Where to try balance bikes?

[JoanPlaysTheAccordian]

I'm hoping to get a balance bike for my dd's second birthday, but am loath to buy online without her having tried a few first. Any ideas as to where to go with her to try a few out before buying? I'm within easy reach of a few retail parks, but would love a few pointers to save us a bit of time. Thanks in advance.

DS went directly from his Puky with no pedals to his Puky with no stabilisers - a balance bike shortcuts the stabiliser phase. It's so much easier.

My 2 had blance bikes from 2 years - a the beginning mostly being pushed by daddy but quite soon gonig alone. My DS got a normal pedal bike on third birthday and rode it (without stabilisers) within an hour.
The only problem we had with our balance bike is that it didn't have brakes (its a likeabike - wooden) and he went reallllly fast on it - and had to stop by putting his feet down - wearing out his shoes! So If I had the choice (ours was a pressie) I would have one with brakes. hth

Right, I'm going to get the Puky after all the recs and general rave reviews elsewhere on the web.
I've found it here in case anyone else is interested.
Toy library is a good suggestion, but ours has closed, sadly.
We went to Toys R Us this morning and she had a go on their basic metal framed one and the size seemed fine, she was all smiles.

Thank you all very much for the input, it really helped. I hope she has as much fun with it as your kids are having with theirs - can't believe how good they can get so quickly! Now just need to get a helmet sorted and get my head around the fact that I am buying my baby a bike that necessitates a helmet !

www.flickr.com/photos/bikerescue/3699110282/in/set-72157620732700570/ DS on his balance bike half way along a 3 mile mass bike ride age 3.3.

Hey JoanPlaysTheAccordian - thanks for mentioning us in your comment! We have the range of Puky learner bikes available for demonstration and are happy to field any questions you may have..

Er, OK, but not sure if your post goes against Mumsnet's rules on advertising on the boards. Am new, am sure a regular poster can put me straight if I'm wrong.

Cute pic of your little boy UniS.

Sorry Joan, we just noticed that you had linked to our website and wanted to say thanks

My ds2 was 20 months when we got him his isla balance bike-he was onto a bike with pedals at 2.10. so the deffo work!

Maybe have alook on ebay etc for an islabike?

Definitely add our love of Puky Bikes. DS2 (just under 2 1/2) is now whizzing around extremely fast on his hand-me-down balance bike and following round his older brother (4 1/2) who is riding his Puky pedal bike without stabilisers.

I have to say though, that even though both bikes have brakes, DS2 still uses his feet to stop and we're trying to teach DS1 to use the back-pedal brake rather than his feet!

Worth every penny we spent on them.

we had a balance bike for ds from when he was about 2 1/2 but he was quite scared at first and a little bit too small for the bike. now he*s 3 1/2 and goes to preschool on his balance bike and also we take it on longish walks.
we got ours from John Lewis. it has got a handbrake but to be honest, at the beginning they brake safer with their shoes.