kids balance bikes..

Author
Discussion

Chimune

Original Poster:

3,163 posts

222 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
Hi - our 2yo had a go on a Striker last week and absolutely loved it.

The PHer in me says by a used kids bike and remove the crank / peddles. then refit in a year when they are needed.

What do you guys think of these things?
waste of ££ or fab way of teaching the hard part (balance) of bike riding?

As far a cool goes - I wish I had one of these when I was little. Looks brill !


IIIRestorerIII

841 posts

227 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
Waiting for my daughter to grow up so I can get her either one of these...

http://www.likeabike.co.uk/likeabike_models/likeab... - suspension on a balance bike (see youtube videos) although not keen on the aluminium frame clolour

http://www.islabikes.co.uk/products/bikes/item/rot... - Apparently these are the best bikes for kids and have good resale values

Chimune

Original Poster:

3,163 posts

222 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
I love that likeabike one !
not cheap though are they ...!

uncinquesei

917 posts

176 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
We bought a balance bike for my elder son when he was about 3, by far the best way of learning to ride a bike. Was scooting up and down in no time, his brother inherited it when he was 2 and took to it just as quickly. Makes so much more sense to learn to balance then pedal than the other way around... Massive fan - they had them in Lidl 2 weeks ago for £24.99. Worth every penny and easy to sell on.
Ours was a Hudora Joey (smile) but they don't seem to be around these days.
Puky seem to be a popular / reputable make. link: Puky

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
Balance bike is a great idea. Buy a used Islabike and get most of the money back when you sell it.

SixtySpeedTwin

320 posts

151 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
my son loved his it went everywhere with us. We got a new wooden one off ebay and sold it at a car boot for good money.

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Friday 17th April 2015
quotequote all
Regardless of the brand, get one with a brake so that when they get on their first pedal bike, there aren't too many new things to learn at once.

dienamic

827 posts

202 months

Sunday 19th April 2015
quotequote all
I'll be getting one of these for my youngest

bernieburger

72 posts

168 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Balance bikes are the way forward. Got one for the eldest boy (Islabikes Rothan) at about 2.5 years old, he was soon whizzing around on it (Islabikes are well made & light). From then on he wanted a 'bike with pedals', we got him one for his 4th birthday (Islabikes Cnoc). Expected to do the whole 'Dad & Son spend hours in the park, holding on to the back of the saddle, lots of falling off, grazed knees etc etc'..... on the day he got the 'Bike with pedals' we walked to the park, once we got there he climbed on and pedalled away! Cue open jaw from me & Mrs B, proud but actually a bit of an anti climax. Youngest (2yo) now on the hand me down balance bike, going down hills we complete lack of fear.

Chimune

Original Poster:

3,163 posts

222 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for all the advice !
These things really are pretty cool. Just need to find one now.
If anyone wants rid of a Rothan or a Jumper - let me know biggrin

jamiebae

6,245 posts

210 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
I bought a cheap one from Wiggle for my son's 2nd birthday. It's not a quality item, my favourite thing is the pressed steel spanner it comes with which isn't man enough to do up the bolts on the seat and bar clamps without bending...

It looks OK though, and I'm sure it'll do the job until he gets the hang of it.

drinks

115 posts

233 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Our little one is just over 2 and has a frog tadpole. Has been really getting the hang of it over the last couple of weeks. It's now a case of fast walk/run a bit to keep up with him. Hasn't mastered the brake yet but I'd definitely recommend it.

NickGibbs

1,247 posts

230 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
We put our son on a hand-me-down balance bike aged two and just three months after his third birthday he was riding a pedal bike without stabilisers. We were amazed.

It's a hefty generic bike too, not one of the much lighter Islabikes. Taking pedals off one of those would be a great idea for a balance bike if the sizes work out

PH5121

1,963 posts

212 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Both of my kids had cheapo balance bikes when they were 18 months old, £30 nasty things but they did the job, and both were able to ride at a little over 3 years old (3 years and 7 days, and 3 years and 3 months).

As a parent it is nice to get them on decent branded bikes, but the cheapo Toys R us / Halfords ones were okay.

pembo

1,203 posts

192 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
My lad has one from Halfords, with a load of clowns and balloons on it. He loves it and has been getting on fine with it but at a bike race there was another kid there on a Strider which was much lighter and easier to get about on.

This week we were at a car boot sale (what else is there to do when you are woken up at 7am on a Sunday) and saw a Strider for £10!

Now along with the retro 'mini chopper' we picked up at another car boot for £5 he has 3 bikes and isn't even 2 yet! I also 'only' have 3 so I feel I may need to redress the balance!

jshell

11,006 posts

204 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Cheap Rebel Kidz balance bike for my daughter then bypassed expensive Islabike and bought a Frog. She got on and pedalled away 1st time. Comes with mudguards, front and rear brakes, Ace! Seemingly good for re-sale too!

silverous

1,008 posts

133 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
My son wasn't getting on well with peddles without stabilisers, I think we saw a video online of some celebrity mum who had a massive garden and simply took the peddles off their kids bike until they got comfortable with it, then put them back on. We went to a local park with some gentle slopes, took the pedals off and after a short while he got the hang of it, put the peddles back on and off he went. Brilliant.

ReaderScars

6,087 posts

175 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
Was looking for CNC plywood outfits and founds this, for anyone interested:

http://www.kidsplaykit.com/product-racer-motorbike...


Kell

1,708 posts

207 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
When I got my daughter's first Isla Bike, they recommended that we take the pedals off and use it as a balance bike first. Rather than use it with stabilisers.

In the end, I got the stabilisers, as it meant she could trail along with us on short rides. The problem I found found with stabilisers is that, ironically, the bike isn't that stable if you're cornering at any sort of speed. I remember following her and thinking she was going to tip over a couple of times.

Silver940

3,961 posts

226 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
My lad had one of these for his 2nd birthday



Ok it's made of wood but the seat goes really low, looks very cool and it's been really abused and he still messes about on it now - he's 5 1/2!

Wood means it's really light too.

One jump that didn't end so well...




They are a great way to learn to ride, he never had stabilisers and was pedalling at 3 1/2. Now rides 10 miles easily on his Frog 52.