Best kids bikes - SOLVED pg 2

[The Ken]

I may well be selling the Islabike soon as they now have Specialized bikes which are only very slightly too large.

If Tricky doesn't want it, I'd be interested in the Beinn Small size if it is in very good nick (would be an xmas pressent) ...oh and not pink

 

[sic_nick]

Balance/walky type bikes help to make learning to ride a lot more intuitive when they get big enough for a bike with pedals and they can do crazy stuff on them too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JOpcpLbyNE&NR=1&feature=fvwp

He's on a LikeaBike

http://www.likeabike.co.uk/likeabike_models/

 

[The Ken]

Balance/walky type bikes help to make learning to ride a lot more intuitive when they get big enough for a bike with pedals and they can do crazy stuff on them too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JOpcpLbyNE&NR=1&feature=fvwp

He's on a LikeaBike

http://www.likeabike.co.uk/likeabike_models/

Damn I thought my kid was good till I saw that

the bike he is on has a bit of elastomer suspension so the drops don't hurt quite as much as they should.

My son does similar (but not as extreme) stuff on a £30 quid lidl's wooden bike - sealed bearing mag wheels and no brakes.

I added wooden stunt pegs at the back so he could pull wheelies. I also had to reglue the front fork and reinforce them with screws after an overly optimistic jump at the skate park. He's moved on to a real bike now (big brothers hand me down) but it is already getting too small.

 

[rosstheboss]

Have a look at the stabilizers on a kids bike the next time you get a chance - guaranteed one side is worn more than the other and probably dramatically so - the kid gets on the bike and will relax to which ever side suits them and pedal.... take the stabilizers off and you also remove their confidence, especially if they've been bombing around with them!!

As Dr. S said they also teach completely wrong steering techniques, again making the normal and correct way of steering completely alien when the stabilizers are removed

Balance bikes are an awesome idea, I know of plenty of friends kids who have taken to them brilliantly, and I thoroughly recommend them!!


N.B. Some people do need stabilizers though......!!!

 

[trickylad]

Mine (Archie) has had a balance bike since 20 months, and I put him on a pedal bike on Saturday for the 1st time, and off he went , no stabilisers, nothing, he even rode down the kerb. If you do get a balance bike, do check this out too

http://www.earlyrider.com/ he had the LITE 2-4yrs (although I have just bought him a CNOC16)

p.s - ISLABIKES don't recommend using stabilisers (even though the sell them :roll: )

I know - Spoke to ISLABIKES today and they said the very same thing

They recommended buying the CNOC and taking the pedals / cranks off instead

 

[ancient biker]

Kids bikes

Hi

I'm a great fan of balance bikes though they can be expensive. What worked for us was a plastic motorbike type thing from the early learning centre. Not the best looking thing and only suitable for flat surfaces but at £30 it does the job.

Really helps with developing balancing skills. One of our wee boys is almost 4 an i've bought him a 14 inch ridgeback. Comes with stabilisers but we took them straight off. It was £100 and its really pretty good and we plan to pass it on to his wee brother in a couple of years.

I did look at Islabikes and Specialized and although you may get a bit of residual value from, children's bikes get a fair amount of abuse. So fer me Ridgeback kids bikes have that balance between cost/quality/durability.

Darren

 

[The Ken]

I know - Spoke to ISLABIKES today and they said the very same thing

They recommended buying the CNOC and taking the pedals / cranks off instead

I was going to suggest that, save buying 2 bikes in quick succession.

 

[Awkward Kid]

My lads gone from a Specialized push along to a Scott Bad boy! Ebay bargain at £50. They where £140 new. He's awesome on it to boot! He's 4 in December and i'm thinking Mini Burner Oh the Specialized was £80 direct from a Specialized dealer and he's been using it for 18months! and if his legs where a wee bit longer the stabilizers on the Scott would be off!

 

[The Ken]

I think he'll still be a bit small for a miniBurner unless you are a tall family, my youngest (5) still can't reach the ground on ours.

 

[Awkward Kid]

The Burners for me!!! :shock: