[Closed] Balance Bike

Yes.

A light one! You WILL end up carrying it.

FWIW,  mine had a Spesh Hotwalk.

1. Yes perfect.

2. Don't force it. If you house isn't too precious just leave it around for them to use when they want.

Ditto above re weight.

Rear brake not a necessity either but we had them on both Islabikes and removed to be refitted once they were getting faster and more competent/bigger. Skids are for kids.

Upgrading tyres may be a bit excessive ;0)

They still get used. Both had them out to mess about on at the weekend at 7 and 8.

Similar question here

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/balance-bikes-for-a-small-2-year-old-frog-tadpole-mini/

Yes, age 2 is bang on, just make it available and leave it for them to decide when to learn; ours weren't really into the balance bike until nearly two and a half, but both had moved onto the pedal bike at 3. As above, light is good because you'll be carrying it a lot at first, and IME a brake is totally redundant on a balance bike. We had a Ridgeback Scoot for two kids (resprayed and de-braked for child 2) and it's been fine; to be honest there's no need to get a great quality balance bike unless you plan on recouping your money; kids will batter along on anything at that stage. If money's tight save some for a really good first* pedal bike instead.

* and second, and third, and… 😉

depends how close to 2?

I bought a strider (recommended) when my boy just turned 2 it was too heavy for him and he was much happier whizzing around on a toddlebike.  prob late 2 he started using the strider and is belting around everywhere on it.

he has just turned 3 now and asking for a bike with pedals.  he'll get one for.xmas

I bought one for our son for his 1st birthday, but he didn't start using it until after he turned 2.  In all honesty I think pretty much anything that fits will do the job, but the lighter the better for both them and you. We ended up with a Cube Cubie because it was on sale at the time.

2yr old is the ideal age. Our boy loves his Islabike Rothan.

Tony was two and a half before he really showed much interest in it - it was knocking around the house for ages before then, but one day it just clicked and he was off. He loves it but the downside we have is that he's so bloody confident on it that he has no interest in trying his pedal bike. We've ended up buying a longer post for his Rothan to get a bit more life out of it.

1) Yep, 2nd birthday but don't be pushy about them using it.

2) Rothan but there's lots of decent ones (and lots of crap ones). Weight is the key, not only for them but you'll be carrying it, might want to strap it to a trailer etc.

There's some bike journo I follow on Instagram - don't be like him and pimp it out with adult bars so it looks cool. Poor kid is trying to ride something with the equivalent of 1000 cm width bars and grips that he can't get his hands round.

2 is perfect. As above, just leave it lying around for them to pick up themselves. Both of mine ended up whizzing around the kitchen before progressing outside.

We got one of these. It was super cheap and he has now progressed onto his next bike with pedals and brakes great. Was light enough and very low cost.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004MW55Z2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Both my littlies were on balance bikes at 2.

As intimated above, I just left it around the house for my first and waited for him to take the initiative. It didn't take long. Most of our visitors to the house arrive on bikes.

The second, daughter, didn't need encouragement, it was Thomas, my boy that got her off the trike and on the balance bike. Very cute scene of my 5 year old getting my 2 year old riding down the garden.

Strider are very small and light. A great starter. We have a Zooom which is a little large but has a rear brake which has to be mastered before they were allowed pedals.

We got one of these. It was super cheap and he has now progressed onto his next bike with pedals and brakes great. Was light enough and very low cost.

this it what we have and it has been great for around the garden, number 4 is on it now.

Thanks for the tips (and the link to the other thread). Luckily I'm not the parent so don't have to worry about the paintwork in the house.

1. Yes

2. The Frog Tadpole I've got for sale