Which Size Bike for DS to learn

[livealittlemore]

Hi everyone, looking for some advice. DS is 5.5 years and hasn’t learnt how to bike on his own yet. We are planning to get him trained during the summer holidays. He currently has a 14inch bike which he has outgrown and it was quiet heavy for him anyways. I have checked online and the general recommendation for the age is a 20" bike. But I think that’s assuming the child has already learnt how to ride(?). His inside leg measures 51cm which is at the top end for a 16” but still not tall enough for a 20”. We also checked in a shop and he seemed more comfortable on a 16” bike and found it a bit difficult to touch the ground on the 20”. Ideally it would be good if he can learn on the 16” and then move to 20” when he is more confident. But a 16” will probably last him only a few months. So I am not sure if I should buy a 16” now and potentially upgrade within a few months or get a 20” but he might not be able to ride on it immediately! Can he ride a 16" for another year or so? 18” will probably be ideal, but there aren’t too many lightweight bikes in that size.
Can he learn on a 20” even if he can’t reach the ground now?
Thinking of looking at second hand frog bikes, so it will be pricey and if he only gets to ride for a few months, might not be worth it?
Any advice is much appreciated

Thanks

From anecdotal evidence from friends I would say the smaller the better.

Bikes don’t last all that long for children this age, so IMO it’s not worth splashing out. My DS learned a year ago on a 14” bike, age 4.5. He’s tall, and the bike is now getting small for him (age 5.5) but it’ll do him for the summer I think. It was about £60.

I don’t personally think it’s worth buying the light weight bikes as DS’ is just from Halfords and isn’t particularly light weight.

If you can afford it get him a Frog or Islabike. You can buy (and then sell again) secondhand. They retain their value for some time so you could probably sell for around the price you buy for!

Id look at the renting bikes schemes. That way you can just change bike when he grows.

We found that weight made a big difference to how much DS wanted to ride. Maybe not for 20 minutes messing around at the park, but it was noticeable when we wanted to do something like a 10 mile family ride.

Have you looked at one of the lease schemes? You pay monthly for a bike and when they grow out of it send it back and get the next size.

I'd buy a second hand wont last long size lightweight like frog, Isla, Hoy. Then sell it back second hand for about what you paid for it when he is ready for something bigger.
I'd also take the pedals off and use it as a balance bike initially.

Or, I think Frog do a bike hire scheme, so you pay monthly, and just switch up a size when ready. Might be worth investigating.

Thank you all for your replies. Really helpful.
I am tempted to buy the smaller size (16”) so that he can learn comfortably, but equally don’t want to sell one soon after buying it. So was wondering if we can stretch the 16” bike for a year or until next summer. Does anyone have their average height DC use a 16” bike until they are 6/7?
Definitely want to get him a lighter bike as he struggles with the heavy bike we have.
I have looked at the bikeclub hire scheme, but it turns out that for 6 months it'll cost around £100 factoring in the cost to return the bike, so was looking at second hand options as with a good bike we might be able to get back some of the money...
Is there any other bike hire/lease scheme that I can look into? Thanks again

My shorter-than-average 6 year old has a 20”. I wouldn’t go for a 16 or even 18” at that age.

It is easier to ride generally if it isn’t too small so I’d definitely slightly size up. Frogs are a great choice and you will probably sell second hand for what you paid for it so worth it, even for one year. Our DC have learned on Frog/Isla bikes.

Places like Halford's don't list frame sizes but by 20 inches there can be some variation in size of the frame so you need to go and try some.

DS is 7 and moved up to a 20inch bike with a small/average frame last summer, we tried a few to get the right size. Next year he will probably go up to his brother's old bike - still 20inch wheel but couple of inches bigger frame size.

cheap carboot special that is obviously too small - but not comically too small.

Thanks all. Some helpful information...I am inclining toward getting a 20" now as it will last a bit longer