Early Rider Super Velio review: a lightweight, confidence-boosting first balance bike

We tested the Early Rider Super Velio on different surfaces including grass and tarmac

How we tested the Early Rider Super Velio

Nicola tested the Early Rider Super Velio over four months with her daughter, who was 17 to 21 months old at the time. It was used regularly at home, in the local park and on trips out, with the bike transported in the car boot when needed.

That gave her a good range of everyday scenarios to judge it against. Her daughter first used it indoors, riding around the kitchen island on a wooden floor, before gradually taking it outside more often. Nicola was also able to see how easy it was to store, lift, wipe clean and fit around day-to-day family life rather than just a one-off outing.

Nicola says, “My daughter initially used it a lot in the house, getting faster and more confident as the weeks went on. We then decided to take it to the local park and then some trips out in the car to other outdoor venues.”

Once testing was complete, Nicola scored the Super Velio on the following criteria: performance, quality and durability, ease of use, value for money, safety and stability, comfort, adjustability and portability. 

The Early Rider Super Velio requires minimal set-up

How easy is the Early Rider Super Velio to set up?

Setup was refreshingly simple. Nicola said, “The bike comes in a lovely box with no plastic packaging. It was super easy to put together. It just needed the handle bars attaching and the parent handle (if you need it). It came with its own well designed Allen key. The instructions were straightforward and came in an attractive keepsake box and a booklet to record balance bike milestones.”

How does it look?

This is one of the Super Velio’s strongest points. Nicola described it as “clearly a very attractive bike that has obviously been well designed, with a lot of thought put into it. The bike looks like a mini motorcycle, so it is sure to appeal to toddlers.” 

But its shape has a practical side too. The low profile and large spherical wheels help it feel stable for toddlers, which is exactly what you want in a first balance bike. While there is only one colour option available, it looks smart and distinctive, and feels well judged for children at the very start of their riding journey.

That impression held up once it was out and about. Nicola said it attracted positive comments from strangers, and the premium finish gives it a more polished feel than many first ride-ons. 

The Early Rider Super Velio's clever design helps with early balance

How easy is the Super Velio to ride?

The Super Velio feels impressively confidence-boosting for such a young age group. Nicola said the large wheels made it feel “safe and sturdy, so even when my daughter would stumble, there were no injuries”.

That sense of stability comes through in everyday use. Early Rider says the patented Active Balance Control™ system is designed to guide the bike gently back in line when a toddler starts to tip, while its intuitive ‘point and go’ steering is meant to feel natural and responsive to a child's movements. Alongside the spherical wheel design, which softens those early wobbles, those features are designed make early riding feel steadier and more instinctive. Nicola’s toddler did need a little time to get used to the bike, but once she had worked it out, her confidence grew steadily.

She says, “Initially, my toddler was confused about which way she should climb on and face (as the handle bars are quite low and she kept trying to sit on them!) but after a few attempts, she got the hang of it.”

Once she was comfortable on it, Nicola said her toddler "finds it easy to balance and steer," particularly on grass. On pavement, she was more likely to want reassurance or a helping hand. So while this is clearly a beginner-friendly bike, it doesn’t magically remove the wobblier parts of toddler riding - it just makes them feel more manageable.

The seat has 15mm of foam, a wipe-clean silicone cover and an ergonomic shape designed to support comfortable riding.

The Super Velio is designed for children aged nine months to two years

How adjustable is it?

The saddle adjusts from 20cm to 23.5cm, giving enough flexibility to get the fit right as your toddler grows in confidence. 

The Super Velio also comes with a telescopic parent handle, which Nicola kept attached during testing because her daughter liked having the bike steadied while she climbed on. It’s removable too, which means you can take it off once that extra support is no longer needed.

“The handle is detachable, which is something else I like, as I can imagine she will not need that extra support in the not-too-distant future.”

What’s it like to use day-to-day?

The Super Velio fits neatly into everyday family life. Nicola’s daughter used it around the house to begin with, then took it to the park and on trips out, so it quickly became part of their usual routine. She says, “My daughter enjoyed following her big brother on his bike on a recent bike ride.”

It also proved very easy to transport. At 2.8kg, Nicola found it “light enough to transport just about anywhere. I even had it under the pushchair one day at our local park. It’s small enough to fit in the car boot as you can shorten the parent handle with ease in seconds.”

The Early Rider Super Velio is compact, lightweight and easy to store

How easy is it to clean?

Very easy. Nicola says, “The wheels are easily wiped down after being outside, so this goes a long way to helping look after the bike. We initially brought the bike indoors as my daughter loved riding around the kitchen island on the wood floor, so we wiped the wheels regularly - a task that was quick as the wheels are not standard bike wheels that hold lots of mud.”

She adds, “After four months of use indoors and outdoors, I cannot see any visible dents or scrapes as I feel the casing over the wheels absorbs any impact, so other parts of the bike don’t hit the floor after my toddler clambers off. The bike still looks almost box fresh four months later!”

Is it good value for money?

At £175, the Super Velio sits firmly at the premium end of the market for a first balance bike compared to popular models like the Strider 12 Sport, which costs far less. That will be the sticking point for some families. If you’re simply looking for the cheapest way to introduce your toddler to a balance bike, this probably won’t be the one.

What makes the price easier to swallow is how well the bike holds up in everyday use. Nicola found it both durable and easy to keep clean. Just as importantly, it gave her daughter a stable, confidence-building starting point, which made it feel like more than just a stylish purchase.

She says, “Initially the price seemed a little high, considering the age range of use being nine to 24 months. However, after watching my toddler use the bike for the last four months and watching her confidence grow and comparing her playing on it now to the first day using it when she didn’t know which way to face, I see it as a worthwhile investment.”

For parents who want a beautifully made first bike that’s compact, practical and likely to last well enough to reuse for younger siblings, it starts to feel more justifiable. It’s undeniably expensive, but it does feel built to earn its keep.

About the author

Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head Editorial Content at Mumsnet. Mum to a three-year-old, she is fully invested in finding the best and most affordable products for families.

With over 10 years’ experience as a full-time editor, including seven years spent writing, commissioning and editing product reviews and round-ups, Laura has developed particular expertise in baby and toddler products. She has a keen eye for what parents genuinely value and is passionate about delivering honest, practical reviews that help make parents' lives that little bit easier.

In addition to her work as a writer and editor, she has also appeared in a number of product review videos for Mumsnet's YouTube channel.