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From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Christmas

Balance bikes or stabilisers??

20 replies

Panicatthedisco · 01/12/2011 21:34

Could I canvass some opinions please?

I have DS1 who is 3 and a half, and DTS who have just turned 2. We'd like to get the 3 of them bikes for Christmas, but can't decide whether to get them all balance bikes, or DS1 a bike with stabilisers and balance bikes for the twins.

Your views would be very much appreciated!

OP posts:

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EverybodysScaryEyed · 01/12/2011 21:38

At 3.5 I would say a bike with stabilisers. DS got his at the same age and was ready for it

Eddas · 01/12/2011 21:52

balance bikes.

DS had one dd didn't. They both learnt to ride a proper bike in the summer ds is 4 and dd 7, she was not amused that ds learnt at the same time

Panicatthedisco · 01/12/2011 22:01

Thanks for the quick responses ladies!

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pigleychez · 01/12/2011 22:17

We bought DD1 a balance bike for her 3rd birthday. She's now 3.5 and adores her bike. Her balance is great and she's starting to pick up speed. I reckon she will be a pro by the end of the summer. Maybe even a bike (without stabilisers) for next xmas.

wakeupeverybody · 01/12/2011 22:22

We've had a balance bike in this family, DD1 had it from age 2, although she didn't really 'get' it until she was more like 2.5. She became a real wizz on it, used it daily and moved onto a real bike without stabilisers just before she was 4. It took 10 mins for her to learn to ride the real bike. I really think that stabilisers really don't help them transition to proper cycling very quickly- how important this is, I don't know- depends how much patience you have to teach them to ride!
If you have an unlimited budget I would go for balance bikes all round, but you may find that DS1 is only on the balance bike for a short time, if he develops a good sense of balance on the balance bike, he will be off and away and wanting a proper bike (without stabilisers) very soon. All the kids I know who used balance bikes regularly were on proper bikes by the age of 4, all the rest are still going around v slowly on stabilisers.

thisisyesterday · 01/12/2011 22:22

balance bikes for sure.

ds2 has just had a proper bike for his 4th birthday and can ride it, just like that.. it's amazing
he had his balance bike for his second birthday so has had lots of practice lol

simpson · 01/12/2011 22:23

Another one who says balance bike.

DS (now6) had one and learnt to ride a normal bike very quickly.

PresentsRibbonsAndMerrySantas · 01/12/2011 22:30

yes balance bikes for all, my ds loved his

Panicatthedisco · 02/12/2011 09:20

I think balance bikes all round it is. That's Christmas sorted! Cheers ladies, thanks for your help!

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MrsDobalina · 02/12/2011 13:42

Just a thought - why not a normal bike for the eldest and remove the cranks and pedals until they can balance? Then no need to buy two bikes.. It's tricky to do with most kids bikes cos they have one piece cranks but I guess the bike shop could advise on one that it's easy on?

olibeansmummy · 02/12/2011 16:27

Balance bikes for the twins and proper bike for the older boy. Then the twins can swap for a go one the 'big boys bike' and everyone's a winner!

MrsMuddyPuddles · 02/12/2011 18:16

proper bike with the pedals removed for the older one (aka cheap version of a balance bike )

vonnyh · 02/12/2011 18:31

I second removing the pedals from a proper bike. Did this with both my DC's and they learned to ride easily.

Panicatthedisco · 02/12/2011 19:25

Good ideas about the proper bike minus pedals for DS1.

OK, next question - any recommendations for any balance bikes in particular?
Thank you so much for the input. Talk about making life easier!

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HufftheHedgehog · 02/12/2011 19:44

I'd recommend Islabikes. DS got his balance bike from them aged 2, though didn't really start using it properly till 2.5ish, he moved straight onto a their pedal bike at 3.5 and so now DD has inherited the old bike :) But Islabikes do say that they will trade in old models, so may do that eventually...

nailak · 02/12/2011 19:49

whats a balance bike?

PresentsRibbonsAndMerrySantas · 02/12/2011 19:55

i am prob being thick here, but if you remove the pedals, would you not still have the sticky out bits on that the pedals went on, would they not bang their ankles
i got a wooden balance bike from tescos and its still going strong

Eddas · 02/12/2011 20:06

a balance bike is a bike with no pedals.

My ds had a basic Halfords one, work well for him and it had a brake which meant he learnt how to use that too.

MayaAngelCool · 02/12/2011 20:07

If you get stabilisers it'll probably take him longer to ride independently. Balance bikes (good wooden ones are £30 on eBay) are a work of genius.

MrsDobalina · 03/12/2011 19:05

presents yes, you'd defo want to remove the cranks (sticky out bits) but they are tricky to get back in on most kids bikes.

I bet you could do this easily on Isla bikes as they are set up just like little adult bikes (DH is a bike nut and I get to hear all about this endlessly ) I lusted after their balance bike for DS but they were too massively pricy. But their balance and normal bikes are looovely to ride (which defo helps with the learning to ride thing) and re-sell for almost new prices round here.

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