First pedal bike or go-cart?

[ElspethFlashman]

For a 4 year old?

I think bike, DH thinks go-cart.

We have a lot of muddy and uneven ground so DH thinks go-carts would be more stable and useful. I think we'd just end up getting a bike next year anyway.

Thoughts?

Bike would probably end up being more useful?

Bike. Go carts are a PITA to store and you're right about next year.

Pedal bike. A go kart is just a toy, whereas a bike is a vehicle which gives him and you freedom to go lots of fun places.

Bike, balance bike if no previous experience. They are great on uneven ground until they are ready to ride a petal bike. I wouldn't use stabilisers on uneven ground.

Bike, definitely. Much more play value. Go karts are fun until the novelty wears off, but bike riding is a skill for life, great exercise and a means of transport - you can ride a bike to school, you wouldn't ride a go kart to school.

Yes, forgot to say balance bike first. DS is the least athletic child ever born but he cycles confidently without stabilisers at 3 because he had a balance bike. Still has, in fact, and uses it frequently.

Thanks all. DH always wanted a go kart and never got one, so I think there's a bit of that at play. But he'll go with logic.

Now to research bikes!

What’s your budget for bikes Elspeth?

The “Rolls Royce” of Children’s bikes are Isla Bikes abd Frig - which are well proportioned and lightweight, Islas more so than Frogs. Neither are cheap, but both have great longevity and resale value, again Islas more so than Frogs. Both have FB Preloved buying/selling pages.

Somewhere to start your research could be Cyclesprog

Eerrrr... Budget is on the cheaper end! I suppose I was thinking about 60-80 euro tops.

We have a Halfords near enough that I was going to check out first? Otherwise a dedicated bike shop I guess.

Thanks for the website link, reading it now, very useful.

A dedicated bike shop will give you a much better ongoing support service than Halfords. For €60-80 you’ll be far better off going second hand, but from a shop which will service the bike for you.

With that budget I'd seriously look at Decathlon. We had a fantastic balance bike from there but chose a more expensive bike for his first one without stabilisers.

It's a French company and I'm impressed by the range of bikes they have available.

For that budget I would get a 2nd hand Ridgeback MX14 (for about 40 quid) or second hand Hotrock if you want a pedal-back brake. The new bikes available for 60-80 quid would be harder work than a decent hand-me-down.