So happy thank you Mumsnet! Found Christmas bikes in under ten minutes!!!!

[nogwells]

Settled down to choose Christmas bikes (main presents for 3 year old twin DD's) thought it would be HELL finding decent bikes, decent bike easier but didn't think I'd find something good twice, we try not to get the girls things that are exactly the same unless they ask. This mammoth task has taken less than 10 minutes on here :) thought I'd check the reviews, saw the Islabikes balance bike, clicked the website and they do a lovely starter bike with colour options and personalisation!!! This might not be exciting for you..... I'm overjoyed... hahha really :) we'll have to get the stabilisers too and the bike is a little pricy, but they look so nice. :) :) So happy!! :) :)

Glad to hear you are so pleased with your Christmas choice for your DTs. I had nothing to do with it but it is a great feeling to have the main present sorted.

Have a lovely Christmas.

Great! Isla bikes are fantastic. DS got one for his second birthday last month and he loves it. They are "proper bikes" (the founder, Isla Rowntree was a world champion in various cycling disciplines in the 1990s0 - and they do a buy back scheme. I suspect we'll be trading in and brand loyal until DS is on an adult bike.

OK - these are gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous bikes (and being married to a cycling obsessive, I've seen a lot of bikes), but I have to buy 3 for Christmas and I just cannot afford 3 x £240-ish. Just can't.

So can anyone tell me the best options for children's bikes at a maximum of about £100 a pop?

(Yes, I could ask the cycling obsessive DH, but a) I want it sorted out before Christmas Eve, and b) he'd want to spend the money on the Isla bikes, which as discussed earlier, we do not have).

We just bought bike for ds 5th Birthday. Seems very sturdy but light and has great brakes.

We're toying with the idea of the Cnoc 14 for our 3yo. They're sooooo cute!!
She has a Rothan which she loves

Only one problem now ...saving up the pennies ...

How nice to read this post! We're off to Isla Bikes tomorrow for our DS's Christmas Bike

oooh envious that you are actually going to Islabikes!

Thanks for all the feedback :) Its been a busy few days so I haven't been back on. (have a lovely Christmas too reddaisy) :) We've ordered the bikes in fact we've managed to get a few things ordered this year and I've even bought mustard powder for the beef ALREADY.... :o

Its a shame with the Islabikes that more people don't do trade in, I had a look around for second hand models out of 'price guilt' thinking they'd be on the site with the trade in. No sign but they seem to resell on ebay for quite a bit... so you can't blame the parents really...

My DDs are on their second Isla Bike - We sold the other 2 on ebay for almost the same price new ( they always go well as they are such good quality ) Both of them hated their other bikes as they were heavy and too hard to do the brakes. I cant recommend IslaBikes enough. We made the trip to Ludlow at Easter, where they are based, and they were soooo helpful and gave the DDs lots of hints and tips. They are also fab on the phone. They also do a buy back scheme if you buy another bike - but on ebay they go so well, it's not cost effective to trade in with them. DH is even considering one for himself! He just needs the padded pants now!

We might end up selling these when the time comes mrspink27! (unless they get trashed) :)