Like-a-bike - Will people think I'm a tight cow getting ds a bike made of wood with no pedals?

[northerner]

That's what my dh thinks anyway. He's like - a bike with no pedals made of wood? No way!

I thought they were a really good idea.....

You do get some odd looks and comments. We took ours to Canada, where nobody has them, and got loads and loads of people talking to us about them.

My favourite was someone (in bike-mad Montreal) telling DS1 that when he's done with it, he should put it up on the wall.

Here is a thread from earlier today about Likabikes, with links to all the old threads about them.

I will

I like it. We are in NZ so every 3 year old has a Triang Trike. Wouldn't shoes get worn out really quickly though?

Not any faster than they already do, in my experience. Our school run trip is about 1km (I think? Maybe a bit more), so this is a real lifesaver for us.

Sooo, if it has no pedals, how does it go?

Oh right, they push it along with their feet! Don't think your kids would appreciate comparing their wooden bikes to their friend's racers though. Ok if you want to be evil to them I suppose!

Are you getting him a brick with rounded off corners to kick around as well?

Only joking, think they look quite posh. What do men know?

Yeah, but think of what the other kids will say when your kid wheels out his wooden bike! C'mon, give the kid a break! You don't want him to remember the time all the kids took the piss because his parent's got him a wooden bike do you?

dd2 doesnt have the strength to peddle a bike, this looks interesting, where can u buy them tho?

Are these wooden bikes not only for littlies in which case I doubt anyone will take the mick?

If you don't want to get a wooden one, Kettler do a red metal version called speedy push n go which looks great (see the Kettler UK website www.kettler.co.uk) . My ds had one when he was three and at four and a bit moved on to a 'real' bike without stabilisers which he mastered in minutes because he could already balance. So you're ds will be the one laughing when all his little mates are still needing stabilisers. I think they're brilliant, just sorry I only discovered them for no 4.

Misdee, lots of people sell them online, there are also cheap likeabike-alikes you can get (Tchibo do one, I think). Check ebay?

And my DS1 certainly doesn't get mocked by his mates for his bike - they line up to try it in the playground. And yeah, they're really for little ones - he's 4 now, and I expect he'll be done with it by 5, I guess.

Is the point that they learn to balance rather than depending on stabilisers for ages?

That's one of the points.

They're also much more practical than a regular bike for getting around. They're lighter, easier for kids to stop, and practical on the pavement.

And you can burn it on bonfire night!