Balance bikes?

[sarahbanshee]

Has anyone had a balance bike for their children, and would you recommend them? My son is 3 and a half and is keen to get a bike, and my teenage nephew ( who is bike crazy!) told us firmly that we should get a balance bike rather than a bike with stabilisers. But they are £75 in our local bike shop, which seems a lot if he's only going to use it for a few months. Are they worth it?

Definitely worth it. DD learned to cycle without stabilisers in two minutes after 2 weeks on a balance bike.
Can you find a cheaper one on ebay or somewhere?

I got one for £25 used but vvgc on Ebay. :)
Just before DS's 4th birthday, but he is small(ish) for age, so plenty of room for growth. He is DC4 & this is our first ever balance bike, I think they get over-hyped (we are a cycling family, too). People at school think DS's balance bike is amazing... btw.
Quality varies: the Argos £40 one has horrible tyres, don't go there. Make sure it has proper pneumatic tyres.
Rothans (Islabike) have been low in price since Xmas on Ebay, lower than usual, anyway.
What brand does your LBS offer? Wooden or metal?
Look after it & it should have good 2nd hand value on Ebay, may soften the blow of initial price shock.

Bikes with stabilisers have been good for us, too. I get scared by how fast DS goes on the LikeABike, too fast for my liking, must wear a helmet & I never feel that way when he's on stabilisers.