Balance bike for 3 year old

ford2600

Hi there,
my niece has just turned three and was looking to get ger a bike.

Have heard the balance bikes are way to go; any posters here with experience/reccomendations?

Myksyk

The balance bikes are fantastic. Our girl had one for six months or so when she was three. It did what it said on the tin in so far as she learned how to balance very quickly and with no problems. We got her a normal bike when she turned four. We took it out of the car, put her on it and she cycled away. The balance bikes are the only way to go.

ford2600

Thanks for that.
Do you have a make/model or recommendation for me?

Myksyk wrote: »

The balance bikes are fantastic. Our girl had one for six months or so when she was three. It did what it said on the tin in so far as she learned how to balance very quickly and with no problems. We got her a normal bike when she turned four. We took it out of the car, put her on it and she cycled away. The balance bikes are the only way to go.

Lumen

The balance bike I bought second hand is probably out of production now, but I'd say that this is one area of cycling where it really doesn't make sense to spend a ton of money.

Something like this:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/firstbike-cross-pedal-free-kids-bike/

delynet

I just bought a balance bike off this crew. Friendly and gave good advice

http://www.balancebikes.ie/

tomasrojo

I haven't tried this, but I have heard that a child can get much the same learning experience by taking a standard small child's bike, removing the pedals, letting the saddle down as much as possible and getting the child to use it like a velocipede. Then gradually raise the saddle as the child's balance improves, until the saddle is close to where it would be for a child with fully developed balance; then put the pedals back on.

Something like that anyway.

kincsem

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

bokpaddie

Got my little guy one when he turned 2 and have to say it was the best investment out, after 6 months he was ready for a peddle bike. Went for
www.balancebikes.ie/products/-FirstBike-Street-Balance-Bike-with-Brake-in-blue%2C-green%2C-red-or-pink.html with the lowering kit.

I am with the Ratoath BMX Club and he loves taking it on the track. I had never heard of them until last year but they are becoming more and more popular. Just make sure it is light and if possible get a back brake, saves on shoes... oh yes and a helmet is a defo

wannabe7a

We got our little girl a balance bike called strider when she was 2. You can buy these without any transport cost (as far as I can remember or maybe it was something like a fiver). You can even see a clip on:
http://www.striderbikes.ie/

It is really great. You can see the improvement by the week. She is flying on it now. Had to get a helmet and start to do some running to keep up with her. Best buy you can get: go for the strider!!!

Myksyk

Yep we got the Strider balance bike too. No complaints but nothing to compare it too. I'm guessing they're all pretty similar.

enas

delynet wrote: »

I just bought a balance bike off this crew. Friendly and gave good advice

http://www.balancebikes.ie/

I'm sure that model will teach some serious balance skills.

wannabe7a wrote: »

Had to get a helmet and start to do some running to keep up with her.

Don't want to start yet another helmet debate, but why did you feel you needed to wear a helmet for running?

tomasrojo

enas wrote: »

Don't want to start yet another helmet debate, but why did you feel you needed to wear a helmet for running?

Helmet for her (due to her turn of speed) and he running? (I wondered that for a minute too.)

Lumen

tomasrojo wrote: »

Helmet for her (due to her turn of speed) and he running? (I wondered that for a minute too.)

In my experience small kids mostly crash on their hands and faces.

JMcL

Great value from Decathlon http://www.decathlon.co.uk/run-ride-id_8175413.html. Our 3 year old is flying around on it and loves it

dubmess

What are people's opinions of the restricted steering and brakes on some of these bikes?

The Strider bikes site says in its FAQ that restricted steering is counter productive in teaching the child to steer properly and as steering is part of balancing I'd kind of agree with them.

They also say that having a brake is unnatural for a small child as the first instinct will always be to put their feet down, and that trying to teach them to pull a brake at this age is nigh on impossible.

I really want to get one for my 2 year old, but would like to know if anyone has opinions on these 2 matters?

seamus

I guess the argument against restricted steering is the same as that for using stabilisers - when the child is progressed onto a full bike, the controls and the balance will be unfamiliar and the child will almost have to "relearn" how to steer all over again.

Not sure about the brakes. A young child won't have the motor control or the sense to use a brake effectively (it'll be either on or off). You could also argue that the lack of brake teaches the child avoidance and foresight while on the bike instead of learning to pull the brake at every bump and turn.

positron

JMcL wrote: »

Great value from Decathlon http://www.decathlon.co.uk/run-ride-id_8175413.html. Our 3 year old is flying around on it and loves it

Thank you for saving my sanity. I was going mad with the 100-150 euro price tags on other links. I mean how hard can it be to manufacture and put together one of these, I can't imagine how they can justify price tags like that. IMHO, these things cost 25-40 euro, and not a cent more. :cool:

greendom

tomasrojo wrote: »

I haven't tried this, but I have heard that a child can get much the same learning experience by taking a standard small child's bike, removing the pedals, letting the saddle down as much as possible and getting the child to use it like a velocipede. Then gradually raise the saddle as the child's balance improves, until the saddle is close to where it would be for a child with fully developed balance; then put the pedals back on.

Something like that anyway.

+1 for this -definitely the way to learn - save on the balance bike and just take pedals off a normal kid's bike until they get the hang of balance

Ryath

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kettler-Speedy-12-5-Inch-Balance-Bike/dp/B002UXQM34/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353591328&sr=8-1

Just ordered one of these this morning good bit cheaper than the striders and overall the reviews seem favorable. Will let you know what its like when gets here. Will be Christmas day before it gets any use though.

Myksyk

I seem to recall that the Striders had firmer/tighter steering that took time to loosen with the intent of allowing the child to avoid over-steering early on and crashing.

flatface

I got the Puky with a brake from balancebikes.ie and it is very well made and will last a few hand-me-downs I reckon.

Just to note they are heavy and my 2-year old struggled to lift and hold it up when she was just 2 so its better to go for one that is the right size or a little small for them.

Now she is mostly addicted to Mini Micro scooter which I would really recommend for little ones (tho its not a bike of course)
Hope the balance bike will be back out in the spring.

bambergbike

I've seen little kids do really long glides on bikes like that Puky and then transition very quickly from doing that to "commuting" to their creche in the morning on regular bikes. Having somewhere comfortable to put your feet seems to help when it comes to keeping them off the ground.

Flier

I got one for my 2 year old from Argos for about 45 euro - lovely wooden model - and she loves it.

tomasrojo wrote: »

I haven't tried this, but I have heard that a child can get much the same learning experience by taking a standard small child's bike, removing the pedals, letting the saddle down as much as possible and getting the child to use it like a velocipede. Then gradually raise the saddle as the child's balance improves, until the saddle is close to where it would be for a child with fully developed balance; then put the pedals back on.

Something like that anyway.

I thought the 2 older boys this way, just taking the pedals off, as they had started riding with stabilizers and were very resistant to learning without. They really had to relearn balance and stop trying to grab on to things when they felt they were falling. Having said that, it took about an afternoon for each of them, but they were a bit older.

kincsem

I saw a woman and two children speeding down a footpath on mini scooters near St John of God's in Stillorgan, probably heading to St Bridget's School. They obviously learned that it was quicker to walk uphill to school and scoot downhill.
Balance bikes are a great way to get children onto "big" bikes.