Balance bikes

[ollysunshine]

Want to buy a balance bike for my 3yr old daughter's birthday - this week...previously only seen wooden frames but notice they now have metalic (?) frames also....can anyone guide me to a good make / type...she is already quite good on a scooter so balance/co-ordination seem quite good....

A balance bike is a great idea for your DD.
Both wooden and metalic frames are good, but make sure it is light enough. I made the mistake of buying one that was too heavy, making it very difficult for small child to control.

We just took the pedals off an ordinary bike and voila! A balance bike!

My now ExH bought this fab balance bike:

www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/rothan.html

He was very into biking so did not wince at the price. However, in it's defence the bike lasted through two DCs and I got a good price when I sold it on. You sometimes get them on e-bay and competition is usually fierce. Also, it's really light - so light I could carry it comfortably when one or other of my DCs abandoned it.

Agree that islabike is great. We have one and it's lasted really well and is light for kids to use.

We have an Islabike. They're not cheap but it should do both ds and dd2 and still have a good re-sell value on eBay.

We have a ridgeback scoot www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/scoot-lime
it is fab, light and easier for DS to handle, and brilliant quality.
Watch out they get very fast very quick on these
We're now looking at the ridgeback bike or specilized bike as a next stage for forthcoming birthday.

I second Islabike. DS has had his two years, used it loads and it is a shiney and new as the day we got it and ready for DD in a couple of years. In comparison, family next door got an Argos cheapy at the same time, which has been used less ans is now knackered - hollow wheels have worn through, ball bearings seized etc . We awaiting delivery of DS's first bike with pedals from Isla. DH and I also very into cycling and mountain biking.

My ds2's Puky metal bike was about the best thing we ever bought him - it was his 2nd birthday present and he sometimes still takes it out at 4.5 if he's going riding on a very bumpy surface that his big bike can't quite deal with. It still turns heads. See www.pukyonline.co.uk/balance-bikes.html?gclid=COC91cbdrq8CFcEPfAodqkRaqg but you can probably get better deals shopping around.

hudora and puky are also good brands, just make sure you buy the bigger size, they make one tiny frame that she will have outgrown quickly.

BikeRunSki - DS has next size islabike. Rode it in 10 minutes after getting it 12 months ago. Cycled 16 miles at weekend - its a seriously good piece of kit as are all the islabikes. Not cheap but worth it.

I have a virtually unused black/silver Islabikes Rothan in my garage. Must get round to flogging it on Ebay!

Essie, that's really good to know. Our Cnoc should be here next week.

Can expect about £90 for that, Soupy. Gross of fees. If it really is virtually unused.

I have a LikeaBike, the original wooden one. DS gets along fine with it, but probably a little less robust for muddy & wet conditions than the Rothan. The cheap balance bike in Argos has terrible tyres (hard plastic, not pneumatic). I would not touch. Do check sizing carefully. The LikeABike is fine for my 4yo, will last until nearly 5yo I reckon, but he is a bit small for age. Rothan seems to come up smaller.

It still has those little sticky out rubber hairs on the tyres!

We have a Puky also & it's great so would recommend that!

We bought a ridgeback for ds 3rd birthday and it's great, v sturdy but light. We looked at the wooden ones as I liked the retro feel of them but you can adjust the seat hight on the ridgeback so hopefully will last for two dcs to use.

I've just bought ds this Raleigh after agonising over an islabike for months

Basically we just can't afford an islabike despite good resale value and so on

Anyway, it's not come yet but I'm hopeful it'll be ok. It's lighter than the islabike and although it's not got a brake I'm not sure how necessary a brake is. The specialized they sell in my local posh bike shop for £100 hadn't got a brake and they said they're pretty unnecessary

I'll let you know how the Raleigh is when it arrives

Oh and I used a 20% off code so it was less

We got this at christmas after DS 3.10 asked for a scooter bike - as you do

Nice and light and somewhere to rest is feet on the hills!!!

www.tesco.com/direct/cruiser-kids-12-wheel-balance-bike/206-0606.prd?skuId=206-0606&pageLevel=

DS had a specialised hotwalk for his 3rd birthday a year ago- its great, he uses it all the time and it still looks almost like new. Its extremely light, I can easily carry it with one hand. It doesn't have a brake, he brakes with his feet anyway, doesn't seem to be a problem and he certainly builds up a lot of speed. Its very well made (according to DP, who knows about bikey things).

Another vote for Islabikes here. We had a balance bike and have had 3 bikes since then (2 DCs). Great bikes & service. We even went to pick up two of the bikes despite being 100+ miles away.

My DS was off on his first proper bike within a few minutes of getting on it for the first time and three years later he's up to 20+ mile rides (at 7 years old).