Where to buy a bicycle for a 4-year old

[Octavia09]

Hello!
Can anyone suggest me a bicycle shop in Cambridge or not too far from Cambridge where we could buy our son a good quality bicycle but not costing more than £100.00. He is not a very strong boy so a lightweight bike would be the best. I think he needs a bike size 16.
Many thanks!

Cycle King Mill Road. We have always got our bikes from there and they are very reasonable

Was about to say exactly the same, they have a big range of bikes (plus loads of helmets etc), a space out the back to try them, and generally very good prices. They also often have "bump and scratch" sales of fractionally scratched bikes for about half price, it's worth asking when the next on is on!

So I don't know much about kid's bikes in Cambridge as my DS isn't big enough for a bike yet, but Cycle King is the closest bike shop to me, and, although they are very friendly in there, they don't really sell good quality adults' bikes (my friend bought a bike from there, it was cheap but it fell to bits). So I would be worried that a kid's bike from there might not be that lightweight, though I can confirm they have LOADS of them so it may be a good place to go.

I also don't know much about how much kid's bikes cost or whether 100 quid is expensive or not (I would have thought that was a decent amount of money), however as bike shops go round Cambridge I would recommend Ben Haywards either in town or the one in Horningsea or Light Blue cycles on Mitcham's corner. Also I hate to say it but Halfords - I am not a fan of their service or bike servicing skills in general but they do sell some good value bikes.

I went to Cycle King last year. They do indeed have lots of bikes but the boys ones are a bit too heavy. I am thinking of visiting the shop again too see which bikes are available now. Our son has a Puky balance bike which is very comfortable and light. We bought it at Cambridge Toy Shop for about £90.00 last year. The bike would cost £149.00 or so. I have heard that Islabikes are very good and lightweight but again they are not cheap.
What I do not like about the boys bikes is that they look and feel almost like mountain bikes. They have big heavy frames. Not every adult is using a mountain bike because it is heavy and not needed for the town.

I have checked Ben Haywards cycles online and they have no child's bikes. That is strange.
Halfords is a good option too.

Thanks so much girls! Very grateful for all your suggestions.

Yes Islabikes I have also heard are excellent. I will probably end up getting something like this or similar for my DS when he is old enough as as jumpjockey above knows, I do not skimp on bikes! I have a house full of bikes.

I would be very surprised if Ben Haywards do not have kids bikes. I got my DS's bike helmet from Ben Haywards in Horningsea and they have kids bike trailers but I wasn't looking for kids bikes. But they MUST have them!! maybe worth a phone call?? I have also definitely seen an older child being fitted for a bike in Ben Haywards in town too.

If you want advice on cheaper but good kids' bikes more generally then maybe you could ask on the main forum?

Also I know Islabikes at least used to buy back their own used bikes so maybe they sell them second hand at a lower price?