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Specialized say the Hotwalk is designed for "less crashes and more smiles" to help kids get on two wheels with confidence. The bike has a low standover and 12" wheels, so it's a great size for a 3 or 4 year old to get their bearings. Comfort: If your child feels uncomfortable on their bike they’ll be less likely to use it, so look for a padded seat that provides plenty of support. Some balance bikes have curved seats to help prevent your child from sliding forward.
While one alternative is to buy a conventional 12- or 14-inch kids’ bike and remove the pedals, a balance bike will typically be lighter in weight, given there are fewer components, and some may have specific features such as a footrest. While it may be a bit heavy for a child who has just turned two, the Frog Tadpole comes into its own from around age three. Like the Islabikes Rothan, it’s purposefully designed to suit a specific age range and performs well on all surfaces. The comfy padding on the handles and seat makes the bike great for longer rides and the brake handle is easy for little hands to reach to slow down and stop with confidence. The Tadpole is on the pricey side but it is the closest you can get to a ‘proper’ bike as a balance bike and the resale value is really good. The temptation to spend less rather than more is understandable if you’re worried about splashing out on an item that could end up gathering dust. However, it’s really worth remembering that the likelihood of this happening is slashed if the bike is fun to ride. In fact, Hornit are so confident in the quality of this balance bike they’re giving it a lifetime warranty on the frames and forks which can be registered for free online once you've received your bike. The padded foam seat and rubber hand grips make it comfortable to sit and hold on to the bike for longer periods, which is excellent news for the school run.
4. Best balance bike for toddlers: Micro 2in1 Chopper
It’s ok: we’re not going to start advocating chamois shorts for five-year-olds. But it’s worth knowing that the ideal balance bike saddle isn’t necessarily the same as a pedal bike saddle. The body resting on it will be putting quite a lot of weight through the centre of the saddle, so these are ideally shaped in a ‘scoop’ shape. However, your child probably won’t be out for three-hour jaunts like many parents – so don’t panic too much about this. For older kids there are two larger models - the 18" wheel Kapel and the 20" wheel Hutto, so there is the complete range of sizes for all ages (although note that with these larger bikes you have to buy a separate balance bike adaptor kit). Newly 2-year-old and quite petite in size (36″ tall), the AIRO was a great fit for our youngest tester in size 18-months pants. Although he has a heavier and slightly larger balance bike at home, he had been hesitant to ride (or even walk it) for months. Not giving up, his parents continued to encourage him to ride, but to no success.
We had an Islabikes Rothan for our two, and the youngest had a Toddlebike to start with too. The balance bike made it easy to transition to a pedal bike, eldest three and a bit, youngest getting on for four." - Dominic It’s understandable that you want your child’s balance bike to last as long as they want to enjoy it – typically two to three years. Look for a bike with an adjustable saddle height that offers a good range. Some versions also have adjustable handlebar heights, offering an even more tailored fit. Training wheels, also called stabilisers, have been used for decades – and they worked for most of us in our early years (as far as we can remember…). The Hornit AIRO is for children from the age of 18 months up to around five years old (with an inside leg measurement of 30cm to 48cm). Our reviewer’s three-year-old falls in the middle of this age range and rode the bike comfortably with several seat positions still to go, so Hornit’s age estimate feels accurate. At first glance The Hoy Napier is the stuff of a toddler’s Olympics dreams with its sleek, minimalist BMX design, chunky wheels and small aluminium frame. Available in red, blue, and yellow this is a great looking balance bike that will see most children through from the age of two to four.To get moving, the AIRO rolls on 12.5″ diameter wheels. These are built using aluminium rims and have sealed bearing hubs to help keep out debris that tends to shorten bearing life and lead to that nasty grating sensation you can get with cheap bikes.
Age range: Two to four years old (85 to 110cm tall with an inside leg of 40cm minimum) | Weight: 3.8kg | Wheel size: 12 inch | Tyres: Pneumatic What we love My only issue with the frame is that I struggle to see the need for the plastic insert in the frame which adds nothing to the quality of the frame and seems to be there purely for cosmetic reasons. Alternatives to the Hornit AIRO balance bike A balance bike will teach a child how to balance and lean – valuable skills when it comes to riding a pedal-powered bike. Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images There’s no doubt that the AIRO has been designed with an eye for stylish detail and high performance. It’s beautiful to look at, and every aspect of the bike feels considered, from the lightweight, brightly coloured frame and bouncy air-filled tyres, to the neat neoprene cover padding the stem in case of a front fall, and moulded foot rests covered in grip tape. It all gives an immediate impression of highly-engineered durability. The designers are obviously keen cyclists themselves, who have put together something of professional quality. Islabikes are the original manufacturers of quality kids' bikes, with over a decade of experience in designing and manufacturing lightweight frames fitted.A balance bike typically represents an easier first step into teaching your child to cycle for toddlers. As their motor skills and coordination develop, the child can learn how to balance and steer on the bike, without the distraction of learning how to pedal.As they typically feature a smaller wheel size, it is also easier to get a tot onto a bike at a younger age. The narrow bar is great for petite toddlers as their frames are still small enough to allow the young riders to have a wide stance on the handlebars with their hands extending several inches past their shoulders.
If you're looking to invest in a bike you can sell on, the Islabikes Rothan is hard to beat. How we choose our recommendations Parent testers However, they’ve got their shortcomings. When we caught up with Isla Rowntree, founder of Islabikes, she summed it up pretty nicely: “[Training wheels] are not actually a great way to learn to ride. A bicycle steers by leaning, you lean it to the right and the handlebars fall to the right, you lean it to the left and they fall to the left. Kidvelo also make larger 14" and 18" wheel balance bikes which convert into pedal bikes, which are a great idea if your child is at that in-between stage and not quite ready for a full pedal bike yet. You want to make sure your bike doesn’t weigh more than 30 percent of your child’s bodyweight so that they're not forced to work too hard or forced to become frustrated. 3kg tends to be a good marker for most toddlers.In all cases, the best balance bikes featured are lightweight and very easy for young children to manoeuvre. They are well constructed to last the abuse that their riders will inflict, and come recommended by many different parents. Brake: A handbrake is an optional choice on a balance bike as a child will instinctively use their feet to stop, at least at first. At its lowest point, the saddle should measure one inch lower than your child’s inseam measurement. When sat on the saddle, your child should be able to put both feet flat on the ground, with a slight bend at the knee. My eldest (3) loves his Strider Balance Bike - it is the 'sport' version and is very light, although not the lightest on the market. It was a good price given it came with two seat posts to extend its lifespan. He's had no problem with the unrestricted handlebars and I doubt would use the brake offered on competitor brands (certainly not when he first had it aged 2). But which balance bike is best? There are lots of different options out there from cheap and cheerful to high-spec and built-to-last. If you only have one child and know that you’ll only need a balance bike for a short time then a cheaper option might be best, but if you have more than one child it can be worth investing in something pricier that can be passed from child to child. A lot of balance bikes also have great resale value so that’s worth keeping in mind too.
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