Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Can children learn to ride on a basic (cheap) bike??

31 replies

Beeperbird · 27/05/2020 19:28

So my eldest is about to turn 5, and we got him a basic Halfords pedal bike for his birthday that arrived about a month ago - we didn’t spend a lot as we don’t have a huge amount but had the cash at this point so wanted to get him something.
He’s been a pro on his balance bike (that I proudly got from a rummage sale for £3!) so after doing some reading I assumed he’d move easily to a pedal bike.
Anyway, he’s been struggling to find his balance on his new bike - so I asked some friends from various places.
The overwhelming answer is that the bike we bought is too cheap... we should have bought one of the brands that are more like £300 for a new (or over £100 second hand)... eeek!
I mean I get more expensive can equal easier to use but surely they can still learn on a basic bike? Or have I completely wasted my money?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

helia · 27/05/2020 19:32

How heavy is the bike?

We've just taught DS3 to ride one of the bikes you describe... We took the pedals off so he could use it as a balance bike. Once he was balancing for 10 seconds and gliding along then we put the pedals on. He can now cycle a few months shy of his 4th birthday. I'm afraid it was on one of the lightweight expensive bikes you describe though... He had a secondhand bike shaped object with stabilisers which he couldn't even pedal as it was so bulky.

CaraDune · 27/05/2020 19:36

DS's second bike was a Halford's tank - weighed more than my adult bike. But it did okay, he could use it on the BMX course in the local park. It also had the plus point of being indestructible (yes, he crashed it into quite a lot of immovable objects up to and including boulders!) I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Thecatisboss · 27/05/2020 19:38

DD learnt to ride an expensive lightweight bike as it was so much easier for her than a heavier one would have been as she was very petite at 5.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

5 year olds Cycling Exercise & fitness Families

Ylvamoon · 27/05/2020 19:41

... I don't know. But I can reassure you both my DC had "cheap" bikes from Halfords/ ToysRus and learned to ride them around 4 years of age. Granted, they did learn to control the bike while it still had stabilizers but once they were flying round corners and peddling up some "hills" we took them off. Never looked back or questioned the price of the bike.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 27/05/2020 19:41

The majority of children learn to ride on cheap bikes from places like Argos and Halfords. They may take a bit longer, but they will get there.

00100001 · 27/05/2020 19:42

As PP said, take the pedals off for now

CharlieandLolaCat · 27/05/2020 19:45

Make sure the seat is nice and low. Personally I would say if he can do a balance bike you don't need to remove the pedals - he can do that already.

Crikey0000 · 27/05/2020 19:46

I learned in the 1970s, I'm sure the bike was an old second hand one and very cheap. My kids learned on a second hand bike. Its not about how much the bike cost , more about them wanting to learn & being able to naturally balance.

HopeClearwater · 27/05/2020 19:49

This is a crazy question. Of course he can. What do you think children did before there was all this balance bike / £300+ bike stuff?

Original poster

Beeperbird · 27/05/2020 19:49

@helia it’s 9kg (according to the manual)... it does feel heavy! I’ll try taking the pedals off so he can use it like his balance bike I think before giving up on it

OP posts:

Digestive28 · 27/05/2020 19:50

Start with recreating balance bike if he can do that, pedals off seat low, and then add pedals when more confident. Cheaper ones are heavier so harder to get momentum on to then begin peddling but should be fine

rach2713 · 27/05/2020 19:50

My 3 year old learnt to ride her big sisters peppa pig bike from Argos. When she got the hang of it her granddad bought her a 90 quid halfords bike and she loves it..

superking · 27/05/2020 19:50

My DS has just learnt on a cheap hand-me-down bike that is too big for him and very heavy. We do want to get him a better one at some point but I'm hoping that now he's ridden that, he'll be able to ride anything!

Stuckforthefourthtime · 27/05/2020 19:51

They can ride on cheap bikes but usually need to be a bit older and stronger to ride without training wheels, often 6 or more, whereas a 4 year old can often learn on a light and well balanced one like a Frog. Most of us learned on cheap heavy bikes, it's fine.

NothingIsGoing2GetBetterItsNot · 27/05/2020 19:52

My eldest did and it certainly wasn't an impediment to her learning but what changed it for me was having to carry the bloody thing if she got fed up or fell off (both of which seemed to happen often).. We got her a 14" Halfords carrera 2nd hand - they're super light, on a par with isla and frog but a fraction of the price - and it actually did make a difference to her riding (she learnt to ride standing up on it as the lighter weight didn't over balance her) plus she was happier to push it herself when she got fed up so, win-win!

Got ds the same when he started riding and I do think it helped 🤷‍♀️

Itsmemaggie · 27/05/2020 19:53

Yes, of course he can. Agree that taking the pedals off may help him get used to the extra weight.

Original poster

Beeperbird · 27/05/2020 19:53

@HopeClearwater I dunno, took a lot longer to learn perhaps?
Maybe I phrased my question wrong, I didn’t mean to offend you! I was just looking for some reassurance and trying to figure out what I should do next...

OP posts:

Original poster

Beeperbird · 27/05/2020 19:54

Thanks for the reassurance and tips everyone!

OP posts:

Alanna1 · 27/05/2020 19:55

I think it depends on the child. If you have a weak, slight child then they may not be able to push their body weight! You can buy good bikes second hand and sell them on when you’ve finished with them, if you take care of them.

ProseccoBubbleFantasies · 27/05/2020 19:55

I've never heard of it being essential that a bike is expensive. And I live in a place where EVERYONE cycles.

Stabilizers are a big help, though

Thesaltandthesea · 27/05/2020 19:57

My 3yo has just transitioned from a balance bike to a frog bike in less than a day. DD has a heavy Halfords bike and stabilisers and only mastered it at 6ish. Sorry!

DobbyTheHouseElk · 27/05/2020 19:57

Bet you are talking about a frog bike. Bloody expensive and seem to have created the idea a bike has to be expensive and lightweight.

Bollocks to that. Get a cheap second hand bike.

Original poster

Beeperbird · 27/05/2020 19:59

@Thesaltandthesea don’t be sorry! Seems to be a recurring theme that they “get it” much earlier on the more expensive lighter bikes

OP posts:

concernedforthefuture · 27/05/2020 19:59

Cheap bikes (Halfords) tend to be really heavy and cumbersome. If you can stretch to the cost of a second hand Islabike or Frog Bike, he will find it so much easier. They hold their value well too so when outgrown and you go to sell on, you'll get your money back (or possibly more!).

PeppaisaBitch · 27/05/2020 19:59

Does it have stabilisers? My daughter has a cheap as chips toys r us bike with stabilisers and is great on it. She's 4. Going to try without stabilisers once she's mastered hills properly as we live in a hilly area.

Flip

1 2