Can’t really afford an Islabike but what other options are there?

It’s for my son (3 tomorrow although this is not his present).

Puky balance bike.

My son 4 next week and got him a 16 inch specialized. Lovely bike. They do 12 inch as well.

If you buy a balance bike for first 12 months he won’t need stabelizers on his first proper bike. http://WWW.pukybikes.co.uk

I wanted to get an Islabike for my boy, but got the Ridgeback MX16 instead. Nice little bike, if a little heavy perhaps. But it’s a proper bike in all respects; proper spoked wheels, square tapered BB, headset restrictor (to make it harder for the bike to throw him off) and decent brakes.

Highly recommended, although it’s only £50 cheaper than the Islabike…

Secondhand cnoc 14. My lad used his loads from age 3.5, having got very confident on a balance bike previously.

Cheers, it’s a proper bike he needs as he’s had a balance bike and sees his sister on her bike. Will check out the ridgeback.

Perhaps what he really needs is a mojo sl to grow into 🙂

Has he already got the hang of a balance bike? If not, go with a balance bike and then get him a pedal bike when he hits 4. He won’t ever need stabilisers. Brought a wee tear to my eye watching both my 2 pedal off with even having to think about getting their balance. They both had a Stryker balance bike initially.

Doh!

I concur – second hand cnoc 14 – sooooo lovely for their little hands!
My lad properly took to his yesterday! Had done a few pedal rotations before, but it suddenly clicked yesterday 😀

Went on a big ride (about 900yds) after the ‘out and back’ in the video, and about twice that today!
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fekM_Na29-8[/video]

You can also laugh at the wife waddling behind him – he’s a bit short to touch the floor when he stops!

DrP

I’ve got one of these for sale (though unless your in Bristol the postage ain’t worth it)

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-10829-bikes/N-102501-bikes~12

Really very good as the bars can be raised/lowered with a single hex, the seat is qr, and the training wheels can be removed by hand in about 30sec so you can take them off and put them on 5 times in the park.

Remove the pedals an you have a balance bike for a while.

Both my 2 were pedaling on and no trainer wheels by the time they were 3 1/2 so time flys. My boy is less than 4 1/2 and he moved on to a 16″ last week.

Agghhh Everything is telling me islabike but my wallet. He’s only a slight chap so the whole weight thing will be important. This is tough.

He pulls skids on his micro scooter so hoping he will have , more skills than me!

My youngest graduated from the bike that Earl posted up there to a Cnoc 16 and the difference is more than blatently obvious!

The 12″ wheeled Decathlon bike weighed more than my Scandal 29er, whereas the Cnoc is under 6 Kgs. Brake handles are cheap plastic, the Isla ones are metal and the riding position…..I could go on for hours.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fekM_Na29-8[/video]
Should work…

DrP

Dr P that is lush

ocrider – you are completely right – the bike does weight a tonne – but so does a dh rig – The advantage is the easily removable trainer wheels. Over a week I would take him down to the park and take the trainers off for a while then put them back on to ride home.

If I had to do it all again I’d get a like a bike jumper http://www.likeabike.co.uk/likeabike_models/likeabike_jumper.php. Lots of cash but seeing some other kids on it at the park – it is truly orsome.

End of day – if you get a isla/jumper you’ll pay up front but the resale is excellent so its worth it.

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/m/Detail/13hotrockboys/hotrock%20boys/Hotrock%2012

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/m/Detail/13hotrockboys/hotrock%20boys/Hotrock%2016

Another hotrock 16 here. My lad was not strong enough to pull the Cnoc handbrake, so the coaster brake was ideal.

I’m just getting him ready for the next stw niche 😉

Ridgeback MX14 is a great bit of kit. Just bought an MX16 for £56 on ebay for his next bike. Will get tbe MX20 next probably.

Cough, 2nd hand Rothan in the classifieds, Cough.