Same boat OP….our 3 yrs 6 mth lass is all set for a size up from her 12″ Isla Ronan which she is confidently zooming about on…..she has her brothers 14″ Isla Cnoc small ready to inherit. He switched up to it with pedals off for 3 months, and then was off on his first go with pedals on once he decided he was ready (and wanted to ride like the year older neighbour’s twins!)
This is a link to her last week giving it a first try….it is 2kg’s heavier than the Ronan but she instantly liked not having to lean so far forwards (Her Ronan is at max height elevation so it’s a relative lean down to the bars). She’s a bit slower on this obviously on a first try, but her brother was whipping around on it like the Ronan after a couple of weeks.
(Her brother lasted less than a year on it before he outgrew it, but it was definitely age and size appropriate for that crucial learning to pedal timeframe….a 16″ was just too big on standover and weight without a 14″ transition, but he’s a 50th percentile size so your mileage may vary if you have a big for age child) He moved onto a Early Rider Belter trail 16″ which has done him from 4 to 6 and has been just brilliant. He’s now shifting to 20″ as of his birthday next week).
I may well sell the Isla Cnoc small as she and her brother are Early Rider ambassadors and we can get their new 2020 pedal 14″ trail bike, the Seeker 14″, at a good discounted price (sneak preview here of the urban version….tested at Early Rider HQ 2 weeks ago…forgot to get a shot of the very cool chunky super light trail version!)
Let me know if you’re interested (I’ve swapped tyres from the urban style originals to more trail friendly chunky ones). Alternatively I can source you and Early Rider discount if you want to push the boat out on a new bike! PM me if interested on either count.