Things To Consider While Buying The Best Kids Bike
From balance bikes to young riders bike, kids bike comes with a lot of options. Unlike adult bicycles, kids’ bicycles are offered in sizes based on wheel size. It ranges from 12 inches to 24 inches and depends on the age group. Here are some things to consider before buying the best kids bike.
- Materials – The material of the kid’s bike is one of the key features. It affects the durability, sturdiness, and safety of the rider. Most bikes are made with steel or aluminum. Steel ones are heavier to handle and can rust without proper maintenance. However, they are a cost-effective method. Aluminum bikes are lightweight and highly durable and are rust-free. The price of these bikes may be high as compared to steel bikes.
- Gears – Most child bikes come with a single gear facility. But if your kid is old enough to enjoy speeding, then buy a bike with multiple gears.
- Chainguard – Chainguards cover the chain wheel and protect the child’s leg from accidentally rubbing or getting their clothes snagged. It gives additional peace of mind to early riders.
- Tires – Tires come in a lot of forms like solid foam, air-filled, etc. Air-filled ones are the most comfortable ones. They provide a cushioned ride and good grip.
- Weight – The size and material of the bike determine the bike’s weight. Lighter bikes are easier for children to handle. Choosing a bicycle that is not heavier than half your child’s weight is a good idea.
- Brakes – There are two types of brakes. The front is the coaster brake activated by backward pedaling and is much easy for children to use. Using it shouldn’t take a lot of force. Another one is the hand brake lever-operated ones. It is suitable for older kids. As your kid grows he would be able to use both the brakes with ease.
- Seat Height – Check the bike’s minimum and maximum seat height along with its standover height. There must be a little space before the seat so that light falls off the bike, would not hurt the child much.
- Training Wheels – The majority of kid’s bikes come with training wheels. The kid gains confidence and stability from them. You must start with the training wheel touching the ground and slowly raise it till your child is confident enough.
- Grips – The grips influence the child’s handles and control the bike. The grips must not be too thick for the child to hold. Bulges at the end of the grips, to protect the little one’s hand from accidental scratching.
- Kickstands – It comes in an addition to bikes. Though it’s not a must, it is a necessity and looks more elegant while parking.
- Warranty – Many bikes come with a lifetime warranty. Although, you should check the manufactures detail regarding the warranty and then buy.
- Pedals – The pedals should be grippy and rough to avoid slip off while riding.
- Wheelbase and Cockpit Size – If the handle is too close to the child, riding would be a difficult task. A bigger wheelbase provides great space for the child to maneuver the bike handle smoothly.
- Q-factor – It is the measurement of the width between the width of the pedals. Pedaling reduces a pedal stroke’s efficiency greatly.
- Bottom Bracket Height and Low Center of Gravity – Distance from the bottom bracket to the ground is an important factor that contributes to the overall center of gravity.
- Pedal Angles – If you have a higher bottom bracket then it helps to produce less efficient pedaling. The child seat will have less space between it and the pedal if the bottom bracket is higher.
So, before selecting the best kids bike make sure to go through the things mentioned above. Continuing our discussion, let’s consider how to choose a good option.
Which Bikes Are Most Suitable For Your Kid?
Before you buy the Best kids bike for kids, you must know the different models and sizes that are available in the market. There are a lot of options available depending on the age of the group.
- Balance bicycles: These types of bicycles are most suitable for learning balance. This type of bicycle is ideal for children having the age group of 2 to 5 years.
- Single-geared bicycles: This type of bike is highly used on the smooth surface and is the most common bike. A bike of this type has pedals that move along with the wheels. It does not include a gear function. The maneuver is too easy for this type of bicycle.
- Multi-geared bicycles: As the name says these types of bikes come with a lot of gear functions and have lesser agility. It provides good control to the rider.
- Foldable bikes: They are highly portable and are easy to carry when traveling. As they are foldable bike you can easily fold them and store at any place. Being light in weight you can handle them easily
How To Choose The Best Kids Bike?
1. The Age of the Child – Every age has its own bike. Often children start with learning balance bikes and gradually move to a kids bike. So consider your child’s age before you select the Best kids bike. Children mostly start riding a bike from the age of 2. Kids between the age group of 2-5 mostly use 12-14 inches and convertible balance bikes.
2. The Height – Apart from your child’s age, size is also a major factor. You must make sure to select a bike that has proper height and your kid feels easy to start riding the bike. The size of a kid’s bike corresponds to the wheel size and making sure that your child is having a suitable type of bike is very important for his safety. Having learn in this way will help to learn fast and with fun. Here are some of the sizes of bikes that you will require as per your kid’s height.
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- A balanced or tricycle 10 inches wide (85 cm to 1 m) is suitable for your child who weighs between 85 cm and 1 m.
- If your child has a height of 90 m and 1.05 m, you are required to have 12- and 14-inch bikes (balance bikes that turn into real bikes).
- 16-inch bike.Between 1.20 m and 1.35 m: 20-inch bike is required if your child has a height between 1.05 m to 1.20 m.
- You must have a 24-inch bike if the height of your child is 1.35.
Hence, ensure the child’s weight before buying the Best kids bike.
3. Usage – In the market, you can find both hybrid and BMX bikes for kids. The selection totally depends on your preferences. BMX models are more suitable for parks whereas a mountain bike is most appropriate for rugged terrains.
Safety Precautions To Take While Riding A Bicycle
You have to follow safety precautions to keep your baby safe. Safety precautions have been provided for your benefit.
Here is the list of things you have to do and not to do.
- Train your baby to wear a helmet whenever riding a bicycle/bike.
- Your child must wear light color clothes for easy identification.
- You must ride the bicycle in the space or lanes that are marked for riding or on the sidewalk.
- Following rules is necessary on the road and you can use hand signals.
Initially, we often recommend parents ride with their children to ensure their safety and build confidence.
Common Questions Parents Ask
1. At what age should I buy a kid’s bike?
By age 4, most children are ready to ride with training wheels. Nevertheless, there are differences between each child. So, look for your child’s age and height before you buy it.
2. Which bike size is suitable for a six-year-old?
You can get an 18” or 20” wheel size for a six-year-old depending upon the child’s height.
3. Is a training bike better than a balance wheel?
Balance bikes are designed to teach children to balance and maneuver while sitting and in motion, which is one of the hardest aspects of learning to ride a bike. They slowly gain confidence and start balancing as a result of training wheels.
4. When should I remove training wheels?
Usually, children are capable of doing this from ages 4 to 9 but given appropriate instruction and encouragement, they are capable of doing it at an earlier age. Try removing one training wheel at a time, so that the child gets time to adapt without training wheels.
5. How do you teach a kid to ride a bike with training wheels?
Having the seat at its lowest setting, ask the child to place both feet behind the pedals and tiptoe forward as they ride the bike. You may ask them to push the bike until it is moving fast enough to balance on its own until you are able to paddle it. After the bike has been balanced, they can begin pedaling.
