Did your child go straight from a balance bike to a real one without stabilisers?

[Summerdays2014]

My almost 4 year old is a whizz on his balance bike and I’d like to get him a real bike for Christmas. If your child had a balance bike did you still need stabilisers? Not sure what to do!
Many thanks.

Yep balance to pedals.
If you struggle, wait- don't use stabilizers!!

Hmm wild bike looks good... I wonder if I could find some Spider-Man accessories for it...

Yes, another with islabike. You can pick them up secondhand for a lot cheaper.

Yup straight from balance to normal bike here too. We got a cube 160 which was great as they have a back pedal brake. Got it off eBay. I've never paid more than £60 for a bike for my kids and they all have cube, giant etc so very good bikes and usually immaculate condition when I buy them. Rather less immaculate once they've been through my kids though.

Mine went from balance bike to Halfords bike 2 nd hand not special-no stabilisers at 4. She was fine on that but when we got a bigger (cheap, heavy) one she couldn’t cope so a frog it was.

Look at Chris Hoy, Islabike, Frog second hand and get him to decorate it with spiderman decals. The weight and geometry is really important. If you get a heavy one or bad geometry then it could really dint his cycling confidence and set him back. It's only the initial outlay - good bikes hold their value so you can sell it on in a year and get a bigger one for the same price. Just take the pedals off and have him use it as a balance bike until he's used to the new one.

Ah and I really recommend puky vests for when they're learning to pedal - saves your back from breaking

We had a balance bike for a day or two and both managed a bike without stabilizers straight away

You son will have the balance, good leg position if he tips and good grasp of steering - he only has the pedals to master - that’s the easy bit. The hard work has already been done.

Our 4 year old went straight from his balance bike to a normal bike, it was brill to watch! We have got him a second hand frog bike for Christmas.

Neither of mine had balance bikes and could ride without stabilizers by 5.
You would think that nobody learned to ride a bike before balance bikes were invented the way posters on mn go on

Dd2 went straight from balance bike to Halfords Disney cheapo bike aged around 3.5. She was a natural.
Dd1 didn't have a balance bike and was almost 6 when she finally got the hang of it. First thing bikeability did at holiday club with her was take the pedals off to make her bike a balance bike!

So 4 seems the age to do pedals then.
I guess I will have to get another balance bike for just a year 😫

I live in Germany where they are cycling fanatics and you rarely see kids learning with stabilisers over here. DD1 learnt to ride a big bike at 4yo in ten minutes flat after having a balance bike. I have seen children’s friends riding confidently at 3yo.

I would go for a good bike brand and decorate it- you could get one of those visibility flags and some handle bar pads and put patches or branded material over them?

We got a bike without stabilisers after having the balance bike but he struggled with the pedals at first. On a holiday there happened to be a trike and after a week of pedalling on that, when we got home he was straight on the bike and never looked back. He was 3.

I'd definitely avoid stabilisers but if there's a chance to have a practise pedal on something it might be helpful.

Try a Strider balance bike. Easy to adjust seat and handle bars with no tools, super light.

yes.
all dc went from balance bike to bike without stabilisers.
took them 10 min to 'get' pedalling & breaking.

Yes and he loved it aged 4. He had a balance bike from aged 2.

Yeah we bought a totally normal bike from decathlon and both boys were fine on it!

Yep. DS got a bike for his 4th birthday, after being on a balance bike since he was 2. It took him half an hour. Warning:- he now wants to do NOTHING else but go for bike rides. All day. Every day.

@Summerdays2014 buy a decent one secondhand. I picked up an isla bike secondhand on ebay and will be able to sell it for what I paid for it.

Yes. Got on. Cycled off into the distance.

Absolutely don't get stabilisers. DS went straight from balance bike to pedalling without stabilisers a couple of months before his third birthday. It took about twenty minutes for him to get used to pedalling, balancing and steering all at the same time but then he was away.

3DC. All went straight from balance bike to proper bike in approximately 5 minutes. You definitely don't need stabilisers.

Yes - it was great, and straight to a normal bike age 3.5. I think we had stabilisers somewhere but they certainly never went anywhere near to the bike. IMO stabilisers are a big backwards step!

I put her on the bike and gave her a push - was a bit reluctant to try and after a little while of running alongside I was knackered so told her we would have to go home if she didn't try. And with that, she disappeared off across the park... 🚲

DS1 had a bike with stabilisers first.

DS2 had a little scooter then went straight to a bike (no stabilisers) at the age of 8. Took him less than 5 minutes to 'get it'. I think it's an age thing, more than anything else...