moving on from balance bike

[SwivelHips]

DS is nearly 4 and is now whizzing around on his balance bike. I'm conscious that he's not that great at peddling so I'm thinking this next bike will be need to be quite light. Any recommendations? Thanks

[BikeRunSki]

Islabikes are the market leader in lightweight children's bikes. They are extremely well engineered and built, everything is scaled perfectly for children and they are very light. There is nothing at all shonky about them. They do come at a price though, but if you can grin and bear the initial investment, they will last you through several children, and hold their value very well. There is a thriving second hand market both on eBay and the FB page "Preowned Islabikes for sale and wanted".

[TrainBridge]

Yes, an Idlabike Cnoc 14. Both my kids went straight on yo that from a balance bike (no stabilisers). The older version with back pedal breaking is great as they found it easier to do that than use the hand brake at first.

[SwivelHips]

Funny I'd just written down islabikes after reading some guidance online. Fab thank you

[BikeRunSki]

Cnoc 14 or Cnoc 16 depending on his size. There is a good size guide on the Isla website. I've attached a photo from yesterday's kids session at our cycling club to show how popular they are 4/6 kids were on them! This is fairly normal proportions at any kids cycling activity/race I go to, right up until they get to adult size.

Frog bikes are similar and about 30% cheaper, but are also heavier, particularly in the smaller sizes.

[SwivelHips]

DS isn't overly tall even though me and DH are giraffes!
Nothing local on eBay etc so just waiting to join the FB group. Looks like extra 100 quid for a new one might just bit the bullet, as you say can sell them on

[CMOTDibbler]

Islabikes are the only kids bike you'll get your money back on. My ds is on his 4th Islabike and they've been so easy to sell each time for pretty much what we've paid - last one sold within the hour and cost us £10 over the time we had it

[BikeRunSki]

Totally agree with CMOT!

[Disneyddog]

Another Islabike fan here! Ours get passed from our daughter then on to our son and then get sold on eBay. They hold their value really well. Don't worry about him not being great at pedalling. That will come very quickly. DS was cycling before his third birthday. He was so confident at balancing that the pedalling didn't seem to cause him many issues at all.

[CMOTDibbler]

I feel quite sad that ds's next bike prob won't be an Islabike BikeRunSki! He's outsizing his Luath26 , and our local bike shop (who don't do kids bikes as they recommend Isla) recommend a Dolan as they can build it to our spec and then just change the frame as he grows as all other components will be the same

[JustABigBearAlan]

Well I came on here to say islabike, but I can see everyone else has beaten me to it!

[Fatcakes]

Another islabike fan here.
DS, aged almost 4, went from a Frog balance bike straight onto a Cnoc 16. Pedalled immediately.
We have four Islabikes, up to a Luath 700, get passed down as kids grow. Still look new!

[WordGetsAround]

Hi, can I check something with all you islabike experts? I have an average size 5.5 year old who is a whiz on his balance bike but I need to get him cycling asap. Which bike / size should I get? Should I go cnocs 20 or head straight for a beinn? I've got a 3 year old so not totally adverse to getting something he'll outgrow soonish, but might be a great opportunity to get DC2 their own new one too, and he will start a lot younger! Thank you.

[IAmAPaleontologist]

I got a Cube bike for ds2 on ebay. A friend said Islabikes, Specialized, Giant or Cube. He turned 4 in March and a couple of weeks later got on the bike and pretty much peddled off.

[RueDeWakening]

My DS1 has had a cnoc 16 since he started Reception, he's now 6.4 and it's still going strong - we'll move him straight to a beinn 24 once he outgrows it, as we did with his sister, which should last him through the rest of primary.

[Overrunwithlego]

The cnoc 20 is new to the range so can't comment directly - it doesn't have gears (whereas the beinn 20 does) which may be easier to start off with, but you can always keep it in a middle gear to start off with. The bikes are sized so that you skip every other one - if I was you and could afford it, i'd get the cnoc 14 for your 3 year old and the beinn 20s for the 5 year old, as these follow on from each other. We've had a rothan, a cnoc 16, beinn 20l and a beinn 26s. They are expensive to bank roll - we've spent £1100 in all. However I would expect to get at least £700 back (so far only sold the rothan - for £25 less than we bought it for). So £400 to get 2 kids through 10 years of biking each, on the best kids bikes available. It really would be more expensive in the long run to get £99 halfords monstrosities that only last a couple of years and are horrible to ride (imagine trying to cycle on a bike that was half your weight!).

[WordGetsAround]

Thanks overrun, that's really helpful. Once I get over the initial outlay, I'll feel like I've made exactly the right decision!

[BikeRunSki]

£99 halfords monstrosities

What we call "bicycle shaped objects"

[WordGetsAround]

Overrunwithlego thank you so much for your help! Last week I ordered DC1 (5.5) a Beinn 20, and he has been riding it today and yesterday like a dream! Having been so great on the balance bike has made a massive difference to how quickly he's taken to the bike - I am so impressed. The bike itself is gorgeous and fits him perfectly - so great advice!

Saving up for the one for DC2 now!

[WordGetsAround]

Just ordered DC2's now! Went for the Cnoc 14 large. Will report back.