The Microshift Acolyte Super Short Derailleur allows the Alpha Series bikes to use an 11-38t cassette. This gives 90% more gear range than other comparable bikes.
Microshift is the only drivetrain maker to focus on kids sized shifters. Easy-to-reach triggers and ultra-light shifting action make this the #1 shifter for kids.
Increasing the tire width to 2.1" will give trail explorers more traction when the path gets tough.
Short stems, handlebars sized to match shoulder width, easy-to-reach brakes, and a kid-friendly shifter. All features that give the rider control of their steed.
Low standover allowing young riders to get on a bigger wheel earlier. Bigger wheels roll faster, offer more traction, and roll over obstacles with less effort. Upright seating position with just enough weight over the front of the bike to maintain control and balance. A low center of gravity that's designed to keep the riders weight "in" the bike, rather than on top. Short chainstays keep the bike agile, while a slack front end keeps things stable at all speeds.
HEIR cranks use specific lengths and widths to match young riders pedaling ergonomics. The Dual Alloy Chainguards keep the chain on in all terrain, while protecting the rider's pants from getting caught.
Getting your kids the right size bike is important and, fortunately, also easy. You just need two pieces of information about your little rider:
Children who are learning are more sensitive to bicycle height than children who already know how to ride a bike. If the rider is new we recommend erring on the side of a smaller bike. If the rider is experienced and confident, it is OK to err on the side of a larger bike.
We include ride age as guidance for our bikes as a quick reference. But because riders of the same age can have very different sizes, inseam is a more reliable size indicator than age.
Model | Min Inseam | Max Inseam |
---|---|---|
Alpha Zero | 12½ in | 16½ in |
Alpha One | 14 in | 17½ in |
Alpha Two | 15½ in | 22 in |
Alpha Three | 19 in | 23 in |
Alpha Four | 23 in | 28 in |
Alpha Five | 25 in | 30 in |
Zulu One | 14 in | 17 in |
Zulu Two | 16 in | 22 in |
Zulu Three | 21 in | 26 in |
Zulu Four | 24 in | 29 in |
Zulu Five | 25 in | 31 in |
"Exceptional from frame to wheels, brakes to handlebars, the Prevelo Alpha Three is the ultimate ride for young, adventurous riders."
"If your little rider is ready to take their skills to the next level, the Prevelo Alpha Three is their perfect match."
My 5-1/2 year old daughter absolutely loves her Alpha Three. The kid-friendly brakes made the transition away from coaster brakes a snap. Understanding the gears and timing took minimal coaching and then it was ON. A couple clicks of the thumb you’re climbing up a hill with ease, push back with your index finger and you’re racing Daddy home! My daughter absolutely loves her Alpha Three and I would highly recommend the Prevelo line of bikes for all stages of young riders. You won’t be disappointed. Thanks again Prevelo! -Brian and Avery
I bought this bike for my 5 yr old son who started on a 14" wheeled bike. Height wise he is just at the minimum for this bike, both in height and inseam. I didn't want to spend the money on a 16" wheeled bike that he might quickly out grow. The Alpha Three's frame is very accommodating, and will fit him as he continues to grow. It is truly a gorgeous looking bike. Right out of the box everything worked great. I only had to adjust the reach on the brake levers for his smaller hands. The shifting works great, and I like that the bike uses QR skewers and a traditional seat/seatpost design. I lowered his seat and moved it forward. I'm so glad I found out about this bike as there was nothing else out there this flexible with rider size. I wish the brake levers had more of a bend in them, so he could reach them a little better without straining his hands, but I do understand that this style will be more flexible in the long run. Thanks for an amazing bike, an easy shopping experience, excellent customer service and super quick shipping.
We got this bike for my 5 year old. He had been riding a two-wheel pedal bike for over a year. The bike he had was getting boring for him. Not to mention, he wouldn't stand and pedal when going uphill. As soon as he got this bike, the excitement came back for him. He loves being able to switch gears! On top of that, for some reason, he has better form (stands when going uphill etc). This bike is amazing and it was worth every penny. I like for my boys to get outside and do some physical activity and this bike helps motivate him to get out there. It's well made, easy to maneuver and most importantly, fun!!
My daughter was riding on a training wheel bike but could not make the transition to a regular kid's bike until we got her a Prevelo Alpha Three. It is very light and low to the ground, so she felt confident initially just balancing on it and very quickly pedaling on it. Now she can ride it easily and confidently all around. What a great bike for kids!
My son loves this bike. He’s four years old and we ride the beginner trails at the bike park together almost daily. The only thing that’d be better is if my son was tall enough for the Zulu Three. Unfortunately he was a few inches shy of the mark when he needed a new bike. But the good news is my son was tall enough for the Alpha 3! It was the only bike with 20” wheels that I could find to fit him this spring. We upgraded from a Woom 2 with 14” tires and single speed so, initially, it was a big jump up. However, my son quickly adapted and the bigger tires and gears made a huge enjoyment in our biking together. We’re riding about 100 miles per week in serious mountain terrain. Many of the trails we are riding now are rated as intermediate XC trails. This bike has made it a ton of fun to ride together. Everyday he’s keeping up better and better. My son has become my little shredder. On DH trails, he purposely finds every rock he can to ride over and even with multiple hits to various components it’s still going strong. This bike stands up to some serious punishment. We’ve had it for a number of months now with very hard daily use and it holds up. If I’d bought a department store bike it’d be trashed in a week of our riding (not to mention how unsafe it’d be for this type of riding). This bike just keeps going. In contrast to the Prevelo, I’ve seen many “name” brand kids bikes (even those made for 7 - 10 year olds) fall apart on these trails and parents constantly shelling out to fix them over and over again. That means down time from riding (and all the tears/frustrations those kids suffer) and total cost of ownership skyrocketing past the cost of our Prevelo bike. My kid may be the exception at 4 years old doing hardcore mountain biking, but he doesn’t have to be. With a little patience and a passion for biking any kid can become your best biking buddy. I wouldn’t trade anything for the memories my son and I have made this summer riding at the bike park and XC nearly everyday. If you’re hardcore like us and your kid can fit the Zulu, go for it. If they aren’t as hardcore as us and/or can’t fit the Zulu, then get this bike. You won’t be disappointed.