fit their hands and braking becomes difficult.
Give them complicated gearing and they spend more time thinking about gears than enjoying the ride.
The 2027 Merida MATTS J.24 takes a completely different approach.
Build a proper bike. Then make it fit a child.
PROPER MERIDA QUALITY – JUST SMALLER
The MATTS J.24 isn't treated like a toy.
Merida applies the same engineering philosophy and attention to detail found across its adult bike range.
At its heart is a lightweight double-butted aluminium frame, designed specifically around younger riders and 24" wheels.
That means you're buying a real bicycle that's been designed to be ridden properly – not something that simply looks like a mountain bike.
LIGHT WEIGHT REALLY MATTERS FOR CHILDREN
Weight matters on every bicycle.
For a child, it matters even more.
Think about the percentage of their body weight represented by the bike they're trying to pedal, control and manoeuvre.
A lighter bike is easier to:
• Get moving
• Ride uphill
• Control
• Manoeuvre
• Pick up
• Build confidence on
• And ultimately enjoy
That's why Merida uses a quality double-butted aluminium frame rather than simply making a cheap, heavy frame and shrinking it.
SIMPLE MICROSHIFT 1x8 GEARS
Children don't need unnecessary complication.
The MATTS J.24 uses an easy-to-understand Microshift 1x8-speed drivetrain.
That means:
One chainring at the front.
Eight gears at the back.
One gear control to think about.
No front derailleur.
No second gear shifter.
No confusing combinations.
Just simple, usable gears that allow younger riders to concentrate on where they're going and enjoy riding their bike.
TEKTRO HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES
This is another feature we really like.
The MATTS J.24 comes equipped with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with child-specific brake levers.
Small hands shouldn't have to stretch for controls designed around adults.
The child-specific setup helps younger riders operate their brakes more comfortably, while hydraulic discs provide smooth, powerful and predictable braking.
That can mean more control.
More confidence.
And more fun.
CLEAN COCKPIT
Merida's clean-cockpit brake setup helps keep the handlebar area neat and uncluttered.
That might sound like a small detail, but it's another example of this being designed as a proper bicycle rather than simply a children's toy.
24" WHEELS
The MATTS J.24 uses 24" wheels with fast-rolling tyres, providing a great balance between efficiency, control and manoeuvrability for growing riders.
Merida recommends the bike for children approximately:
129–137 cm tall
But we'd always recommend treating height guides as exactly that – a guide.
Every child is different.
Leg length, proportions, confidence and riding ability can all influence which size is best.
That's why we'd much rather see your child in store and make sure the bike actually fits them.
SUSPENSION FORK
The suspension fork helps take the edge off rougher surfaces and gives younger riders extra confidence when they start exploring tracks and trails.
Whether they're riding woodland paths, local trails, gravel, towpaths or simply bouncing over every kerb they can find, the MATTS J.24 is built for proper childhood adventures.
KID-SPECIFIC COMPONENTS
A children's bike shouldn't simply be an adult bike made smaller.
The MATTS J.24 uses kid-specific finishing components, helping ensure the contact points and controls are appropriate for younger riders.
That means the bike feels more natural underneath them – something that's hugely important when they're developing their riding skills and confidence.
NOT JUST A CHRISTMAS OR BIRTHDAY PRESENT
A good children's bike can become something much bigger than a present.
It's freedom.
It's their first proper ride with Mum or Dad.
Their first trail.
Their first muddy adventure.
Their first big hill.
Their first ride where they go further than you expected.
And potentially the start of a lifelong love of cycling.
Give them a bike they'll actually want to ride.
WHY BUY YOUR CHILD'S BIKE FROM THE ENDURANCE HUB?
BECAUSE GETTING THE RIGHT BIKE MATTERS
Buying a children's bike online purely from an age or height chart can be a gamble.
At The Endurance Hub, we'd much rather help you get it right.
We're passionate Merida specialists and we're working hard to make The Endurance Hub one of the premier destinations for Merida bikes in the North West.
But more importantly, we're real people in a real bike shop who want children to enjoy cycling.
FREE SIZING & SETUP ON COLLECTION
Bring your child with you.
We'll check the bike fits them properly and help set saddle height, controls and riding position appropriately.
FREE 6-WEEK SERVICE
Children aren't exactly known for treating bikes gently.
That's fine.
They're supposed to ride them.
After they've had time to enjoy their new bike, bring it back for its free initial 6-week service and we'll make sure everything is working as it should.
PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SUPPORT
Puncture?
Brakes need adjusting?
Gears need attention?
Bike needs servicing?
Our workshop is here to help keep their bike running properly.
CONTINUED SUPPORT
If you've got questions about setup, maintenance, accessories or when it's eventually time to move up to the next size, come back and talk to us.
We'd rather see a bike being ridden and enjoyed than sitting unused in a garage.
WE'RE MORE THAN A BIKE SHOP
The Endurance Hub is about getting people riding.
And that absolutely includes the next generation.
We're a community cycling hub where riders of different ages and abilities are welcome.
We've supported community cycling, organised rides and delivered free children's bike maintenance workshops, helping younger riders learn more about looking after their own bikes.
Parents can call in, talk to us about sizing and bikes and get proper advice rather than trying to work everything out from a webpage.
And there's always the option of a coffee and something to eat while you're here.
Cycling should be something the whole family can enjoy.
MATTS J.24 HIGHLIGHTS
• Lightweight double-butted aluminium frame
• 24" wheels
• Fast-rolling tyres
• Suspension fork
• Microshift 1x8-speed drivetrain
• Simple single-chainring gearing
• Tektro hydraulic disc brakes
• Child-specific brake levers
• Clean cockpit design
• Kid-specific finishing kit
• Quality Merida construction
• Designed specifically around younger riders
• Recommended rider height approximately 129–137 cm
WHO IS THE MERIDA MATTS J.24 FOR?
The MATTS J.24 is ideal for:
• Children approximately 129–137 cm tall
• Young riders moving up to a 24" bike
• Children progressing from basic bikes
• Family cycling
• Trails and tracks
• Towpaths and gravel paths
• Leisure riding
• Children starting mountain biking
• Parents who value quality, safety and correct sizing
• Young riders who simply love being on their bikes
THE ENDURANCE HUB VERDICT
Children deserve proper bikes too.
That's the whole argument for the MATTS J.24.
You wouldn't deliberately choose yourself a heavy bike with awkward controls and complicated gearing.
So why give one to your child?
The MATTS J.24 gives younger riders the things that actually help them enjoy cycling:
A lightweight aluminium frame.
Simple 1x8 gearing.
Hydraulic disc brakes with child-specific levers.
24" wheels.
Suspension.
Components designed around them.
And when you buy it from The Endurance Hub, we'll help make sure it's actually the right size and set up correctly before they ride away.
Because the best children's bike isn't the one with the biggest discount or the flashiest graphics.
It's the one they keep asking to go out and ride.