Balance bikes for toddlers

I’m looking for ant experiences of balance bikes for toddlers. I like the look of the ‘early rider’ bikes but the isla bikes look a bit more sensible.

Early rider

It will be his only bike and used for all mountain riding !

Stu

We just took the pedals off the wee bike he got (Islabike Cnoc), then put them back on one day and off he went.

I got aleigh jr number 2 a wooden one purely because she won’t be on it for very long! I figured a balance bike is a balance bike and would worry about getting her a decent bike when she can ride properly.

Some of those wooden ones have restrictive turning range – which is a very good thing to start off with.

I have a Isla rothan and its nice. If i were to do it again i would pay a bit/lot more for the Likeabike Jumper – rear sus and supple big apple tyres seams to make quite a diff from what I see down at the park. Probably worth it as we are just starting our family.

http://www.likeabike.co.uk/products/jumper_like_a_bike_likeabike_kokua_lightweight.php

Mine has an Isla balance bike and he loves it. He’d ride it all day if he could and I have to fight it off him to return home.

It does off road fine.

He’s now 3 and has had it since before he was 2.

We’ve built some low “North Shore” for him as well in the garden.

This is a copy of an email I sent a mate who asked the same question the other day. I have a Kokua for my 3yr old and she loves it. She can do feet-up for well over 50m, over rough ground. The Kokua is great and well made, but the price is quite high these days I think.

———————————————————————

Wiggle have some. Look quite nice, and have a brake

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Adventure_Zooom_Beginner_Pedal-Free_Kids_Bike/5360039622/

Others:

Islabike:

http://www.islabikes.co.uk/index.html

Specialized:

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=16045

and

http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/complete-bikes/childrens-bikes/scooters-runners

also

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Kokua-Jumper-Like-a-Bike-Boys-Girls-Kids-Trainer-Bike_W0QQitemZ330298326451QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bikes_GL?hash=item330298326451&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1298%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

there also some wooden ones here

http://www.thekidswindow.co.uk/childrens-wooden-bikes.htm

and some here but the seat look quite high so may be a tad big

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_503457_langId__categoryId_205254

and a similar version here

http://www.kids-bike.co.uk/balance_bike.asp

The expensive ones are obviously better (Islabike, Kokua, Specialized) and remember when you sell it you’ll get back probably half of the initial cost (if it’s in reasonable nick) so the actual cost of ownership is lower than first glance.

———————————————————————–

I personally don’t see the point in splashing out on a balance bike – I mean the idea is that they learn how to balance which then leads onto riding what we call ‘a decent bike’! IMO of course 😀