Hi all,

do any of your little ones have balance bikes and are they good?

Having spent yesterday bullying my older 2 to ride their bikes without stableisers (they are 7 and 5.5) which they both did  eventually, I am completely sold on the idea of balance bikes for Sam - who is 2.5.  We think we'll take the pedals, chain and guard of ds1s first bike to make one.  It has a back pedal break which we don't like so would be getting him a new one evntually anyway.  As it is a resonable amount of work I though I'd check about balance bikes first!  The other reson  we're modifying is that DH thinks there should be somewhere to put your feet when gliding along and only really expensive ones have pegs - personally I think they'll get in the way.

Also if you have made the transition from balance bike to normal bike was it easy or hard?  Sam is having a pedal tractor for Christmas and can actually pedal anyway so that part won't be alien to him.

Sara

From experience with friends who bought them their children do scoot away on a pedal bike slightly younger, maybe a bit more confidence but then I know kids of 4 who binned stabilisers and scooted off too!

My dd was 7, and we binned stabilisers in 2 days, but before then she hardly rode her bike much preferring her 2 wheel scooter, so maybe if she had ridden more it would hve  been sooner.

Ds isn't interested in bikes/scooters etc so not sure when he will learn, he is 51/2!

Be interesting to know how you get on!

Hi

My DS (4yrs) has a balance bike.  He wasn't that interested in it at first, he got it for his 3rd birthday and used to complain that he wanted a bike with stabilisers like his friends.  He would also go out on the bike a short way and then I would be left to carry it back.  Not having a big enough garden at home and also not spending the time practicing at weekends, he didn't do much with it for ages.  Interestingly, when riding a friend's bike with stabilisers which were set higher than usual so as to give it balance, the friend's Dad commented on how much better my DS was at riding without depending on the stabilisers whereas his friend's style of riding was different.

About a month ago DS asked if we could take his bike when we were going somewhere, I said yes, because it wasn't far and I realised I may have to carry it home.  This time he did fantastically and started to get the whole balancing idea, he rode it much further than expected because instead of leaving the bike and getting a bus, he rode it around the rest of the afternoon until his bottom hurt LOL.  After a few more days his technique changed so that he was sitting on the seat, one leg up on the bike and the other used to push it, now he was going really fast.

Seeing my DS ride his balance bike I can see that he has taught himself the balance and will switch to a pedal bike with out ever needing the stabilisers, his technique is much the same as riding a pedal bike and boy is he fast.  When you stop pedaling, on a bike with stabilisers (if they are set low) it stops, with a pedal bike or balance pike, the bike keeps moving until you brake or stop with your feet.  Don't expect to walk alongside at your normal pace once the child is balancing properly!

A friend with an even younger child who has had more practice on her balance bike was impressed when she tried a bigger child's pedal bike and could use it straight away without stabilisers.

There's no doubt in my mind that a balance bike is the better way to learn.

Ours was a cheap one from Tesco, it has a hand operated brake.

Ana

I am trying to hold out until christmas for the big boy pedal bike.

We've had a balance bike for nearly 6 years and they're great. We bought it when my DD was 2 and then it was passed down to DS. This is the one we had www.likeabike.co.uk/likeabike_models/likeabike_mini.php

However we made the big mistake with our DD of going from balance bike to Halfords pink bike with stabilisers which she only ever rode a few times. It was far too heavy and the brakes were too stiff for her to handle so she was really put off riding.

This Feb we decided it was time to invest in some decent bikes. DS was 4 and had been whizzing around the house on the balance bike for nearly 2 years. We went to Islabikes in Shorpshire and bought them both bikes. Within days they were both cycling confidently. My DS progressed from balance bike to normal bike with no problems (and no stabilisers) and even managed a 8 mile ride in the summer!

I can highly reccomend Islabikes. They're designed by a ex professional cyclist who's clearly thought about things such as making the brake reach short enough for little hands and keeping the bikes nice and light. Although they're expensive, they do accept them back in part exchange. Plus i noticed on Ebay they're going for good money second hand. Here's their website www.islabikes.co.uk Hopefully my DS will progress onto DD's bike so we'll only have to buy one at a time in future.

Anyway so i would definately go down the balance bike route. Maybe Sam will be riding without stabilisers before your older two!

Zarina xx

ps. Edited to add that even now my DD and DS both whizz round out open plan kitchen/dining/living room on the balance bike (& the diddy car).

Another huge vote for balance bikes! My DS got one for his second birthday (a Early Rider lite) and has been a whizz on it since he was about 2.5, more to do with the time of year and getting out on it in decent weather than his readiness for it! He rides nearly every day whilst I walk the dog and it's such a relief to walk at a decent pace again. Now I walk and he shoots off ahead and then comes back at top speed. His balance is great, he can scoot along with feet off the ground for great distances,and he can pedal a trike so I'm sure he'll have no difficulty making the transition to a pedal bike. We're just waiting for him to be tall enough for the smallest Islabike (he's a bit on the small size for his age)

One word of caution when you are looking around, the cheaper bikes are often heavy and unwieldy by comparison and the seats can't be set very low, so depending on how tall and well built your son is you might be better buying one that's a little more expensive and not putting him off. Ours was £80 and worth every single penny, it has been his most played with toy by a mile. They seem to hold their value well if you decide to resell later.

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