difference between fixed and free wheel bikes ??

[sparkle1977]

We have just spent a few hours looking for a 14" bike for DS1 (4 in Oct) for his birthday.

We have seen a few we like, particularly one in Toys R Us. However this bike is a "fixed" wheel one as opposed to free wheel and we don't know which is best to get and for what reasons.

Can anyone help me here ??

Are you sure it's a fixed wheel, as opposed to merely gear-less? Give a link to the bike because Dh & I are both intrigued.

Fixed wheel adult bikes are more efficient than free-wheel, which means your little one might go faster than you'd like, that's my main concern.

Fixed wheel: direct connection between pedals and wheel - the wheel will not turn if the pedals aren't turning.

Freewheel: the rear wheel can turn while the pedals are stationary ie he will not have to pedal really fast (or indeed at all) going down hill.

And don't buy a bike from Toys R Us - buy it from a decent bike shop - that way you won't get a pile of shite, and it will be safely assembled for you.

You want a bike not a bicycle shaped object

lol @ IAGTBF.
Problem is little boys want a bike that looks good; it's taken me years to convince DS1 that a boring looking bike might be much better to ride than something with this season's popular colour scheme and cartoon characters plastered all over it.

A fixed wheel is one that bashes you constantly on the shins if you try to push it because the pedals turn as the wheels turn.

Free wheeling bikes are much safer IMO as you can free-wheel down a hill without peddling like the clappers whether you wanted to or not.

Totally second IAGTBF re Toyrus bikes ...they really are a load of shite IME

i don't agree. ds1 has a puky bike and he LOVES it.
it certainly isn't "cool" and he is 5

he has this one

we bought it because they are so highly regarded. it's built incredibly well, and came already built so we didn't have to do anything with it
has the low step through which has been really good actually while he has been learning to ride without stabilisers as he can swing his leg/s over without catching them on a cross-bar

i think it's fixed wheel..

and if you want to freewheel down a hill you just lift your legs up surely!

fixed wheel makes it easier to stop if they aren't very good at using the brakes too

but that bike is cool!

..well, I just asked my 7yo and my 3yo and they think that it's cool, so that confirms it for me

I also would suggest to go to a decent bike shop, prices are not that different and your son will be measured to see which wheel size is most suitable, rather than to go by age.

I thought fixed wheels only came as trikes or professional track cycles.

Thanks for your replies, the bike was a "Tony Hawk" bike in green, 14". Sorry can't do a link as I'm useless fathoming out how to be all fancy like that!!

I know I know that Toys R Us are maybe not the best but where else is suggested to go and see a bike etc etc, we are in Bristol ??

I have been to the local Giant bike shop and similar ones there are costing upwards of £145 which surely is a little steep for a bike for a 4yo ???!

DH is very into bikes and has many expensive ones himself so is able to check them out properly. His view is that a bike from Toys R Us is sufficient at this young age but its better to go to more expensive shops as DCs get older.

I agree with you on the price thing, £145 is far too much for a first bike imo. DS first bike came from toys r us and that one lasted 5 years, so it's not all bad

It's just that places like that tend to only look at age rather than size. But as your DH is into bikes I am sure you are well informed.

Still not sure about the 'fixed' wheel thing though, have you tried the bike in store?

depends how much use you get out of it
i think the puky one cost us £160
it just fits ds1 now and should last him a good few years, it'll then be passed onto ds2 and ds3
so i think in the long run it's worth it for us

if you have no children to pass it onto tho i can see it's a big spend

We've got a puky scooter for DD and they are definitely made to last

We got DD a 16" bike on her 4th birthday (from dare I say Halfords ) and that will see her through infant school, then she'll can have DS 20" raleigh bike
We were lucky to receive that one from freecycle, was well used but as you say quality lasts.

We also live in Bristol - good places to see and get bikes are the Raleigh shop at the bottom of the Gloucester Road, Fred Bakers, also on the Gloucester Road. It is also a good idea to get advice about size and also what sort of use it will be put to (ie bimbling in the park on occasional weekends or daily cycling) as the big part of the cost is the quality of the components (brakes, chain etc. Cheap bikes will ear ot quicker and need more maintenance and regular trips to a bike repair shop, which in the long term will cost more money. Our first daughter had a raleigh at age 4, rode it for 2 years regularly, it then went in the loft and has been ridden by daughter two for a year, now passed on to friends and not a trip to the repair shop required in all that time. My advice is that if cost is a real issue, then look for a second hand raleigh rather than a cheap new bike, as it will be more reliable and robust.

A good quality bike like Puky will have very good 2nd hand value on Ebay afterwards. Something to keep in mind.

That said, all of DC first bikes were basic ones we picked up at carboot sales. We were quite happy with them until we knew it would be worthwhile to take the plunge and get an expensive kid bike.