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Original poster

Balance Bikes from Halfords?

11 replies

OllieWollieWoo · 05/10/2008 16:17

Saw that Halfords now sell Balance Bikes on their website - has anyone seen them in a shop or got one? Thought they looked quite good and a reasonable price......
here

OP posts:

chipsandtart · 05/10/2008 20:58

i noticed that they had them on the website to so took dd1 to try them for size as ds1 has managed to learn to ride a bike without stabilizers after using balence bikes at preschool but they didnt have them in are local store which is quite a big one infact they didnt have many of the things on there website in store

muddleduck · 06/10/2008 16:55

We bought ds1 a puky bike which is quite similar to this. Although it is a fair bit more money it is utterly fab and is without doubt the best value for money present we have ever bought him. I reckon there is no chance the cheaper one would survive both the dss. They are available through amazon.

MatBackFeck · 06/10/2008 22:47

chips how old was your ds when he started to ride a pedal bike after having a balance bike?. I only ask because my ds is just over 3 1/2 and has been whizzing around on his balance bike since last Easter and today started riding a pedal bike without stabilisers on his third ever go. He told me to let go and off he went, completely able to ride one as lonmg as he likes, can start and stop, get off etc. I was astounded as I seem to remember it taking weeks if not months with my younger brothers and sisters and they were a fair bit older I think, 5 or 6. And lots of false starts, scraped knees etc. He has had two very quick practice sessions with me holding on the back of the saddle last week but today he just got on it and sped off. I still can't believe how easy learning to ride a bike was. His Dad is even a bit upset as he missed the whole thing!

I think maybe this proves for me the theory that balance bikes mean they can skip stabilisers (he went on the bike twice with the stabilisers on, hated it, and always insisted on going back on his balance bike). I still can't believe it.

muddleduck · 07/10/2008 14:04

MBF
that is good to hear. DS1 is also 3.5 and we were thinking of shifting him onto a pedal bike at his birthday. Hopefully things will go as smoothly as they have for your ds.

Nemoandthefishes · 07/10/2008 14:15

that sounds good.
am thinking of getting dd2 a balance bike for her 2nd birthday as it would be good for dd1 who will be just 3 and ds who is 5 this week as he is desperate to learn to ride a bike with no stabilisers but it isnt happening

littleboo · 07/10/2008 14:21

Are they the wooden ones in Halfords please? Our local bike shop seems to stock 2 different types and I have been looking at them for ages, wondering. My DS3 is nearly 4.

mistlethrush · 07/10/2008 14:30

Ds managed to break his wooden balance bike in half - pretty impressive crash - luckily wearing relevant protective gear - rather too fast into a tree. We replaced it with a metal once bought off internet for about £75 - £80 which we can add pedals to at a later stage. Much better bike, also has brakes - probably not suitable for much below 3 unless quite large though.

MatBackFeck · 07/10/2008 15:27

yes we are on wooden bike number 2 as well - they do take a pounding when they get good on them - part of the reason why I dug the pedal bike out as he is insisting on going down large hils with his feet up (including, until I just managed to grap him as he set off, the concrete skate park / bmx ones!). They really do seem to help them get the balance of riding first though so the pedalling bit is easy. Ours were only cheapo ones of the internet, someone told me the "name" ones are a bit sturdier.

Littleangel03 · 18/06/2010 19:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

lukewarmcupoftea · 18/06/2010 19:07

Littleangel - this is not an advertising forum, you've just resurrected at least 2 old threads with these plugs, so I've reported you.

Fizzylemonade · 18/06/2010 19:13

We have a zooom bike for ds2 who was 3 when we bought it. Did the whole scooting along with it then balancing. Really whips around on it.

With Ds1 we had tried the traditional stabilisers route and he was appalling at balancing. He was 6!

Whipped the pedals off his existing bike, lowered the seat so he could put his feet flat on the floor and he literally learnt to balance in about 10 minutes. He had a couple of sessions riding his bike like this at the park then we put the pedals back on and off he went!

The balance bikes are better for younger children because they are much lighter.

We are trying to get ds2, now just 4 onto the bike we got Ds1 to balance on but as it is a traditional bike it is much heavier so he always asks for his balance bike back.

The zooom bike comes with a brake which I think is essential. Plus 2 seat posts which was good as Ds2 has short legs for his age

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