kids balance bikes..
Discussion
We bought a Puky one for our lad, he took to it quite quickly and now confidently whizzes around on it with his feet off the ground. Also finally got him using the brake on it last weekend.
This Saturday is his 4th birthday and there is a brand new Islabikes Cnoc 16 hidden away in the garage for him. Will be interesting as to how he gets on with it
Not going to use stabilisers. Our 22 month old daughter already has eyes on his balance bike so I'll be adjusting it for her as soon as he is confident on the Cnoc.
This Saturday is his 4th birthday and there is a brand new Islabikes Cnoc 16 hidden away in the garage for him. Will be interesting as to how he gets on with it
Not going to use stabilisers. Our 22 month old daughter already has eyes on his balance bike so I'll be adjusting it for her as soon as he is confident on the Cnoc. chockymonster said:
I got my son a 1st bike when he was 2. He was always on it at any opportunity. We upgraded it to an islabike when he was 4 (last august)
He's never had stabilisers and now happily does long bike rides with us.
Balance bike is the way to go.
Our boy was given a balance bike (one of those wooden affairs, like those already posted) when he was about 2-ish by an overzealous aunty. Bit big at first, but by about 3 he had mastered it, so his nana bought him some pig-iron thing from Halfords - he's never had stabilisers, and has had the bike since not long after his third birthday. He's never had stabilisers and now happily does long bike rides with us.
Balance bike is the way to go.
Now I'm toying with idea of an Islabike Cnoc - not cheap, but he loves his bike ride to the park and I suppose boy no2 will inherit it shortly.
edited to say - he was always quite the head-turner at the park when there would be kids at least a head taller than him bedecked in kneepads, elbowpads and stabilisers.
Edited by JungleJim on Wednesday 22 April 20:54
C0ffin D0dger said:
We bought a Puky one for our lad, he took to it quite quickly and now confidently whizzes around on it with his feet off the ground. Also finally got him using the brake on it last weekend.
This Saturday is his 4th birthday and there is a brand new Islabikes Cnoc 16 hidden away in the garage for him. Will be interesting as to how he gets on with it Not going to use stabilisers. Our 22 month old daughter already has eyes on his balance bike so I'll be adjusting it for her as soon as he is confident on the Cnoc.
Well if ever proof were needed about how good balance bikes are, just been sent a video by the missus of him riding his new bike around a car park unsupported on only its second outing. Proud Dad This Saturday is his 4th birthday and there is a brand new Islabikes Cnoc 16 hidden away in the garage for him. Will be interesting as to how he gets on with it
Not going to use stabilisers. Our 22 month old daughter already has eyes on his balance bike so I'll be adjusting it for her as soon as he is confident on the Cnoc. 
We never bothered with a balance bike for my eldest and two months ago we got him a proper bike for his 6th birthday, A Giant Animator. It took him four 30 minute sessions over two weekends to learn to ride it. I've been toying with the idea of a balance bike for his younger brother but I might just go straight to a proper bike. My nephew lived in Germany for a few years where cycling is far more mainstream and he just got on a proper bike at the age of 4.
DeuxCentCinq said:
How early can they go on a balance bike? Is it around 18 months? Do they have to be walking really well first?
I think age 2 years and upwards it the general recommendation but it probably depends how keen they are. Like I said earlier our 22 month old is desperate to get on her brother's balance bike and now he's got a proper bike I'll adjust it for her and see how she gets on. She is tall for her age though.Devil2575 said:
We never bothered with a balance bike for my eldest and two months ago we got him a proper bike for his 6th birthday, A Giant Animator. It took him four 30 minute sessions over two weekends to learn to ride it. I've been toying with the idea of a balance bike for his younger brother but I might just go straight to a proper bike. My nephew lived in Germany for a few years where cycling is far more mainstream and he just got on a proper bike at the age of 4.
It very much depends how old they are. You'll struggle to find a "proper" bike that lets the saddle go low enough for an under-3 year old but for older children you can just get a regular bike and pull the pedals off until they are ready for them.I love them though. I picked up a second hand specialized hotwalk for my daughter's second birthday and she adored it. Rode it everywhere for 12 months and took to her first pedal bike like a duck to water.
For my first, he got an Islabike Rothan when he was 2 and half (he's small for his age) and loved it, he went everywhere on it. Progressed to a Cnoc last Christmas at 4 and half, and his brother has inherited the Rothan.
Eldest was like some of the others on here, on the first day he was peddling away like mad, but would forget to put his feet down when he stopped. Youngest is now at the age when small ramps at the skate park are an option :-)
My mate had some heavy thing for his kid and he never rode his bike as he got too tired. So he bought him an Islabike and he's never off it now.
Strong resale helps soften the blow...
Eldest was like some of the others on here, on the first day he was peddling away like mad, but would forget to put his feet down when he stopped. Youngest is now at the age when small ramps at the skate park are an option :-)
My mate had some heavy thing for his kid and he never rode his bike as he got too tired. So he bought him an Islabike and he's never off it now.
Strong resale helps soften the blow...
C0ffin D0dger said:
DeuxCentCinq said:
How early can they go on a balance bike? Is it around 18 months? Do they have to be walking really well first?
I think age 2 years and upwards it the general recommendation but it probably depends how keen they are. Like I said earlier our 22 month old is desperate to get on her brother's balance bike and now he's got a proper bike I'll adjust it for her and see how she gets on. She is tall for her age though.I got my son a balance bike from Decathlon for christmas. It;s a lovely wee bike, and has a brake.
He's 22 months old and hasn't shown much interest in it at all. But we were watching Liege-Bastogne-Liege the other day and he got up and went over the bike, took it by the handle bars, moved it to one side and reached for his sweeping brush which was behind it
He's 22 months old and hasn't shown much interest in it at all. But we were watching Liege-Bastogne-Liege the other day and he got up and went over the bike, took it by the handle bars, moved it to one side and reached for his sweeping brush which was behind it
aberdeeneuan said:
Strong resale helps soften the blow...
Kids fall off and aren't always as gentle as they might be. My son has already scraped his bike where he's fallen off so after a few years of him then no doubt his brother I couldn't see any bike fetching a lot on the 2nd hand market.
I know when I was a kid I certainly wore my bikes out.
Can I just chuck in my experience?
My daughter had a three wheel microscooter from about 18 months or so, she was bought a bike with stabilisers for her third birthday. She took to the scooter very quickly, but struggled with the bike as it was a bit big and heavy, pedalling was hard even with stabilisers. I thought to myself at the time, "why didn't I buy a balance bike?".
But the scooter was fine for getting about - scooting to nursery, the park, the shops and around some of the local cycle tracks, the bike didn't really get a look in for a year or so.
Until last summer when my daughter declares she wants to learn how to ride properly (she was then 4). So I take the stabilisers off her bike and we go up to the park. We find a gentle slope, and spend an hour or so pushing her around on the grass, gradually letting go and having a few tumbles. By the end of the first hour though, she was able to ride around unaided and stop without falling off, a couple of weekends later she was able to get on and set off by herself.
FFWd to now, she's happy cycling with good control along the pavement and tracks, using the brakes, stopping and starting, freewheeling and avoiding obstacles. Not quite road ready, but very capable under supervision.
So my thinking is that if they already have a scooter, the kids can already get about quickly, so is there really a need for a balance bike when my daughter was still able to balance and pedal from age 4 onwards anyway?
My daughter had a three wheel microscooter from about 18 months or so, she was bought a bike with stabilisers for her third birthday. She took to the scooter very quickly, but struggled with the bike as it was a bit big and heavy, pedalling was hard even with stabilisers. I thought to myself at the time, "why didn't I buy a balance bike?".
But the scooter was fine for getting about - scooting to nursery, the park, the shops and around some of the local cycle tracks, the bike didn't really get a look in for a year or so.
Until last summer when my daughter declares she wants to learn how to ride properly (she was then 4). So I take the stabilisers off her bike and we go up to the park. We find a gentle slope, and spend an hour or so pushing her around on the grass, gradually letting go and having a few tumbles. By the end of the first hour though, she was able to ride around unaided and stop without falling off, a couple of weekends later she was able to get on and set off by herself.
FFWd to now, she's happy cycling with good control along the pavement and tracks, using the brakes, stopping and starting, freewheeling and avoiding obstacles. Not quite road ready, but very capable under supervision.
So my thinking is that if they already have a scooter, the kids can already get about quickly, so is there really a need for a balance bike when my daughter was still able to balance and pedal from age 4 onwards anyway?
Devil2575 said:
How much use is it going to get though?
Kids fall off and aren't always as gentle as they might be. My son has already scraped his bike where he's fallen off so after a few years of him then no doubt his brother I couldn't see any bike fetching a lot on the 2nd hand market.
I know when I was a kid I certainly wore my bikes out.
Bought an Islabike for £200. Daughter gave it two years hard use, including all the usual scrapes and scuffs. Sold it on ebay for £170+Kids fall off and aren't always as gentle as they might be. My son has already scraped his bike where he's fallen off so after a few years of him then no doubt his brother I couldn't see any bike fetching a lot on the 2nd hand market.
I know when I was a kid I certainly wore my bikes out.
I'm not sure I see the logic in the prices they go for second hand, but I'm certainly not complaining. In it's defence, the bike did still work faultlessly and look reasonably smart but there was no way it could be regarded as "good as new".
In case you doubt any of this, take a look at the completed listings for Beinn 20 small bikes here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sa... That's a bike that is £300 new including postage, but they are selling for £250 + postage!?! I don't understand it...
prand said:
So my thinking is that if they already have a scooter, the kids can already get about quickly, so is there really a need for a balance bike when my daughter was still able to balance and pedal from age 4 onwards anyway?
Nope, no need at all. Is there any need for a scooter either? Not really. Depends what they prefer. I think the important thing is to skip the "bike with stabilisers" stage. This teaches them lots of bad habits that make cycling harder later on.
Mr Will said:
Devil2575 said:
How much use is it going to get though?
Kids fall off and aren't always as gentle as they might be. My son has already scraped his bike where he's fallen off so after a few years of him then no doubt his brother I couldn't see any bike fetching a lot on the 2nd hand market.
I know when I was a kid I certainly wore my bikes out.
Bought an Islabike for £200. Daughter gave it two years hard use, including all the usual scrapes and scuffs. Sold it on ebay for £170+Kids fall off and aren't always as gentle as they might be. My son has already scraped his bike where he's fallen off so after a few years of him then no doubt his brother I couldn't see any bike fetching a lot on the 2nd hand market.
I know when I was a kid I certainly wore my bikes out.
I'm not sure I see the logic in the prices they go for second hand, but I'm certainly not complaining. In it's defence, the bike did still work faultlessly and look reasonably smart but there was no way it could be regarded as "good as new".
In case you doubt any of this, take a look at the completed listings for Beinn 20 small bikes here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sa... That's a bike that is £300 new including postage, but they are selling for £250 + postage!?! I don't understand it...
Why wouldn't you just buy new?
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff