Good God LIKE A BIKE is HOW MUCH??!!? what's the alternative?

[gatheringstones]

I am reeling after going into local toy shop and being told like-a-bike is £179! a few kids round here have them - i can't believe anyone would pay that.

so i'm after recommendations for better value alternatives please!

hey, nappyaddict, i think you're right. better than the tesco one, not pink, (tho not lovely green or yellow either) but good price.... hmmm...

ok. i know i'm starting to delve a little too deeply into this but look at the jojo bike next to the john lewis bike and the tesco bike. bit hard to say as jojo don't do big picture but i'm betting it's all the same bike (with the same brake issue?) in different colours as the livery is exactly the same.

now then!

(anyone else thinking 'just buy a bike!')

I second the suggestion of removing pedals from a normal child's bike - that's how mine learned to cycle properly. The key was getting a bike where they could reach the ground with their feet. We left the chain on as it as under a plastic shield.

After three sessions in the park learning to balance using their feet for support we stuck the pedals back on and they were off, no stabilisers or separate balance bike needed.

gatheringstones the Jo Jo one is from a company called Ruff Tuff Stuff.

ah, i failed to glean that from the site, thank you. it looks like the best option then!

cat64 i have looked on ebay and posted on freecyle and put small ad on netmums (i am willing to pay!) but no joy yet. i will look at gumtree though, i'd forgotten about them...

nappyaddict do you already have jojo bike?

I don't have it but my cousin's children have one. Unfortunately they live too far away for me to be able to test it out.

this website sell a wooden balance bike for £39.99. It's not on the website so you'd have to ring up and order it. I'm not sure what make it is but it has speedy written on the side.

I've heard the Kettler one is available in red and yellow from mid august so I am hoping to get that one. Will try it out in Toys R Us and order it from here if not.

Sorry meant to say from here

This is the red one

This Step 2 one is only £27.99 but is more like a motorbike than a bicycle so perhaps not what you are looking for?

The Speedy one looks exactly like this

i do like the kettler one but am put off by the foam filled wheels. but after reading the tesco reviews i figure you either have to take plastic wheels etc or pay a lot more.
i guess you get what you pay for who knew?!

Least they won't puncture

true!

Ive said it before and I'll say it again, only ever buy kids bikes from islabikes cos they are brill!

Sorry, joining the discussion rather late.
Has anyone tried one of these:?=
www.funkymoose.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_88&products_id=2361 ?

PUKY - Great design, hard-wearing we're thrown 2 dd's at it and it's still going strong. Waaaaay cheaper than like a bike.

Have you tried joining the yahoo group Freecycle (there is one for each area). It is like Ebay but free. Is an enviro- friendly group for people who want to avoid land-fill and can't be arsed to Ebay. Everything on there is free. We have got rid of and gained some really good stuff.