Alpha Four

The Prevelo Alpha Four is a lightweight 24-inch bike for pavement, bike paths, gravel, and smooth dirt. It keeps the efficient feel of the smaller Alpha bikes, but adds the better brakes and more gears.

The biggest change from the smaller bikes in the Alpha family is the drivetrain. The Alpha Four uses an 8-speed Microshift Acolyte drivetrain with an 11-38T cassette, giving kids range for hills, longer rides, and mixed surfaces.

The brakes are also an upgrade from the smaller Alpha siblings. Instead of rim brakes, the Alpha Four uses hydraulic discs, which give kids stronger, more consistent braking with an easier lever pull.

Prevelo is one of a few brands that gets the small fit details correct for kids' bikes. The narrow Q-factor cranks helps avoid the wide, awkward pedaling stance that shows up on many other kids’ bikes, and the 130mm cranks are appropriately sized for young legs. The two-piece cockpit also makes more sense at this size than the integrated bar-and-stem used on smaller bikes because it gives parents more room to adjust fit as kids grow.

This is not a mountain bike. It does not have suspension, and it is not built for aggressive singletrack, jumps, or rough trail riding. But for kids who mostly ride around the neighborhood, on bike paths, gravel, and smooth dirt, the Alpha Four is one of the lighter 24-inch bikes you'll find.