Best place to buy a bike for a near 3 year old?

[tefal]

We have a halfords nearby but the small bikes are all character names and look a bit plastic. Any tips on places to get decent bikes?

Islabikes- they are proper bikes- not the tat you get on the high street. We're on our 3rd one and they're fab.

here

Second Islabikes here too. And they do a trade in scheme to px your old Islabike for a bigger one when you grow out of it.

Isla Rowntree, who set them up, was a world champion cyclist in various disciplines about a decade ago and was frustrated at the poor quality of bikes available for her to buy for her own children. They are very good quality, light, sturdy and everything you want from a bike - big or small - they do cost more than plasticy Iggle Piggle ones from the high street, but so well worth the money.

They look great. A bit expensive though but would go to that at a push.

Islabikes yy - we have those, but also ridgeback are nice, if a wee bit heavier. Islabikes are an expensive outlay, but when you look at their resale value on ebay they start to look like a very good deal.

Try ebay, tefal, but they sell for close to original price a lot of the time. dd was using her Rothan balance bike until 2 weeks ago, when she got a Cnoc 16 for her 4th birthday (she's tall) and was riding like a pro in 5 mins flat. I couldn't believe it.

Giant do gorgeous kids bikes. Bought a lovely one for DD for her 3rd birthday this year. They do the equiv in blue in case it's a DS you're buying for

Giant Bike

I'll second ridgeback bikes, we have just got dd1 a 20 inch and dd2 a 12 inch (tall 5 yr old and diddy 3 yr old) they are nice plain simple bikes, no plasticy bits or baskets, my girls went for a blue and green but think they do silver and pink too.

I know it sounds cheap but try your local council tip (or recycling centre as they like to call themselves these days). Both of DD1's bikes came from there for a fiver each. You just have to give any bike there a good once-over & possibly give it a good oiling as they cease up quite quickly. If you go on a weekend you'll often see stuff in really good condition being dumped there.

Also try Freecycle.

Islabikes are lovely, Puky are good too (and have a low step-through)

We actually got ds2 a really nice Apollo bike from Halfords - proper rubber tyres, heavy little bike and it's great. Far nicer than any of the others they had.

It's pale blue, called 'honey bee' or something - the girly equivalent I think to the 'stinger' one also on offer!!

Isalbikes - we're about to get our 3rd one - worth every penny!