http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Best bargain balance bike? en Sun, 17 May 2026 20:07:01 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11794#post-135857 Fri, 06 Dec 2013 01:14:52 +0000 crowriver 135857@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We have <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LELIN-WOODEN-WOOD-BALANCING-BALANCE-BICYCLE-CHILDRENS-KIDS-INDOOR-OUTDOOR-BIKE-/350877350125">a wooden one similar to this</a> (not identical, forks are different). It's great, and has 'real' tyres you can pump (buggy tyres basically).</p> <p>Our daughter was so keen on it she wore out the first set of tyres and it's on a second set... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11794#post-135856 Fri, 06 Dec 2013 01:06:15 +0000 Snowy 135856@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We had the Islabike version (Rothan?) and passed it to friends after our 2 kids had learned on it...there's not much can really go wrong with them. A brake is good if you live on a sloping street as we do: they can get up a surprising speed when they are learning to freewheel with their feet off the ground.<br /> Friends had the Ridgeback Scoot which also looked v good.<br /> We often went out for extended jaunts and compared with wooden saddles on other bikes, a 'regular' style saddle seems to help from a comfort/stamina viewpoint.<br /> Basically, balance bikes are fab. I'm so annoyed I was still using stabilsers at the age of 5...mind you that was back when the world was in black and white... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11794#post-135845 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 23:20:57 +0000 SRD 135845@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We ''ve twice bought ultra cheap balance bikes while in holiday and been very happy with both of them. I wouldn't worry too much about anything except seat height which can vary a great deal. </p> <p>I have a theory that heavier ones are good in that kids give them up and move to a pedal bike sooner, whereas with the really light ones they are reluctant to shift. But it's just a theory.</p> <p>We're currently using one similar to the decathlon one - I'm a bit unimpressed with the pretend tyres - don't know if it would last two kids/resale as well as proper tyres. But no problems so far (6 months heavy use). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11794#post-135844 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 23:14:14 +0000 wingpig 135844@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"<u>Important</u>: When you purchase a bike online, <strong>pedals are not fitted</strong>"</em></p> <p>We currently use a <a href="http://www.evanscycles.com/products/hudora/joey-runner-kids-bike-ec015115?country=GB&amp;currency=GBP&amp;utm_content=mkwid__pcrid_17321847296_kword__match__plid_&amp;gclid=CM3354SNmrsCFRLMtAodwDkAlw">Hudora Joey</a> which we've had since the big one was less than a year old, though he only became big enough to use it at its lowest setting after he was three. Do you have access to any of these 'Jack and Jill' sale sorts of things? We picked it up for about £5 at one of them.</p> <p>Currently waiting for his inside leg to increase by four centimetres whilst preying on eBay for Cnoc 14s. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11794#post-135842 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 22:55:47 +0000 Smudge 135842@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Another question for the collective..<br /> I'm planning to get a balance bike for our Smudgeling, (currently he's zooming around on a Sphero-velo) and am thinking about one of these:<br /> <a href="http://www.decathlon.co.uk/run-ride-new-kids-balance-bike-red-white-id_8237693.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.decathlon.co.uk/run-ride-new-kids-balance-bike-red-white-id_8237693.html</a> </p> <p>Anyone used them or can recommend an alternative? (we don't want to blow the cash required for an islabike yet!) </p>