kids bike - I Love Bicycling

Teaching your child to ride a bike is one of the most exciting experiences as a parent, and luckily training wheels are no longer the only option. Over the past few years balance bikes have become a popular option to get kids riding younger, and even skip the training wheels altogether.

If you don’t know what we’re talking about, balance bikes are two wheelers with no pedals and no training wheels, so the child uses their feet to propel themselves along.

Balance Bike vs Training Wheels

When your child first sees their new bike, the first thing they’re going to want to do is hop on. Training wheels do have the advantage here because the child can easily sit on the bike. However, their movement is limited and a lot of times pedals can be too much for them. On the other hand, balance bikes teach your child to balance on the bike (obviously), while at the same time using motor skills they have already learned with walking. It’s an added comfort for them to keep their feet close to the ground while learning, without having the pedals get in the way.

How to Teach Your Child To Ride a Balance Bike

Step 1: Stand and walk.

Step 2: Sit and walk.

Step 3: Sit, run, and balance.

Step 4: Sit, run, glide and explore!

Balance Bikes Make for an Easy Transition

There’s a bit of a trade off here, as with training wheels your child will have the pedaling motion down, but will have no concept of balance. This can be a tough transition because they will have to learn to keep the bike upright as well as deal with the inevitable falls.

If your child is transitioning from a balance bike to a pedal bike they will fall much less. They will have the natural instinct to save themselves with their feet when they begin to tip over.

The Best Balance Bike for Your Child

Most balance bikes are made for children ages 2-4, although they can start even younger than that- if they can walk they can ride! When choosing a balance bike, there are few things you’ll want to be looking out for. First are they tires, as direct and reliable feedback from the bikes steering will help your child feel more comfortable and in control. Avoid any hard plastic wheels unless the bike is only going to be used inside. The best choice would be rubber tires with pneumatic tubes, which offer the most traction and control on a variety of surfaces.

Next, there are the brakes. The original balance bikes did not have a brake, but some contemporary models now include a hand-operated rear brake. This can be a great option for added control, and learning how to use a brake, but isn’t necessary as many kids will still inevidiably choose to use their feet to slow down and stop rather than a brake.

Here are some of the best options when it comes to a balance bike for your child.

Woom 1

Price: $199

The woom 1 is great for kids anywhere from 18 months to 3 years old. It features air tires, a hand brake, a natural upright body position and added turning limiter. The woom 1 is also one of the lightest balance bikes on the market, making it easier for you child to use on their own.

Strider Sport

Price: $99

The Strider Sport fits kids 18 months to 4 years, making it a great bike for your child to grow into. It has foam tires, making them maintenance free, but does not give the child as much cushioning or traction as rubber tires.

SE Bikes Micro Ripper

Price: $179

Not only does this balance bike look awesome, it was designed by former X-Games star Todd Lyons when he became a father. It has a traditional BMX stem and 16 spoke wheels, making it heavy, but great for kids who tend to be a little rough on their toys.

GOMO

Price: $49

Another budget friendly option with foam tires, the GOMO balance bike is great for kids age 2-4. It features a tucked away footrest, adjustable handlebars, and extended wheelbase that gives more room for the rider to move around.

Bixe 16

Price: $69

If you have a child who is too old for the traditional balance bike (age 4-6), but is still struggling to learn to ride a bike, the Bixie 16 is a great option. With larger wheels, a larger frame, and air tires, it can be a great way to get your kid confident enough on two wheels before adding pedals.

It is rare when a kid’s bike is exciting, but Pello Bikes managed to make their Revo a very exciting bike. After having kids ride bikes from mainstream bike shop brands, the Revo managed to blow them out of the water. They did it with a combination of well thought out geometry and a brilliant parts spec. Most current bike shop kid’s bikes get the geometry right (or close) but skimp on the parts. Maybe their thought is that kids will not ride their bikes that hard. Have you ever seen an enthusiastic kid ride? That bike is going to get thrashed. And Pello Bikes seems to know that.

Better Bike, Better Riding

Have you ever gotten on a bike that was not so nice, but it was the bike you had to ride at that moment. Now imagine doing that to every kid, ever in the history of riding. They will still be excited about riding, because well, we all are. But if you could make their experience that much better through dialed-in ergonomics and light weight (why should a bike be two-thirds of a kid’s weight?), how much better will they be at riding? How much more excited will they be to ride? How many kids have been turned off of riding by ill-fitting bikes? These might be questions that do not have exact answers, but relatively accurate speculation is easy.

The bottom line here is that Pello Bikes hit the mark, understanding that kids should ride a relatively light bike that fits great. Watching a kid jump straight on with no problems, moving up from his own twelve inch to a sixteen inch Revo, shows how easy it is. Sometimes transitioning to a new size takes time. It did not with Pello Bikes Revo.

Hand Brakes!

Have you ever had to teach a three year old to use a coaster brake? They know all about pedaling forward to propel the bike. Engaging a coaster brake to stop is not a logical step for a small kid. Pello specs all of their bikes with at least one hand brake. It takes far shorter to learn how to use a hand brake than a coaster brake and offers better modulation. Pello goes a step further and uses a size-appropriate lever and V-brake for full stopping power (along with a coaster brake, which I think has gone mostly unused). A quality hand brake will save you from ruining at least one pair of shoes because your kid was using them to stop instead of the coaster brake.

Building the Bike

A concern I have with direct to consumer bikes is that the consumer has to build them. Not everyone is skilled mechanically or if they are, do not know how to build a bike (everything seemingly has its own quarks from fixing the toilet to working on a bike) . Pello Bikes thought of this and sent an owners manual with actual instructions. I have never seen such a thing before. Along with an owners manual, they provided a five and six millimeter hex wrench, which most cyclists have around the house but other people may not as well as a presta valve adapter. The tubes have presta valves, which is a curious choice. I am not sure where I would find a sixteen inch presta valve tube in the event of a flat, but until then, it is fine. The recommended pressure is too high in the owner’s manual. A forty pound kid does not need forty pounds of pressure in 2.1 inch tires. Less pressure will give a more comfortable ride and better traction.

Putting the bike together was straightforward and probably slightly easier than a standard kid’s bike with inferior parts. The only adjustments that may give a mechanical novice trouble were adjusting the V-brakes and the chain tension. Patience and attention to detail should get the job done.

The Parts Are Better

Here are some highlights from the parts spec:

Presta valve tubes (with adapter) – this is helpful if you are already a cycling household. They are easier to use.
Provided five and six millimeter hex keys for the build, but ball ends would be a plus.
Best owners manual I have ever seen with useful information, along with a quality control list checked off by a real person.
A one piece seatpost; this is not common at all on a sixteen inch bike.
It has a nice bell. Every kid wants a bell on their bike.
A threadless fork with a Cane Creek headset. There are adult bikes that do not have threadless forks or name-brand headsets.
Thin grips for smaller hands.
The alloy frame keeps the weight way down.
Kid sized brake lever and V-brakes modulate speed well.
A cartridge bottom brackey and three piece cranks are classy. It makes maintenance easier, along with better sealed bearings.
A low gear. Most kid’s bikes are overgeared. The gearing on the Revo allows kid’s to pedal up hills; this bike is not just for riding around a playground.

The Best Kids Bike? A Resounding Yes.

I never want to be the guy that gives such an effusive review of a product, but here it is. It happened. I have never been so pleasantly surprised by a cycling product, and this is after over two decades in the sport. Pello Bikes put together a great package with great support. The last thing people may balk at is the price – $299 for the Revo. It is a bit higher than a mainstream brand, but you will get a far superior bike. If you have a few kids that will use the bike over the years, it is well worth it as you can easily pass it down. The bike functions better and is more serviceable than its counterparts. This bike is a win for everyone – parents and kids.