Strider balance bikes

9 replies

Spudlet · 15/07/2017 11:37

I want to get ds his first bike for Christmas (when he'll also turn 2) and really like the look of these. Has anyone had one? Or can anyone suggest a better one? Needs to be under £100, I don't really want a brake lever, and must cope off-road as we have no pavements within a couple of miles. Nice and light also a must as I'll no doubt end up carrying it at least some of the time.

Any thoughts much appreciated!

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Mumski45 · 15/07/2017 20:35

I don't know anything about the strider but would recommend the Islabikes Rothan.

However it does have a brake which I think is a good thing considering how fast DS2 used to be on his balance bike and a brand new one would be more than your budget. There is a good secondhand market for these on eBay and you could pick up a really good one for under £100 and then sell it on for about the same price once your DS has outgrown it.

Original poster

Spudlet · 15/07/2017 21:26

Thanks Mumski, I'll keep an eye on eBay.

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prettybird · 16/07/2017 09:36

Ds had a like-a-bike (bought for him by his grandparents). It didn't have a brake but he learnt to go very fast on it (to the extent that dh or I had to accompany him in our own bikes when we took him to nursery). My heart would be in my mouth as we went down the hill to the nursery (with side roads to cross) and he went through a lot of shoe leather using his feet to slow down

noitsnotteattimeyet · 16/07/2017 23:09

Dd had one of these when she was tiny. The platform was great as when she picked up enough speed she put her feet on the platform and it really helped her get the feel of how to ride. There's a couple of different models and the slightly more expensive one has a brake - you can also get a carry strap for it - but both are within your budget

RatOnnaStick · 16/07/2017 23:15

DS2 ended up with a Cruzee because he was short and it was one of the only two I could find with a lowest saddle height of 28cm. The other was a Strider I think. I went with the one I got to see at the time but both seemed good to me. The cruzee was also the lightest bike on the market at the time which makes a huge difference.

MWestie · 19/07/2017 23:13

Hi, if you're still deciding then just to say we had a Strider for our DS, later inherited by DD, and it was fab. I often ended up carrying it in one hand whilst I wrestled a toddler with the other so definitely didn't seem too heavy. Both children loved it.

MrsT2007 · 19/07/2017 23:35

Have had two here, first one was used and used and used by DS1

We loved it so much we bought another for DD1

JellyBellies · 19/07/2017 23:36

A Puky Balance Bike. Light weight, in budget, works very well. DS used it from 2 to 4 and then moved in to a cnoc 16.

Original poster

Spudlet · 20/07/2017 08:16

Still deciding, thank you for all the suggestions! I've started my research really early so I can keep an eye on eBay if we decide to go second hand.

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