where to find a unisex child's bike

Nanazolie

Hi

I'm trying to get a bike for my daughter (Santa's pressie) who is 4. It would be her first "real" bike and it needs stabilisers. I want to get a unisex one so it can be passed on to her little brother in 2 years time when we get her the next size up. I have a budget of about 150 euros and am looking for a sturdy, comfortable bike. Red, black or blue or green with no boyish design or cartoon character would be perfect, we will customize it with a pink basket, pink bell, some Disney princess stickers, etc...
I've been looking online, but there seem to be only pink or purple Dora, princess and so on.

Thanks a lot

Cottontail

Have you looked at the Smyths Website:

http://www.toys.ie/Bikes-!WCAT17-cat.aspx

I've seen a couple on there - there's a bugs bunny one for example that might suit, or there are others that might be suitable. Worth taking a look at anyway. Or maybe try Halfords, they usually have a good selection. I hope you get the one you're looking for!

Penny Dreadful

You could always just buy a bike for your daughter and when it comes time for your son to use it have it painted a different colour?
My sister did that with her little girl and little boy and it worked a treat.

Nanazolie

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

You could always just buy a bike for your daughter and when it comes time for your son to use it have it painted a different colour?
My sister did that with her little girl and little boy and it worked a treat.

Good idea. Do you need a special paint?

Penny Dreadful

There are certain paints that are suitable (for being out in the rain and the like) for it all right. You can get them in a good hardware shop or a good bike shop. Some places that do second hand bikes and repairs will paint it for you too.
If you find the perfect bike for your daughter in terms of height, durability etc, the chances are it will last for a long time and be suitable for your son too and save you a fair bit of money into the bargin.
When my sister did it they didn't tell their son that it had been his sister's bike and got reflecters and go faster stripes and a (very loud, trust me, very loud) horn type things on it too and he was happy out with his "manly" bike.

Moonbeam

Amazon had very good value on kids bikes.

pickarooney

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

You could always just buy a bike for your daughter and when it comes time for your son to use it have it painted a different colour?
My sister did that with her little girl and little boy and it worked a treat.

That seems like overkill. I don't think a four year old would care what colour his/her bike was but surely anything apart from Barbie pink would count as 'unisex' anyway?

Justask

Halfords

CJhaughey

If you can stretch to a little more money an Islabikes Cnoc 14 would have a lot better resale even after the 2nd rider outgrows it.
They are made for small riders with proper scaled down brake levers etc.
Lightweight as well.

Penny Dreadful

pickarooney wrote: »

That seems like overkill. I don't think a four year old would care what colour his/her bike was but surely anything apart from Barbie pink would count as 'unisex' anyway?

The bike was pink and purple and fairly girly. My sister painted it dark blue and silver. It was simple and easy. Not even a hint of overkill:)

Nanazolie

pickarooney wrote: »

That seems like overkill. I don't think a four year old would care what colour his/her bike was but surely anything apart from Barbie pink would count as 'unisex' anyway?

You'd be surprised. I hate pink but it's my daughter's "favourite colour ever", no one can pretend it was my influence. She is extremely girlie, and red and blue are acceptable but we need to make sure that it doesn't look too boyish. I could go for purple but I really don't want to chance it because with my luck the little one will only like his boyish stuff.

It's actually interesting, have you ever heard of these people who raise their children in an absolutely "a-sexual" way, so much so that they even refuse to disclose the gender of their child to the world? Well, they shouldn't bother.... I reached that conclusion myself, it's in the genes. We gave dolls and trucks to my daughter, she never played with the trucks and always favoured the girlie stuff. Her little brother plays with her dolls and Peppa Pig kitchen too, but he loves cars and he could stay for hours watching the builders and their trucks.

Nanazolie

CJhaughey wrote: »

If you can stretch to a little more money an Islabikes Cnoc 14 would have a lot better resale even after the 2nd rider outgrows it.
They are made for small riders with proper scaled down brake levers etc.
Lightweight as well.

They look fab! THey even do a buy back scheme, very handy. I'll contact them for a quote on delivery. Thanks for the tip

goosie2005

+1 for islabikes, have a lovely red one, proper bike and lightweight makes it very handy for out and about.