Have you ever driven past a neighbor’s house and seen all the years of bikes in the garage? It’s kind of like passing by a window full of kittens, or seeing the structures kids have built in a sandbox. It’s hard not to think with nostalgia of your first bike, of how it felt making those first turns and cruising over to your friends’ house, freed finally from the need to ask your mom or dad for yet another ride, freed from waiting for what seemed like hours for that ride. For a child, a bike represents a sense of freedom. Being able to ride a bike, even as a toddler, opens up the possibilities for all sorts of adventures and exploration that was not previously possible on two feet. For a parent, buying that first bike can be a little scary.

Having a few toddler bikes in your garage will give you a little jolt of happiness every time you pass by. You’ll know that all is right in the world, now that you have a few very time-sensitive (it’s astounding how fast these kids grow up!) pieces of your kid’s childhood sitting next to your family-size sedan in the garage. Seeing those guys learn how to ride and pedal around on these things is going to be one of the major memories you have of them, and years later, when they’re in college and you’re finally clearing out all of the toys they’ve used throughout their childhood, you’ll come across these bikes, now faded and scratched and dented, and you’ll think back on the day you finally decided to get the first one. A little bicycle is the perfect gift for kids, too!

When you are going about buying a toddler bike, think about what will make your kid happiest. Do they want a certain color? Does your little girl want a Spiderman bike because she’s obsessed with this particular superhero? Does your little boy, for whatever reason, insist on bright pink and purple streamers with a doll carrier? Go with it. We've moved past the days of having specific 'bikes for boys' or 'bikes for girls'. A bike can be a wonderful way for your child to start expressing his or her personality, and it can be exciting to see what they choose. And the options for customization are endless. Ps. Teenage mutant ninja turtles are back in style!

A bike does so many things for a child. Learning to ride helps with coordination (developing their proprioception as well, their ability to perceive where their body is exactly in space, which will come in handy later for a wide variety of sports), their sense of balance, and their ability to navigate and recognize where they are. It strengthens their legs. It gets them away from the TV screen and sends them outside. It gets them in the habit of wanting to go outside, and allows them to feel more in charge of where they are and how they got there. What’s not to love? Of course, there may be the occasional skinned knee, but toddler bikes will generally give them the skills they need, in terms of balance and steering, to make injuries less likely down the line. With your kids and their toddler bikes, you can now roam the neighborhood a bit more before their legs get tired. You can cruise through the park, or around a friend’s yard. You can go on morning rides before breakfast. The options are endless. And they’re a great activity for those who will go on to play sports in school like basketball, soccer, tennis, swimming, or gymnastics, as the sense of balance, for instance, they develop can be applied to each of these. It also teaches children how to learn a new skill and how to improve. They remember that they had to practice for a long time before they could ride around easily, which is a satisfying and rewarding experience. And when they’re trying to learn to swim, for instance, you can remind them how hard riding their bike was for them at first, and how they practiced often and soon could cruise around without any help.

We like the bikes with heroes or cartoons on them. There are:

Spiderman Bikes

Ninja Turtle Bikes

Princess Bikes

Unicorn Bikes

Batman Bikes

There are bikes with streamers. There are bells you can add onto the bikes (be careful though, as these can get quite annoying). There are big-wheel bikes, and bikes with baskets. How to choose? It can be a little overwhelming, having so many options out there. We recommend taking your time to decide, and letting your toddler be a part of the process. Some people like to do the research first, and then to give their child two or three options.

Even if you’re buying a bike online, we recommend checking a few out in person as well, to give you a feel for what the bikes look like, and so that you can speak with a sales person to ask any questions, if you have any. You’ll want to make sure, of course, that you’re buying a bike that’s a good fit for your child. We’ve all ridden bikes that haven’t quite fit us, that were too tall or too short. It’s not the most comfortable experience, and it makes it harder to ride with good technique. Take the time to make sure that your child will enjoy sitting on the seat and can reach the ground or pedals without having to stretch or bend their legs too much.

It’s sometimes fun to watch a few videos online of other children biking, to inspire your kid to learn. If they’re growing frustrated, telling them about how you learned to ride can also be good. And remember, children learn in different ways. Some may want to see you ride your bike and watch you brake, pedal, and steer, so that they can imitate you. Others may want to listen to your instructions on what to do and when to do it. Others who learn by doing may not want to listen or watch at all, but rather just get on the bike and figure it out themselves. Good luck!​

There’s just something magical about a kid’s birthday. The themes, the party favors, the excitement they feel in the week leading up to their birthday. It’s not often that you get to see your child interacting with all of his or her friends. Though stressful sometimes, you have to admit it’s pretty cute.

You only get so many of these before the kid is telling you she wants to spend her birthday with her friends, that she doesn’t even want you to make her a cake because she’s gluten-free anyway. Now is the time to truly savor your kid’s birthday, to make it special. We still remember a few of our first birthdays, and these memories are some of the best we have. The beloved strider bike is a fantastic option for the kiddos. They’ll always remember their first bike (especially if you don’t get around to selling it until they’re in college). Buying online is a great way to ensure that the item ships within a certain amount of business days. Just be sure to check the shipping rates.

Birthdays are a great occasion for buying your child a bike. You’re celebrating a stage in their life, and a new bike is a wonderful way to show them that they’re growing older and ready to take on new challenges. Biking is such a good way to stay health, to commute without using fossil fuels, to have fun, and to break out of your comfort zone. Providing a way for your kids to start biking young helps build muscle memory and technical skill, creating a foundation that they’ll use their whole lives. A bike can be a great source of independence for middle and high schoolers, as it’s the first way they start getting around by themselves. You could even make a bicycle-themed cake!

What is a strider bike, exactly? Well, these are small bikes that help your child develop the skills she needs to move toward a pedal bike. They help improve balance and steering, without the added complexity of pedaling. The bikes are often quite adjustable, so that the bike can, in a sense, grow with your child. And they’re usually pretty lightweight and simple to toss in the car for day at your favorite park or at grandma’s house. You can walk your bike while standing, or you can sit down and push your feet on the ground. After your child gets used to this feeling, he or she will begin to cruise while lifting their feet in the air. People love how these bikes teach kids to do something called counter steering, which is when, to turn sharply, you quickly steer for a moment in the opposite direction (like if you’re trying to make a sharp turn in a large truck). These people think that training wheels often can slow kids’ learning by giving them bad habits that are hard to get rid of later.

This kind of training bike has been around since 1817. It was first made by a man named Karl Draise. He called it the Dandy Horse. Over the years, a large variety of these bikes were made. Some were fairly simple, crafted from wood. Others look much like a normal bike, except of course that they don’t have pedals.

We recommend buying a bike when your children are around the 18-month mark. Then, when they’re four or even five, you can get them on a pedal bike.

Strider bikes are popular in other countries, especially in Europe. Some parents prefer them to training wheels and use them in place of the training wheels, as they teach the balance your kids need. Other parents use a strider bike and then also use training wheels. It all depends on the kid. For many children, it’s great to grow more and more confident and comfortable on this bike before trying to pedal. Plus, you can learn how to ride on the road, how to move around or over obstacles like cracks in the sidewalk, how to steer and stop, and how to balance, without worrying about falling and getting hurt.

Another great benefit of strider bikes is that it helps bring you closer to your child in a way that creates much less stress than when they’re learning to balance on a pedal bike. If any of you have tried to teach someone to ride a bike by running alongside the bike, helping balance, and then letting go, you know what we’re talking about. Because they’ll already be able to balance somewhat, they’ll be able to focus on pedaling when the time is right.

A few factors people like to consider when doing their homework about these bikes:

Based on these factors, here are just a few of our favorite strider bikes to get you started. Whether you opt to buy a bike online or want to go to a store and check them out first is up to you. We like the ease of ordering online. Check out the comments to see what other users thought of these bikes.

Balance Running Bike

Great for a wide variety of ages, from 12 months to 5 years.​

Too-Too Balance Bike

Only weighs 8 pounds, and comes in some cute colors!​

Ace of Play Balance Bike

Affordable and durable

And, our favorite, the Cruzee Balance Bike: This bike is incredibly light (4.4 pounds), comes in a ton of colors, and is comfortable to ride. Users love the high quality of the tires and how sturdy this one is. Plus, it’s light enough for your toddler to put it back in the garage all by herself! Easy to assemble, as well. Does your toddler or your friend's toddler already have a strider bike? There are plenty of graphic tees, water bottles, or kids style "workout clothes" that your little sports fan can wear while cycling.​

Buying a bike rack can be difficult. There are a lot of options when it comes to what kind of rack you choose, depending on what type of vehicle you own, what type of bicycle you’ve got, and how often you’ll be using it. We love bike racks that are sturdy (ie they won’t fall off), won’t damage our vehicles, lock (so that our bikes aren’t stolen, like our friend’s was at a cover band for the Grateful Dead), and are simple to affix the bikes to. If you're involved in a triathlon, you may need a specific triathlon bike rack. We also like a good affordable rack, though some of us who will be using them a lot and who have heavy mountain bikes prefer to pay top dollar for something that will last. Another consideration is how far you’ll be traveling with your bike. If you’re on a cross-country road trip, you might want a sturdier option than if someone simply drives an hour out of town to bike a few trails on the weekend. We’ve invested in a few awful bike racks over time, and we want to make sure you don’t do the same.

When you’re starting to think about making the commitment and finally purchasing that rack you’ve been eyeing for months now, we recommend you do some research online first. If you’re reading this, you’re likely already on the right path. We also advise you go into your neighborhood bike shop so that you can look at a few bike racks in person and develop a relationship with the shop. Even if you do decide to purchase the rack online, it never hurts to talk to someone face-to-face, and you can always stock up on your gels and other accessories in the store, or purchase a few maps of the local biking trails. There are also often great community bike rides as well as bike tuning clinics, where they teach you everything you need to know about that wheeled thing you’ve been cruising around on. Or, perhaps you already know all the trails and how to keep your bike in top shape, and you just want to meet a few new friends to tackle all the gnarliest trails within a five-hour radius. Either way, it’s good to support a local business and to make an in-person connection for bike gear. For big purchases, online, is often the most convenient way to get the best deal and to make sure you’re getting the exact model you want.

Here are a few different options:

1. The Durability

You’ll want a rack that keeps working for years to come. Some cheaper models can be flimsy, or can do some serious damage to your car. Others have straps that tend to break after a year or two, or may end up holding your bike in such a way that it bumps around a lot as you’re driving. Certain bike racks are best for the city, while others are made for being jostled as you drive down those rough roads in search of the most epic trails.

2. The Materials

How sturdy are they? How heavy?

3. The Positioning on Your Car

A roof rack can work well if you want to be able to open your hatch, or if you want to be able to carry the whole crew’s bikes on the roof. A bike storage rack might be exactly what you need. However, some of us (ahem, the short ones), may find it a little tough to always be hauling your bike overhead to place it on the car rack. And if you’re road tripping out of your car from track to track, you might want to consider that you won’t want to remove your bike from your hatch every time you want to open it (though, some of us have been known to remove the rack with the bikes still on it from our cars out of sheer laziness).

4. The Price

Your budget will dictate what kind of bike racks you’ll be comparing. We’d recommend you consider how much you spent on your bike, and that you buy a rack commensurate with this purchase. If you have a bike you’d hate to see destroyed or stolen, it would be well worth your time to shell out a little extra cash to make sure it arrives at your destination safely.

5. The Style

Roof rack, storage rack, car rack, hitch mount, tray style, arm style…there are a few different types to choose from. And who doesn’t want a sweet-looking rack that makes us look like a badass? Some racks look better than others, and so this is an important component of the buying process for some. For others, a cheap, bomber thrift store purchase that’s scratched and has, in a previous life, been spray-painted bright pink, may just do the trick. We don’t judge.

In the end, there’s no specific brand of bike rack that’s best. It all depends on what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend. For the record, though, we’d recommend you spend a little more than you’d planned to make sure that your precious bike stays safe and unharmed. There’s nothing worse than returning to your vehicle after a long night of enjoying a Grateful Dead cover band, as our dear friend did, and seeing an empty, sawed-through rack on his car.

Our picks for the top bike storage bike racks out there are:

1. Saris Bones

2. Inno Velo Gripper

3. The Kuat Trio

In the end, a bike rack changes your life. No more stuffing your bike into your car, or taking the wheel off, or asking that one friend with a truck to drive. Those days are over!​

Arguably one of the best things about biking is customizing your bike with tons of neat accessories. A plain bike, whether it be a road bike or mountain bike, is like a blank canvas. Part of what’s so wonderful about owning a bike is being able to show your personality by choosing the gear that goes along with it. That perfect bike accessory can make all the difference. It’s also extremely satisfying to find the most practical, lightweight, interesting items around to affix to your bike or to wear yourself.

Finding a good, useful accessory is one of the greater parts of life; it’s akin to (for those of you who have played Zelda) the feeling of encountering a treasure box and hearing the sound it makes when it opens. For those of you who haven’t played Zelda, you should stop what you’re doing and buy an N64 and the Ocarina of Time game right now.

One thing about bikers is, they have a certain look about them. You can tell if a biker walks into the room by the little cap with the words on the flip-up brim, the tight outfit, or the rolled up pant leg. Bikers have style. And they streamline their outfits, their electronics, and their shoes so that they go well with a biking lifestyle. Whether you bike for exercise, work, fun, or as a method of commuting, you can always benefit from a good accessory. And if you don’t bike everywhere yet, these are a great inspiration for those wanting to get into the sport.

So, without further ado and with no more “faffing around,” as the British say, here are our top 5 (and boy, was it tough to choose only five) bike accessories:

5. Turn-Signal Cycling Glove

This amazing glove is the perfect illustration of marrying style and practicality. Made by Zackees, these gloves both keep your hands warm and help you cycle safely. They’re made right here in the US. A Google engineer, no doubt a person commuting by bike to those fantastic Google offices (with secret doors and ice cream trucks that have been transported to one of the top floors), came up with the idea. We like these because it’s when you’re turning that you’re often putting yourself in the most danger; drivers aren’t necessarily paying much attention to cyclists (depending of course on where you live), and it can be tough for them to see a raised hand in the early mornings when they’ve just woken up or in the evenings when they’re coming home, maybe, after a long day of work.

A pair of turn-signal gloves is a great investment, because they show you’re serious about your safety. They also make a good gift for the cyclists in your family, and they will probably help our moms feel better us being out on the road. Who wouldn’t want that? Plus, they add to your overall visibility on the road, and can be used to indicate a downed cyclist or to attract roadside help in a pinch. They cost just under a hundred dollars.

4. Litelok

Next on our list is something a little more exciting, but also useful: a lock. We’ve chosen this one for its versatility and for its lightweight nature. It’s both light and incredibly strong. The Litelok was made by a man named Neil Barron, who graduated from the Royal College of Art and London and was previously an Aeronautical Engineer.

Now, Barron focuses on industrial design. He came up with the Litelok be-cause he was sick and tired of carrying around heavy bike locks, but he’d also had more than one bike stolen in his home city of London. The lock weighs just over 2 pounds, and it’s simple to put on your bike thanks to its pliable strap!

3. Flair

This item is nothing specific. We recommend thinking long and hard about your personality, then wan-dering through a thrift shop on your day off and selecting a few pieces that will make you happy every time you look at your bike. Many people used cards as kids, for instance, and stuck them in the spokes. We’ve seen colorful horns, ribbons, interesting tape on the handles, and even fun paint jobs. In Brooklyn we’ve seen entire sets of pronghorn antlers attached to bikes for an ominous, ride-to-the-death type style. Whatever it is that makes you smile, attach it to your bike, so that your friends know when you’ve parked it outside a coffee shop or bar and can come inside to say hi. These also could help prevent someone from stealing your bike, if they’re permanently attached.

Some people may prefer a sleek, professional look, especially if they’re biking to work or to a meeting with a client. If you are one of these, then you might prefer to add a gorgeous leather bike seat or nice custom handlebars or a chrome water-bottle holder instead of anything flashy.

Make sure, of course, when applying them, that they don’t get in the way of your riding!

2. Multi-Purpose Bike Tool

These are essential. Whether you’re heading to work (or happy hour) or on a long day tour of the countryside, you’ll want to make sure you have one of these around in case your bike breaks down. They’re affordable and versatile, and they’ll save you a long weight for a ride if you break down in a remote area.

1. A Biking App

Our top pick for biking accessories in 2017 is an app that turns biking into a game. The Cyclemeter is our favorite. It works for cycling and mountain biking as well as running. It uses GPS to map your rides, create stats charts, and help make your biking experience more fun.

It was so hard for us to name just five! Other accessories on our list included paniers, a good trailer, re-flective socks, a DIY package that allows you to convert any shoe into a cycling shoe, and, finally, a device called The Atom (Siva Cycle) that lets you charge your electronics while you ride.​