It's my neice's second birthday shortly and we were thinking a balance bike might be a good present (start them young etc) - but I don't really know anything about them.
Does anyone have any recommendations or advice?
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Balance bikes?
(15 posts)- Started 13 years ago by Dave
- Latest reply from chdot
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Posted 13 years ago #
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Hi Dave - it was Morningsider junior's second birthday recently and we got him an Early Rider Lite balance bike. He loves it and is starting to get the hang of it after just a few goes.
Nice bit of kit - cartridge sealed hubs, decent tyres, adjustable saddle height, light and looks really cool. Expensive though - £85 from wiggle - a real extravagance on my part. I just couldn't resist it.
I'm pretty sure you could get something decent for much less, you know how it is when you start looking at bike specs though!
Posted 13 years ago # -
We opted for a Ridgeback Scoot:
http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/scoot-silver
Similar pricing, nicely built and a rear brake. Opinion is divided on whether that's necessary, but we found it useful to teach braking by hand rather than by feet!
Some would argue that it's cheaper to buy a small bike and remove the pedals given that the window of use might be small - we lent it to a friend whose son didn't really get on well with his bike, never really getting going, even with stabilisers.
We got the Scoot handed back within a fortnight as he now wanted pedals - the stabilisers were removed and he shot off!
Since there isn't the extra weight (and oil!) of a chain, I think the balance bike is worth a look, particularly if you've got several little ones - we got it for our last and regretted not starting with the first, as the final (hopefully!) one started cycling a full year before his siblings...
Hope this helps,
Robert
Posted 13 years ago # -
Early Riders look good. Was interested to see -
The more ordinary wooden ones often have handlebars that are just made of dowelling and I've seen broken ones (heavy/careless use in nurseries).
There are also various metal ones.
Puky do a wide range - different sizes, which only adds to the confusion of choice! Made in Germany too.
Posted 13 years ago # -
We got a really cheap one in the US - made of wood, with 'Elmo' on it. Much loved and used. Handle did come apart as above, but fixable.
In retrospect think one with a brake would have been good practice. and maybe a lighter one would have helped. But honestly my daughter loved the wooden one and rode it everywhere very happily. and was also happy to move onto a 'real' bike at 3 1/2.
Posted 13 years ago # -
My son has one of these: Islabikes Rothan Not cheap but very well built. Got it when he was two but didnt really get into it until nearer three - now loves it at 3 1/2. Will be passed on to his sister when the time comes. Have I now committed myself to buying expensive kids bikes for the foreseeable future!? Perhaps we go to the bike station next!
Posted 13 years ago # -
@roibeard
Welcome.
Another person registering so that they can post useful info/experience.
CCE rolls on.
Posted 13 years ago # -
We have one of the German made wooden bikes. They are very good with restricted steering so they can't jerk the wheel to one side and come to an abrupt end. They do suffer a lack of brakes to it won't last until they are ready for peddles when they're 3&1/2 or so. Our sons both love the wooden bike (its a bit scuffed now but still works well. We bought a metal frame ride along but it has plastic wheels and brakes don't work with plastic wheels. If your neice doesn't live near any hills a wooden bike would be suitable but as we live on a hill we need brakes as Louis tends to career down the hill and then crash hence the move to a bike with brakes.
Our neibours have two girls a similar age to our boys and they have a scoot (in pink) which Louis does like riding and his wee hands can operate the brakes.
Louis is nearly 3 and now riding his older brothers first peddle bike (12 inch wheels) with stableizers.
Dave C
Posted 13 years ago # -
Cheers folks! I quite liked the look of the wooden models and will have a poke around (being able to order one on Wiggle is, of course, an unexpected bonus).
Posted 13 years ago # -
I got a Tesco £38 priced one. My girls took a month or so to get going on it and then needed an actual pedal bike. The Tesco one came with a rear v-brake, which helped train how to brake rather than trash their shoes!!
No need for an expensive short term item I belive.
BW
Posted 13 years ago # -
@Bwood
Welcome - another person registering just to post on this thread. Must be a CCE first!
It's always fascinating to see how quickly children learn to use balance bikes.
Some children use balance bikes for quite a time as 'serious' transport - on pavements, with adults. Others just want to get a 'proper' bike ASAP - probably depends, partly, on what their peers/siblings are doing.
I hadn't thought about the chain/oil factor, but certainly weight is an issue. Some small children's bikes seem heavy to an adult!
It's also more than just (usually) a shortcut to cycling without going via stabilisers. For older children an ordinary bike with stabilisers, and pedals removed, can help to get them cycling fairly quickly. Sometimes it helps if their own parents aren't involved if there has been a history of frustration.
In addition to being a useful skill and becoming a potential 'new cyclist' in the family, just learning/improving basic balance/co-ordination has been shown to have significant influence on 'child development' and the ability to learn things in a slightly more formal sense.
This one reason why some nurseries are really keen on balance bikes and a surprise that some aren't.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I remember watching the kids going round the test track on the balance bikes at the Scottish bike show, they were absolutely fearless and faster than many of the adults over the obstacle.
Posted 13 years ago # -
The Pavillion cafe on the meadows has a couple of balance bikes for use if you want to try your nipper out on one. Very child friendly place.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Funny that chdot, my son't new full suspension bike is heavier than my MTB but cost a 20th the cost (off ebay). I might get him a lighter bike if I can get him to go to Glentress again.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Latest P1 balance bike sessions at Sciennes
As always an interesting range of 'competences' from highly skilled (own bikes at home, which they use) to children who have clearly never seen a balance bike (5 year olds).
In the middle are the ones who can ride a bike - as long as it has stabilisers.
Most children should be able to manage a balance bike between 2 and 3 and then bikes with pedals (remove first and start as a balance bike) after that.
The Sciennes sessions only last about 20 minutes, by which time most children have picked up new skills and increased two wheeled confidence.
Some manage a first ride without stabilisers.
http://www.balanceability.com/what-is-balanceability/why-is-balance-so-important
Posted 8 years ago #
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