Balance bike advice needed

[chillipickle]

I'm planning to buy DS a balance bike for his 3rd birthday. Question is, which features should I be looking out for?

Some of them have brakes, kick stands, foot rests and steering limiters. If I buy a very simple one, will I wish it had any of these features?

Also pneumatic tyres vs solid ones? And would DS find a lightweight bike easier (he is big for his age), or is it just an issue for me carrying it home from the park?

Any advice much appreciated!

Oh yes, and can anyone tell me how to persuade reluctant OH that this is all a good idea? He is convinced stabilisers are the way to go.

Rather than a balance bike - which are generally expensive - why not do what the Germans do and just buy a normal bike that he'll be able to ride afterwards and remove the pedals. = balance bike which turns into proper bike.

lucie, that is the best idea i think i have ever heard! and you may well have saved me £70!

well, hypothetically i mean as i don't have dc2 yet but was planning on buying oone next time i had a child of the right age

Hi there

My ds has an islabikes rothan balance bike. We got it for his 2nd birthday and it's great. Probably one of the more expensive balance bikes around but perfect for little ones. Height is adjustable and brakes are designed to be easy for wee people to use.

He was three last week and is super confident on his bike. He zooms along really quickly and has a great sense of balance. He cycled 3 miles today on it with no problems :-) Has even done the ramps at the skate park.

We've now got a bike with pedals and are waiting til he's tall enough to try it out but the balance bike was a great purchase and has given him hours of fun. Much more freedom than stabilisers.

Hope you find the ideal bike!

Blimey Meala - they're £99.99!!!

Thanks for all your replies. As luck would have it, I've been in touch with a (German, cyclist) work colleague and she says they are ready to sell on their Puky LR1. So I think that saves me from any further decision-making!

My only doubt is that it doesn't have a brake, and there are plenty of hills where we live. Although I don't suppose I'd be letting DS loose anywhere too dangerous. And do they stop with their feet anyway?

My dd has the Rothan too. I can't praise it enough - it really is superb and worth every penny!

My dd is now 3yr 3mo and friends laugh because whereever she is, the bike is there too! She looks lost without it now

It's beautifully made and is a perfect size and weight for littlies. The brake has been invaluable and dd uses hers really well.

You wouldn't be disappointed with a Rothan - best money we ever spent, seriously!

My DS had a wooden likeabike and it was fantastic - v simple, no brakes etc. He got really confident on it and when we got him a proper bike for his 4th birthday he rode it immediately without stabilisers. He's not big/strong for his age and hadn't even pedalled a tricycle before but it just came so naturally we were ! I know of several friends' DC's who had exactly the same experience of going straight from balance bike to proper bike without stabiliser stage, it is definitely the best way imo.