balance bike for kids
- Thread starter ginajeeps
- Start date
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Once a Wheeler
…always a wheeler
In my opinion, none are to be recommended.
I prefer this.
I prefer this.
bikingdad90
Guru
Something wooden that looks stylish and is pretty light. There is good chance you may end up carrying it while he/she musters up the enthusiasm to get on and waddle. Our kids picked it up around 3 1/2 - 4.
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
They vary in price a lot but they are all pretty similar and will soon be grown out of so don't bother looking for the best.
My granddaughter loves the wooden one I bought from a charity shop for £5 and zips everywhere on it.
My granddaughter loves the wooden one I bought from a charity shop for £5 and zips everywhere on it.
Oh yes, the weight is important. I will have a look at that. thanks!
Is the wooded one okay in the rain??
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
No problems with exposure occasionally to rain, but I wouldn't soak it overnight in a bath.
Andy_R
Hard of hearing..I said Herd of Herring..oh FFS..
- Location
- County Durham
The important thing about balance bikes is to not force the kiddies to use them. Let them find them at their own pace and play with them.
BurningLegs
Veteran
You’ve linked to a balance bike?!!
Exactly. My kids initially played by spinning the wheels and ringing the bell before going anywhere near the saddle.
Weight is super important. When you weigh 10-15KG then a 1KG difference is a significant difference in weight to be lifting off the ground!
We went for a Strider 12 to begin with - aluminium so nice and light. Then we moved upto the Strider 14 which has removable pedals for the progression to pedals (in our case at the age of four).
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Freiburg im Breisgau
Our kids used a wooden one in all weathers for over a decade in total; it was fine, although some of the holes were getting slightly worn.
straas
Matt
- Location
- Manchester
We got ours the vitus nippy, think it was £35. He loves it.
T4tomo
Legendary Member
are you Ok - that is a balance bike you've recommended?
to the OP, Something cheap light and second hand from someone who has progressed onto pedals
Once a Wheeler
…always a wheeler
Thanks T4tomo, I realize my error. In our household, what I now know are balance bikes are known as draisiennes after the inventor Karl von Drais. To be called a draisienne it would seem that the French took up his idea much more enthusiastically than his native Germans. Plus ça change!are you Ok - that is a balance bike you've recommended?
to the OP, Something cheap light and second hand from someone who has progressed onto pedals
I took the term 'balance bike' to be a bike that does the balancing for you, in other words, one of those ghastly contraptions with stabilizer wheels that prevent children from learning to do what, with a draisienne, comes naturally.
Thanks for the chance to clarify.
