First Bike

[CV1201]

Hello!

My daughter will be 3 in January, and we are thinking of getting her a bike for Christmas this year.

Is she too young? She see's other children on bikes and has said she would like one.

Do I go for the classic child's bike with stabilisers, or maybe a balance bike? Or wait until next year?

Thanks :)

We got our DS the classic bike with stabilisers but found he lacked confidence when we tried without them.

If we were to do it all again, we'd get a balance bike then a normal bike after that and cut out the stabilisers altogether.

I remember being very frustrated with my stabilizers because it was so hard to cycle on grass. With a balance bike you can go anywhere.
They’re much easier to pack into the car too.
The child has more control over the bike than with pedals.
And the transition to proper cycling is almost seamless.

I would definitely get a balance bike.
If you get something like a strider or frog bike you can take the pedals off then add them on when they're ready to ride with them...

We had a micro balance bike (same company as micro scooters) and my son could ride a pedal bike before he was four without stabilisers as he'd learned to balance and control the pedal bike....definitely worth it in my opinion.....

Lots of people mention how early their dc learned to ride a bike and attribute it to the balance bike. On the other hand my ds was nearly eight before he would attempt it (asd and coordination issues) but transitioned painlessly once he decided to try it and in the meantime his balance bike wasn’t as obviously babyish iyswim

Balance bikes are brilliant. Both my DDs had them from around 18-24 months - youngest still has one, eldest got a pedal bike for her 4th birthday and is happily riding around having never needed stabilisers. She's also quite lacking in physical confidence generally, so we have been really impressed that she's managing a proper bike so well. Youngest is much more able, but will be waiting until she's capable of using brakes properly before she gets pedals... She's 3 in March and riding her bike is pure joy.

If you want a balance bike recommendation, Islabikes are fabulous. Our balance Rothan is now on child #2 and still pristine and in perfect working condition, having seen child #1 through two years of use.

When I wanted to get DD to ride a bike, I read around a bit for techniques etc., and remember reading that most children gain the cognative and motor skills to learn to ride (with pedals and without stabilisers) at between 3.5 and 4.5. So your DD is probably a bit young to learn fully, but a balance bike would be a great start.

Balance bike definitely. Ds was another one who was riding a pedal bike without stabilisers at 3 thanks to getting his balance bike at 2.

I would highly recommend and Isla bike. Cnoc range. U can remove pedals and use as a balance bike then add pedals when ready. It has 2 breaks so they learn this skill early. My little girl got on really well with this they are also light weight making falls less traumatic.

Mine never had balance bikes but could both ride without stabilizers the month before they turned 4. The key is getting a lightweight aluminium frame. Cheaper bikes are so heavy that dc struggle with balance.
If a Isla bike is beyond your budget, a Carrera from Halfords is lightweight and a third of the price.

Balance bike
Or a real bike from frog or Isla bike and take the pedals off.
Depending on your child's height to some degree.

Balanc bike! All the way. - a metal one, not too heavy with inflated wheels, not rubber wheels. Frog tadpole is good, as is Puky .

We're getting one of these for DS (who's 3). I like that it transforms into a bigger bike from a balance bike and it doesn't weigh too much, which is the exact problem with had with DD's bike, which weighed a tonne and she couldn't actually ride it (she's tall for her age).