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Original poster

balance bikes - advice wanted

20 replies

lorisparkle · 14/02/2009 14:52

We are looking at getting a bike for my DS1 3rd birthday and have seen the balance bikes. Really just wanted some opinions about them and whether it is worth getting one for him.

Thanks

OP posts:

amazonianwoman · 14/02/2009 15:24

All cycling organizations seem to recommend them as the best way to learn to ride a bike. We're going to buy one for DS next month. Friend's DS got one for 2nd birthday and graduated straight to a bike without stabilizers when he was 5.

Have a look at the gallery photos on www.islabikes.com to see kids as young as about 3.5 riding bikes! We're going to get the islabikes rothan balance bike for DS

CaptainKarvol · 14/02/2009 15:49

We got a Puky one for DS for christmas, he's nearly 3 and a bit short in the leg for it yet.

They're lighter than standard bikes with the pedals removed, and just all round simpler machines. They seem to have a really good resale value too if you go for a known brand...

Original poster

lorisparkle · 14/02/2009 19:39

Thanks everyone.

What are considered good brands as this is rather new to me.

OP posts:

simpson · 14/02/2009 19:48

My DS got one for his 3rd birthday and he loves it.

Am hoping he will graduate to a "proper" bike and not need stabilisers.

We got his from tescos direct.

Phoenix · 14/02/2009 20:00

We just got ds this one for his 3rd birthday. He loves it but just at the moment he can't reach the floor so it's a bit pointless til he grows a bit

If you do a search on balance bikes there are loads of threads about them

Ivykaty44 · 14/02/2009 20:06

I was in the bike shop the other day and they had them for sale - a little boy of about 3 was put on one, then he wouldn't get of he loved it so much.

CaptainKarvol · 14/02/2009 20:08

'Good brands' - look at the prices

Islabikes, Puky, Likeabike are the first to spring to mind. There are loads of others out there though - and whether you pay £20 or £80 they are good fun.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 14/02/2009 20:22

We boughtthis one for our ds when he was 2 1/2.

Now at 3.4 he's brilliant on it. He's not especially tall and it's not on its' lowest setting so it should fit most 3 year olds

QwertyQueen · 14/02/2009 20:28

we bought DS te=he aluminium likeabike, he is 2.5 - quite tall tho - and loves it! He can go quite fast but seems to be in control! Fab

nappyaddict · 14/02/2009 20:52

You can just get a normal bike as long as you can remove the pedals and stabilisers. It's usually cheaper that way.

rowingboat · 15/02/2009 00:44

We bought this brighter bike for my DS when he was 2 he was on the lowest setting and started to lift both feet when he was about 3.
Just before his fourth birthday he rode a pedal bike without stabilisers and he just took off.
We did look at likeabike, but the brighter bike was only £45, which was about a third of the cost of the likeabike at the time.
The brighter bike is still in use on a regular basis, as he can stop more easily with his feet than with a handlebar brake.
The other lovely thing about the brighter bike or any other wooden running bike, is that they are very light to carry in comparison with a metal bike. Big plus when carrying it home from nursery, riderless.
I can see it lasting for a lot longer, he is now almost 4.5.
The downside is that the screws loosen on this particular model and have to be tightened up regularly, but it takes no time.
The seat isn't the comfiest, but we put a bit of bubble wrap under the cover and he reckons it is comfy.

SuperBunny · 15/02/2009 00:55

DS got a Puky when he was about 2.6 and he was able to ride it immediately. He has more or less outgrown it so I am thinking of getting him a pedal bike for him to use, without stabilisers.

Pukys are really good because they are very light so, when your toddler gets tired, you can carry the bike the rest of the way. For me, that was really important.

dearprudence · 15/02/2009 01:00

As nappyaddict says - you can take the pedals off a normal bike. My DS rode with stabilisers first, then we took the pedals off and he scooted for about a week. Pedals went back on, and he could ride!

If I'd known earlier, I'd have taken the pedals off sooner, but at least this way he knew how to pedal. Plus, he was on the same bike for scooting and pedalling, so he felt comfortable with it.

Califrau · 15/02/2009 03:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wallace · 15/02/2009 06:23

ds has a kiddimoto

He got it for his second birthday and it was a bit big. Now 2.5 he is staing to be able to manage properly

thesockmonsteroflurve · 15/02/2009 07:31

dd2 got a kiddimoto for xmas, she was 2.9, she loves it, has no trouble riding it and loves how personalised it is, she ha an unusual name and never has anything with her name on and it is yellow which makes it instantly wonderful.

Astrophe · 15/02/2009 07:40

We bought a Puky for our kids to share - DD was 3.5 and DS 2.3 when we got it - it was too small for DS but he has REALLY got into it now, at age almost 3. I think 3 is a good age to get one. DS is a rocket on his, and DD is good too - getting very good at steering and at keeping feet off the ground for a long time after a runoff. It did take them a while to get into it though, and at first I was disapointed...but now I'm not. I think they will both go to pedal bikes without stabilisers - their balance has really come on.

We chose the Puky for duarability - glad we did as it gets left out in the rain/riden through muddy puddles now and again and I'm not sure if the wooden ones would cope with that or not. There is a fair bit of adjustability in the seat and handlebars, so its works for DS and DD (now 3 and 4.5), although is really a bit small for DD's long legs. Its much lighter than other metal bikes, although heavier thn wood I expect. There is a shoulder strap available to make it easier for adults to carry over shoulder.

Astrophe · 15/02/2009 07:41

(sorry, first line I meant it was too big for DS at first)

Astrophe · 15/02/2009 07:44

Califrau - I think Puky do a bigger size balance bike for older riders - could you get him another one? I'm sure he will get into pedals eventually when his peers are all riding them.

weepootleflump · 15/02/2009 08:11

We got dd1 the 'Likeabike Jumper' for her 2nd birthday, she loved it and used it daily.

When she was 3.5 we got her a pedal Islabike and she was riding in within 10 minutes. At 4 she's like a little pro on her bike- she does tricks like riding along with both feet on the handlebars , and goes on 4 mile bike rides with her dad.

Definitely get one, it's without a doubt the best thing we ever spent the money on for dd1.

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