We've got a 2nd birthday coming up in a couple of weeks and I fancy getting him a balance bike. Prices seem to vary massively, but I don't mind paying for quality as it'll get used again by his younger brother. So, to the question - is having a brake worth it or would it never get used anyway due to how they scoot it about? It could be good for just getting him used to a brake though, right?
Looking at Islabikes Rothan or a Specialized Hotwalk Runner at the moment (only been looking for 5 minutes though!)
These two always come up as possibles but take a look at the Ridgeback scoot. Really really nice bike, rear v-brake and super light. Comes with a spare longer seatpost. My lad loved his and when he was 4 1/2 ish he went straight to a pedal bike without any stabiliser.
The bonus was that I then put the scoot on ebay for £20 starting, £50 buy-it-now and it was sold within an hour at £50. £30 loss over two years use.
Also means with the Scoot you can bling up the rear brake, hmmmm xtr maybe.
I'd say no to the brake lever. Our 3 and a half year old has been on hers for about 4 months now and flies around without (our) concern. Obviously we don't take her down some of the bigger hills locally but she'll scoot down most things she tries and just gives a quick foot-down brake if it's getting too much for her. Even been out in the snow this week! It's great watching them progress, enjoy.
Have a look at the deal for the Adventure Zoom on amazon, same as the Ridgeback Scoot which is what our young un is getting.
No idea about the brake, my mates kids don't seem to use them coz they stop with their feet but nice to have if you're on a hill...
Might have considered a Like-a-bike jumper if I'd seen this first!
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Hey hot stuff, we bang out the wee Zooom models - 3 MAN colours and then a Pink one too.
More arriving next week - (ordered a fresh crop today) so will be available v soon,
Plus you get Alps Love in the form of your Premier membership pennies off.
Got the rothan for my daughter who never really took to it but her younger brother picked it up at 15 months. He's obsessed with riding it(good lad).
He's never used the brake prefering his feet to stop instead.
Took the kids to the bikes show and Billy took to a bike called early rider which I'd also recommend.
EARLYRIDER.COM Rothan here in the lister household. Currently being used by #2littlelister.
Big yes for the brake. When we bought the Rothan it didn't come with a brake and I didn't think it would be a problem, however once Edward started picking up some speed and heading downhill a brake became a must.
Islabikes supplied one for us and it was a big hit. He really learnt to slow down with it, not just skidding to a halt. Now he's on a Cnoc16 he can ride down properly steep stuff feathering the brakes really well. He learnt that skill on the balance bike.
I was terrified how fast he could go on the Rothan, the brake was a real comfort once he got the hang of it. And the scaled down levers that Islabike supply are beautiful, just perfect for small hands.
By the time they can get their head round using the brake they'd be ready for the next size up IMHO
The Rothan is a fantastic piece of kit. My 3 year old lad is obsessed by it. He got it as a present aged two and got the hang of balancing the same day and now free wheels down hill with his feet tucked up behind. The bike is very light, has great saddle and brake adjustment and the scaled down lever is fantastic. At first he used feet to stop but has now taken to the brake which is just as well given the speed this thing can travel at. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this bike to anyone. They hold their value increadibly well, last years graphite frames are fetching almost as much second hand as the latest red and purple frames new. The graphite looks so much better if you can find one.
Rothan here and now the second one is on it
First one went straight onto a Cnoc and learnt to brake on that... just feet down breaking on the Rothan and down forest tracks so fast I couldn't run fast enough to keep up. Couple of character building wipe-outs but he seemed to be OK and soon learnt to head for a bush if he wanted to stop quick.
Oh they do normally wear a helmet too!
Yes to the brake. Feet got used for slowing down at first, but he eventually got the idea of the brake, and it's really something that needs to be sussed before moving onto a bike with pedals.
Note that different bikes are slightly longer or shorter and saddles go lower or higher. If you can get your future Steve Peat along to various bike shops / friends who have balance bikes to do a fitting then do so - length in particular seems to make a difference.
Rothan here FWIW.
We had a "Puky" model, German brand, I believe. Got it from Blazing Saddles Hebden bridge tho widely available. Had a rear brake but hard for litle hands to use it. Again, sold it on for a reasonable price, holds value better than a grown-up bike.
We got our 2 year old niece a scoot last year, she loves it, although it was in bright pink so may of had something to do with it. Also great fun down ramps in cities as i had a blast!!
The only snag we had was even with the smaller seatpost, she was too little to use the bike for the first few months but now she is on it and it comes everywhere.
As for the brake, ive never seen her use it so guess not that important.
Like-a-bike Jumper. No brake but it worked really well. The nipper then went on to a Islabike Cnoc which has excellent brakes.
+1 for Like-a-abike jumper.
It'll sell one well. We sell quite a few and always offer to buy it back when finished with it (for half what you paid) as we'd love to have some second hand bikes on offer. Never had one back!
They are so light, you (or your missus) will end up carrying it for some of the time !
The wee bit suspension is really good, scoot your own rigid bike round the block - if there are no pedals to stand up on every bump goes right thru to your bum!!
We also sell plenty of the Zooms but probably more Likeabikes as they're so good. We have demo bikes and good stock if you're in the Dumfries area
I got my little one a Spec Hotwalk a few years ago, now waiting for her little brother to grow into it for next year.
Very well recommended, but I would say a brake is a good idea.
Now my daughter has outgrown the hotwalk, she can ride a bike fine, (took two minuts to get used to) she is having problems braking, not sure if its the leavers or the fact she never had to brake before.
I will be changing the levers for her, and also getting a brake for the hotwalk, ready for her little bro to use
Rothan, because Islabikes have a test track. 🙂
Big thumbs up for the Specialized Hotwalk here, had two (as twins) and both mine loved them from 18 months to 4 and a half. went straight to full bikes then with no stabilisers.
Also as others have said, due to residual values cost was about £35 each, so about £10 a year each. Proberbly the best value biking money I've spent.
+1 for Spesh Hotwalk. No brake needed really, but a light bike does seem to make it a little easier to pick-up/drop/pick-up
Hotwalk here too. Got the 2011 model with the little foot rest. Daughter loves it and (age 2). Don't think you can go wrong with any of the suggestions here.
The only problem with the hot walk is that you can't drop the seat all the way through like you can on the rothan.
Best of luck whatever you choose!
I's say yes to the brake. We live in a hilly place. There was a good 18 months when my little girl got excellent use from her rear brake down the hills.
If you think not, then just go and ride down a hill without any brakes and see if it changes your mind!
Ours was a Lidle wooden bike. It had very good rims and could easily take a small cantilever off an ancient kids bike, fitted onto some steel straps screwed to the "monocoque". (Wooden bikes are brilliant). I made some extra-weak springs, and used gear cable to reduce the friction.
Worked a treat. By the time she got onto her pedal bike, she could not only balance perfectly, but could scream down hills and skid to a stop!
