Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Balance bikes

39 replies

balalalala · 25/08/2018 07:46

What's the best option for a balance bike for a just turned 2 year old? I love the strider ones but they seem so expensive for something I imagine will only be used for a year or two! DD is very little and slight however she happily hopped on a friend bike with stabilisers the other week and cycled off despite barely reaching the pedals. Brakes or no brakes?

OP posts:
Alanamackree · 25/08/2018 08:39

When you look at the cost of a bike, factor in its value second hand, which you can recoup later. A good brand holds more value.
That might not matter if the bike is going to be left outdoors in all weathers though!

At 2, I’d go for a lightweight balance bike that the child can pick up by themselves.
Both of mine used balance bikes and went straight on to normal bikes without using stabilisers.
Balance bikes are very intuitive, as you put your feet down to stop. I definitely wouldn’t expect a 2 year old to manage hand brakes yet.

NoWordForFluffy · 25/08/2018 08:54

We got a lovely wooden Tildo one for DS from the Entertainer when he was three. He's a demon on it! We've just bought him a standard bike for his 4th birthday but he's not had much chance to try it out yet. We think he won't use stabilisers at all.

Westbury · 25/08/2018 09:02

I think the Islabikes Rothan and Frog Tadpole are the best. Pricey but good resale value. Very light. And look like a normal bike.

Original poster
balalalala · 25/08/2018 18:26

Thanks, I've had a look and can't quite get passed the initial cost on some of them! Has anyone had the chicco one?

OP posts:
backtousername1 · 25/08/2018 18:28

We’ve tried a few and they’ve either been heavy or not great in other ways.
After recommendations we went with the Puky. They’re around £70 and really good.
We are passing it on to child number 2 at Christmas, after 2 years of use by child 1!

Ihavenoideaatall · 25/08/2018 18:34

They are worth every penny. Mine used his from 19 months to when he was 6 despite the fact it he learned to ride a pedal bike 3 months after he got his balance bike.

Stompythedinosaur · 25/08/2018 18:59

We had a Puky, which was good to start with, and the price was quite reasonable (I think around £50 when on offer).

Later we got an islabike rothan which was wonderful and much lighter and easier for the.dc to use. Bought second-hand though (there is a Facebook group for second-hand islabikes) and sold later for a similar price.

Cachailleacha · 25/08/2018 19:10

Mine used one from 2 1/2 until 4 years old (bought from Aldi at 18 months but wasn't tall enough for it). Rode a pedal bike without stabilisers at just gone 3 years old but still loved the balance bike and it was easier to just throw in the car.

If there was a next time I would go with a balance bike that would see them from age 2 (or 18 months if possible) to 4, then move straight to a 16 inch pedal bike.

Bohemond · 25/08/2018 20:16

We’ve got a ridgeback bought from tredz. It’s silver and has a brake. It’s extremely lightweight.

Original poster
balalalala · 25/08/2018 20:17

Thanks for all the advice! Are any of these makes likely to be on offer before Christmas anywhere?

OP posts:
DrWhy · 25/08/2018 20:23

We’ve just cracked and bought the Islabikes Rothan for DSs 2nd birthday from friends who’s two DC have learned on it and at 5 and 3 are now doing blue and green mountain bike trails respectively! The are insanely expensive but if they continue to hold value like they do now we’ll get half our money back for it in a few years time when two little ones have learned to ride on it. It will take them a while to master the brakes but they are a good thing to try to get them used to before a pedal bike and they are so light that when he gets bored of riding he can go in a carrier or trailer and the bike can be attached to it or carried.

imsorryiasked · 25/08/2018 20:39

Couldn't afford an Isla bike etc and got a second hand basic one from eBay.
We had one like this. Can't remember what make it was but it had the footplate/running board and a brake.
This encouraged DS to put his feet up and he also got used to the brake.
He literally went on to ride a normal pedal bike aged 4.5, with no stabilizers, within 5 minutes of getting on it.

seven201 · 25/08/2018 20:56

I'm getting my dd a second hand Isla bike rothan next week. Buying off my sister for £90 - it's the newer model so should hold the value ok for when we sell it on ourselves.

BikeRunSki · 25/08/2018 21:12

We bought DS an Islabike Rothan for his second birthday. He used it for 18 months. Dd turn used it for 18 months, then we sold it for £10 less than we paid for it. We’ve continued with Islabikes since.

I do appreciate that the initial outlay may not be justifiable to everyone. For alternatives, look for brakes and air tyres, rather than hard plastic wheels.

Pascha · 25/08/2018 21:18

We got a cruzee in the end for our not-quite2yr old as it was one of the few that was short enough in the saddle. At getting on for 6, he still likes it for bombing around in the woods rather than his pedal bike which he's perfectly stable on. A good balance bike will have years of use, whichever one you choose.

moreismore · 25/08/2018 21:19

My DS has a likeabike which is extremely lightweight and has great suspension- friends recommended it - their boys used it far after they had outgrown it as it was great for trick riding. We got ours second hand on eBay for about £80. At that age they won’t care if it’s new...

loubielou31 · 25/08/2018 21:19

My DC's loved their balance bike, it was Puky (like someone upthread) don't get a wooden one, you can't adjust the saddle height so it the 'right size" for a much shorter time.

chuckiecheese · 25/08/2018 21:24

We had a Puky secondhand- worth every penny Wink

FrankiesKnuckle · 25/08/2018 21:27

Frog tadpole. Super light and lasted my daughter 2 1/2 years.

Upgraded to a frog with pedals and she pretty much got it straight away.

Tadpole was £120 new, sold on for £60.

Cachailleacha · 26/08/2018 10:16

My DC's loved their balance bike, it was Puky (like someone upthread) don't get a wooden one, you can't adjust the saddle height so it the 'right size" for a much shorter time.
Some wooden ones adjust, our cheap Aldi one had a few settings. Saddle height was too high until 2.5 so I would look for one that adjusts lower for a smaller child, but it was fine from 2.5 until 4 (possibly longer but I passed it on to a friend as it was no longer being used).

NoWordForFluffy · 26/08/2018 10:19

Our Tidlo one had an adjustable seat too. So not all wooden bikes are equal!

UbercornsGoggles · 26/08/2018 10:23

Decathlon do some great ones at a good price. We got one with a brake for my 2 year old's birthday. Really well made and tough.

Cachailleacha · 26/08/2018 10:35

Didn't read the whole OP properly. I wouldn't bother with brakes, mine didn't have the hand strength or coordination to use them until he was older. He had a back pedal brake on his first two pedal bikes.

TuckMyWin · 26/08/2018 10:54

We have the Chicco one. I think the saddle probably won't go low enough for your 2 year old. We got it for my eldest when he was about 3 (he's little and slight too) and it was brilliant, so light, he just rode off on it after really struggling with a heavier one that was passed down from my nephew. But his younger brother is 2 next week and fiftieth percentile, and it's still maybe a cm too high for him with the saddle at its lowest. He's much happier on the second hand Strider I picked up on Facebook marketplace. I actually prefer the Chicco because it's shorter lengthwise - the Strider is quite a large bike albeit very light. But if you want it for her now I'd recommend a Strider over the Chicco.

Original poster
balalalala · 26/08/2018 12:01

Great, thanks for all the good advice!

OP posts: