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First time in a while I’ve actually posted about bikes 😂
4 yr old daughter will be given her first pedal bike next week.
She’s nailed the balance bike.
She has a helmet already.
She has a bell in the shape of a ladybird.
Is there anything else I need to get? I keep wondering about gloves for the inevitable fall now speeds will be higher on the pedal bike. I’ve always valued gloves myself. Any relevant experiences or suggestions?
My daughter had fox dirtpaw gloves like these
From when she was on the balance bike, only just outgrowing them now at 6.5. I always made it routine, you go out on the bike, helmet and gloves. She doesn't think twice about it.
She liked them because they had the pink fox on them!
You’re not getting her an electric one?
Glittery tassels always make a 4 year old’s bike better.
At this time of year didriksons warm gloves if anything.
Less about the fall and more about the cold.
Well certainly for my 3 year old in Scotland.
YMMV
I have a 4 year old who's also nailed the balance bike.
I got her a pedal bike for Christmas but she's distinctly uninterested in it.
Keen not to push her into it. She just wants the balance bike!
Ok you lot have convinced me my instinct was right - nice bike gloves to keep hands warm and wrists free from grazes.
Gonna look at those fox dirt paws now ta Richard.
Is the pedal bike bigger than the balance one?
If it is you might want to start off with the pedals off to get used to the size/weight and then reinstall them.
Gloves. More important than a helmet. Radical I know. But if I had £5 for every time mine fell off and moaned about their grazed hands on a bike, scooter, skateboard or rollerblades, I could have bought the bike. They never banged their heads but always wore a helmet.
Keep the balance bike and the newie around. Let her pick the one she wants.
She won’t be able to start peddling so Scoot her up to speed. Send her to another human. Don’t let the one at the back speak. Looking back causes accidents…
Agree with those above suggesting gloves. Probably don't need to be bike specific ones unless that's something that she might enjoy (my 5yo boy does).
Also found that a few rides with no pedals on to get the hang of the handling of a new bike can really help.
Gonna look at those fox dirt paws now ta Richard
They're not winter gloves btw.
There's a pair on vinted for £5. (I am in no way affiliated to the seller!)
My almost four year old nicked my bike light as soon as it got dark on the way to/from nursery last year. Got spinning wheel light things for Christmas, loves them. Not sure speeds are high enough for falls to be particularly bad, she wears woollen gloves if it’s chilly, some bigger thinsulate ones if really cold (below zero). Had a few offs, no hand issues, scraped knees but nothing worse than normal toddler scrapes.
Ref not being interested, we put the balance bike away as soon as the pedal bike arrived, she was all for the new bike until she rode it first time, after that the pedals came off for about 3 months until a bit of persuasion got them back on, was then a couple of rides getting the hang of it and she hasn’t looked back since.
Ours had an impressive OTB whilst discovering what the brake levers do, so another recommendation for gloves.
Now have a stem pack too for trail snacks and taking a small cuddly along. Small EVOC one fits well. Don't have to get off bike too access it either which is a massive faff reducer compared to saddle bags.
Would also suggest a tow line to help the enthusiasm go further, or at least get them back again.
I remember taking my boys to get their first gloves. It’s well worth trying a few pairs. They really weren’t convinced, but the young lady working in the shop was wearing a sling after crashing at a training camp and she convinced them of their importance.
Now they always wear them.
And the young lady just won the Australian national Enduro championship on her first go 🤣
Gloves. More important than a helmet. Radical I know.
+1.
I don't always wear a helmet but I can't imagine getting on a bike without gloves. Granted I'm not 4, but still.
Does she want / need a basket for snacks or a doll carrier.
The basket was nearly practical, the doll carrier hateful but she wanted one and the 'I'll fit it once you can ride up the street and back' worked as a bribe.
Chocolate can be a more effective form of bribery.
Gloves +100
These are very nicely made, not the warmest for winter use, but currently £8/pair. Size up smaller than the size chart. I've got a couple of pairs for my daughters: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/nukeproof-blackline-youth-glove
Also, Trax tow line is worth every penny. Smaller/more discreet than a bigger, bulky towrope and quicker to deploy and unhook them from it. No faffing about stashing the rope away in your bag between uses.
Snacks. All the snacks.
Also gloves, and maybe a buff.
And more snacks.
Oh definitely +1 on the snacks. They’ve saved many a ride from going completely pear shaped.
The child snack of choice was chocolate bourbons. All the taste without the mess. One every couple of miles was the kiddyback tandem consumption rate. More on their own bikes.
GLOVES! My 3 always wear them. It was a game getting them on the eldest 2 until they were 4 or 5 but the youngest has always been great. My technique, should you need it, hand like a flipper (fingers together) slide glove on half way, then ' make a big starfish!' and the spread fingers usually go nicely into the gloves fingers.
I take it this is your first to progress? Might be worth taking your own bike out to show her what pedals are about, and brakes (if you don't already).
Have fun!
Our snack of choice was jellybeans.
In the summer a bubble blower attached to the seat post was a winner, cycling in circles leaving behind a stream of bubbles was great fun.
Something like this (other cheaper models are available)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Bubble-Machine-Automatic-Birthday/dp/B09H4GPNG2