Like-a-bikes

[jennifersofia]

Has anyone bought one, but then found that their child is not that keen on it?
I am desperate to do the school run without the buggy board but my 4 yr old is not a good walker, and not a very physical type. Was thinking about getting the like-a-bike, but didn't want to lay out the money and have her not use it very much.
Advice?
TIA

I haven't used one with dd, so don't know if they're any good or not (although there have been threads about them before where people have raved about them) but if you don't want to spend too much money on one, Tchibo do a wooden training bike which is very similar to the like-a-bike for about £35.

Thanks for that - anyone else?

what's a like a bike ?

Like-a-bike is a bike, often made of wood rather than metal, which doesn't have any pedals. So the child sits on the saddle and scoots along with their feet. Most don't have brakes, but apparently some do. It is said to teach children how to balance, steer etc much better and more safely than going straight onto a bike with stabilisers which can then take years for the child to ride without them.
I am told that the big advantage of wood is that it is much lighter, so you can hook it on the buggy if need be.
I have just bought one new on ebay, there are loads there for around £40-£50 inc postage. I would expect you could easily sell it on if it didn't work out. It was important in my opinion to get one with pneumatic tyres, some of them are 100% wood wheels with just a rubber strip, this looks pretty uncomfortable to me.
Alternatively would she prefer a scooter if she's not ready for a bike?

We have one without pneumatic tyres, as we have enough (too many!) things around here that can get flat tyres.

DS1 didn't use it for ages and ages, but now wouldn't be without it. We use it for the school run every day. It weighs nearly nothing, and is very easy to carry. Unlike a normal bike, it stops easily, and can be walked across roads quite safely and easily.

I'm expecting (hoping) my DS2 will take to it at an earlier age, having watched DS1 with great enthusiasm for so long.

Old threads

here

here

here

here

where you might find a bit more information about them.

NotQuiteCockney, what age did you try it with your DS?
My DS will be 2 in January, I wondered if it might be a bit too soon, but he is tall and wants a go at everything, so we will see how we get on.

Thanks Hovely - I have had a look on ebay but must have been putting in the wrong search - I only found 1 new one and one other that has reserve. I will go off and try again.
I have tried to go down the scooter route, but there has only been marginal interest - eg will scoot for 5 minutes and then say she is tired and scooter gets packed away in pram, so I end up pushing pram, two whacking great kids and scooter (grrr).
So I am a bit concerned that this is what would happen if we get the likeabike. On the other hand maybe I should just get tough and force her to walk!

i typed in 'wooden bike' on ebay

Cheers for that.

hovely, I think DS1 wasn't even 2. But he didn't take to it until he was 3, I think. All of a sudden he "got" it.

He probably would have been better on it if he'd seen friends on theirs first? Not sure. I'm hoping DS2 will be on it sooner than 3.

My 4 year old did not take to it at all for about a year. Now, he loves it and wouldn't be without it. It takes practise to get used to it.

why not get one that can also be converted to a normal bike, so if the like-a-bike cinfiguration doesn't so down well, all is not lost, plus then you have only 1 large item lying around? They're v. popular where I live & all the kids seem to love them

Interested that it seems to be mainly boys who are really into them - anyone with a DD who likes theirs?

I have friends with a DD who likes hers. And several female friends of DS1 are always on his.

(I think it's more that boy's parents are more likely to buy a likeabike.)

Thanks NQC - think I am going to go for it..