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My nephew is 2 in April so while the sales are on thought I might look at getting him his first bike.
I've seen wooden 'balance bikes' and normal little bikes with stabilisers, so for a young kid what's best suited?
I also need to keep the sis-in law happy who does panic a bit thinking he will no doubt, fall off crack his head open or loose all his fingers in the spokes etc.
Don't go for stabilisers. If 2 stick to a balance bike.
Islabikes, though expensive, have great resale value
with boxelder, like-a-bike thing all the way. my boy had one from 2 or so, bombed around on it. he got a proper bike for his 3rd birthday, rode it briefly once the first day with stabilizers, next day took em off and he rode straight away.
Or buy a 12" wheel bike, and take the cranks and chaining off. He'll then use it like a balance bike, and will be very familiar with it when it's time to put it back together.
Worked fab with fadda Jr...
Definitely a balance bike. The Islabikes Rothan is great- a little more expensive but really well made and has a rear brake which functions well with little hands and pneumatic tyres which many others don't.
Our eldest was a little slow getting to grips with the balance bike (over 3) but he's a little caitious andI think he'd never had the right location. Camping early this year on a gentle grass slope he suddenly cracked it.
He got an Islabikes Cnoc 16 pedal bike for Christmas (he's 4 now). Mrs M insisted we got the stabilisers as well in case he didn't manage. First try on my Brother's sloping drive he manages a few short runs without being pushed. Today we went to the park- he got on and rode away. My proudest Dad moment!
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/27010396@N08/6587908777/ ]Going Solo[/url]
I think in summary, the hard cycling skill to learn is balancing, not pedalling.
Decathlon do some great kids bikes - £30 for a balance bike...
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/run-ride-id_8175413.html
Thanks all, have a good new year!
Did the balance bike thing and the kids hardly used it.
Now have 2 virtually new bikes with stabilisers sat in the garage.