To ask for balance bike advice.

[YourNameGoesHere]

Going round in circles looking at all the options and am no closer to a decision so I'm looking for advice.

I have a nearly 4 year old which whilst appreciate he is on the older end he still struggles to use a balance bike although he's desperate to ride one like a big boy. We've tried several but are no closer to finding one which works for him.

Key information he's quite petite and small for his age (approximately 90cm) not to mention he's quite likely to have inherited coordinated issues which doesn't make the task any easier. We're having real trouble finding one that's light enough to manoeuvre and where he isn't using his tippy-toes.

Any advice would be appreciated.

What have you tried?

I'd look at a second hand Isla bike or Frog. Both websites have measuring guides.

Woom and Hoy bikes also get good reviews. I don't know what the second hand market is for those.

Does he want to ride a balance bike specifically or would he be happy with a bike with stabilisers? My 4 yr old could not get on with a balance bike at all, just couldn't get speed up, didn't enjoy it. Put her on in a normal bike with stabilisers and happy as anything, got the hang of it straight away. Might be worth trying?

If he probably has coordination issues that wish more likely the issue than the bike. Agree with pp buy second hand and if you have friends or family let him try theirs.

Frog tadpole 100%. I put DS on a bike with stabilisers which was fine until it came to taking them away. Took so much longer. Those on balance bikes transfer to a pedal bike so much more quickly. DS(9) now has a frog 62 and flies around on it. Amazing machine and wish I'd heard of them earlier!!

Chico red bullet. My niece is very petite and we bought her this. It's perfect, small and light. Only around £20

You can also just get a normal bike and take the pedals off

I bought my daughter a strider sport 14 x and she was cycling independently on her 4th birthday. She's away to get a size 18 next week for her 5th birthday which has gears.
Highly recommend the strider. She didn't like it as a balance bike to begin with as wasn't sure of the brakes but once she got the hang of it I put on the pedals and away she went.

I'd look at other things around his balance and coordination as well as a fairly basic balance bike. With delayed coordination more time with toys that will help with his awareness of his balance and body position (swings, scooter, climbing, balance boards) think about how he needs to put weight onto one side then the other or if it's to do with concentration on direction then think about ways to use that skill (tracking something, walking and carrying for eg). Rather than pour money into a more expensive version.

Thanks for all the replies so far. To answer a few questions I don't think he's be confident on a bike with pedals so not sure moving onto would would be best just yet as we still haven't mastered steering and going any faster than a wobbly walk. Although hopefully one day he is able to ride a pedal bike with confidence.

We've tried a lot of brands even if it's just been having a turn on a friend's and yet none have been the one and I genuinely think it's mostly because he's normally left using his tippy toes even with the seat low down

We've not tried a frog yet but I'm reluctant to spend so much without any guarantees it will be the bike for him and none of our local bike stores seem to stock them.

100% this one. It gave my little boy so much joy.

https://hornit.com/collections/hornit-airo

You can email them and ask for ex-demo models

get some stablisers.
eventually you start to ride so that you don't need them.

Check this page out on Facebook

Bike brands we've tried:

Chicco
Strider
Vitus
Isla
Kidvelo
Raleigh

I'm sure there's more but that's odd the top of my head.

Velo?

Woom 2, pedals off

It has a steering limiter so they can jackknife, my daughter borrowed a couple cheaper balance bikes and constantly fell off even though she was great on her Woom. The Wooms are more upright than frog and Isla too which helps her feel confident.

Appreciate all the ideas so far thank you. The Velo looks like it might be a good shout as it's seat looks very low. Will also definitely check out the FB page suggested, thank you.

I love the boy dearly but I'm not sure I love him enough to spend that much on a Woom.

Decathlon sell balance bikes. They have them in-store to try out.

We had a 2nd hand balance bike that is a rustbucket now so we're upgrading to one from Halfords Apollo Whizer. 12inch wheels and has a brake.

She actually has a pedal bike as well which we got from decathlon. I thought she wasn't ready but she just got in and pedalled off in store. It has stabilisers and brakes, it's really easy for her to use even though she's really small. (She's 3 but in 1.5 year clothes 84cm tall)

We practice with the balance bike to help her when we eventually take the stabilisers off.

www.halfords.com/bikes/balance-bikes/apollo-wizzer-balance-bike-2022---12in-wheel-687358.html?istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istFeedId=367c5610-f937-4c81-8609-f84582324cd6&istItemId=rwpiqaxxp&istBid=t&_$ja=tsid:|cid:17536283662|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:12222247013957496098|dvc:m|adp:|mt:|loc:9046082&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrMKmBhCJARIsAHuEAPQtUHqY4qXyFj8mEe6T5qeTY4dm1uzXxQtrjQtZ9sRwPvYc-5nyE0kaAtIaEALw_wcB

Look for a second hand Woom, they are fantastic bikes. Or try the Bike Club.

What's his inside leg measurement?

Instead of a balance bike could you get a scooter? It all still helps with practicing balance. Then revisit the bike later on. Or a trike where he learns to pedal separate from the balancing.

Not sure what area you live in, im south west but my daughter goes to a weekly balance bike class. It's amazing they do other bits to help teach balance and make it fun & when ready they do pedal assessments and then learn to cycle classes too!

We have a scooter and a trike. He can use the scooter but again speed is slow and he gets frustrated quickly and the trike currently makes a good door stop ...

Will have a nosey to see if we can get to a decathlon and will measure his inside leg tomorrow so have that information for when we go to have a look.

Actually the Hornit Hero 14 or Isla Cnoc 14 Small would be the best options, if you can find one second hand. Both suitable for inside leg 34cm and up.

My son got on great with his frog balance bike he was very cautious didn’t want to try anything but got the hang of it quickly. I got one cheaply on Facebook local selling pages just by putting a wanted request out, loads of people have them lying in garages etc.

Your DS is on the older side but what about a TryBike? It converts from a tricycle into a balance bike. My 2.5yr old DS has one and is approx. 98cm and there is still room to raise the seat. It's a nice sturdy balance bike.