Category Archives for Balance Bike Advice

Balance Bike For Kids: A Few Tips

Learning how to ride a bicycle can be a frustrating process for both child and parent. However, a bike designed for toddlers and children up to 5 years of age will take away that frustration from learning the essentials of bike riding.

Training bicycles are effective since they concentrate on enhancing a kid’s coordination, motor skills and balance. You will see that transitioning from a training bike to a regular one will be easier for kids who used the former.

The balance bike is pretty much a simple, no-fuss bike that is made minus certain bike parts like chains, pedals and even training wheels, which are usually parts of a traditional bicycle. Its minimal design makes them the better option for teaching kids on how to ride a bike with two wheels.

Compared with bicycle that has training wheels or tricycles, the balance bike will encourage children to concentrate on their balance and coordination. Balance and coordination can be learned quickly due to this set-up. This allows kids to carry on making progress, minus the frustration.

As the kid eventually learns how to ride a balance bike properly, he or she will spend more time riding it, which not only increases the skill but also improves fitness.

A balance bike for kids is an excellent first bicycle since it includes features that guarantee the rider’s safety and comfort. They also come in a wide variety of colors and styles so you will not be hard-pressed finding one that will suit your kid or a model that they will love best as well.

While balance bikes are recommended, parents need to know some of the essential information prior to shopping the balance bike. These suggestions included will lend you a hand in assisting your kid when it comes to learning bike basics.

• Begin by purchasing the appropriate protective gear required for your kid. Knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet are always recommended. If your kid seems tense about riding a bike, you can also provide him or her with bike gloves.

• Guarantee that the training location has a smooth, even ground surface so your child will not have a hard time acquainting himself with the workings of the bicycle. If you want your kid to learn coasting, you can also take him to a moderate hill and practice biking there.

• Adjust the bike seat to a lower position that will suit and prove to be comfortable for the kid. It is suggested that the seat is positioned at a level where the feet can stay flat on the ground surface and provide good comfort for the kid over the course of the ride.

• Indicate lanes with a road chalk so that the kid will be guided on where to lead the bike.

• Allow the child to push alongside the ground by means of his or her feet on the lanes prior to allowing them to coast with their feet up.

• If the kid is capable of managing his or her balance on the bicycle, you can now bring in the pedals. Now that the child has learned how to manage his balancing style, you will notice that it will be easier for them to get on the bike and just pedal away. However, purchase a pedal bicycle that is appropriate for your kid so they will still feel comfortable and will not have any problems pedaling. Parents might also need to prop the seat back until the kid can deal with both balancing and pedaling simultaneously. Be patient and soon enough your kid will be biking effortlessly without any assistance from you.

Balance bikes can be made with steel, aluminum and even wooden material. Before buying one, you have to take into account all advantages and setbacks of each balance bike that you have set your sights on.

Parents must fasten pedals on the balance bicycle as soon as balance training is accomplished. This will save you money compared to purchasing a brand new bicycle with pedals.

Choosing Quality Balance Bikes for Your Kid

Balance bikes are getting their fair share of coverage. Parents are now purchasing this kind of bicycle for their children since it offers kids the easiest and safest manner to learn the essentials of bike riding.

These days you will notice that the bicycle industry is swarming with different balance bikes models, so choosing one that will perfectly complement and meet the parent’s and kid’s needs is not an easy task. However, having enough knowledge about the item will make your buying decisions easier, thus here are some tips on how to choose a balance bike for your child.

Mind the frame of the bike

When it comes to the frames, what you choose will always depend on your preference. First, you have to take into account the varying kinds of frames that balance bikes offer. There are available wooden and metal frame models in the market today.

Steel or metal frames are deemed by many as they are more stable and durable material for the bike. The finish on the steel is more hardwearing compared to wood models, thus you will get more service from it.

Steel models also provide handlebar adjustments so kids of varying ages can easily manage the bike. Steel models are often more expensive compared to wooden models though.

People purchase wooden models due to it being the more environmentally-friendly bike. If the bike has been damaged, you can throw the bike away and it will not harm the environment. The only components that you have to manage are its rubber handlebar grips and the wheels.

Consider the steering style

There are balance bikes that feature handlebars with the capability of rotating around 360 degrees, which can be complicated for toddler riders. Other models include steering limiters which only facilitates the handlebars to spin around 40-40 degrees in whichever direction.

However, when it comes to models with limited steering, kids might feel a bit hampered due to the feature. Hence, you have to include this factor when looking for a balance bike.

Look for models with adjustable seat heights

The majority of steel or metal frame balance bikes make use of the standard seat post so one can modify it to a height that will suit the kid. Wood models have a seat that fine-tunes with preset stops so you can get a nearly accurate fix.

It is recommended that you get one with adjustable seats; that way, as your toddler grows, he or she can still use the bike for practice for a few years until they are ready for a bigger kiddie bike.

Take note of the wheels design

Several models feature conventional metal rims that have spokes while some have nylon mag-style wheels. Others also feature a wheel design that is mainly composed of wooden material.

Models with mag-style wheels or spokes run the risk of having the rider’s foot or hand getting caught and likely injured when the wheel is moving. A solid wheel design will prevent this from happening due to the smaller gap where the air valve stem is located.

Take the price into consideration

This is important since not all of us can afford a high-end model. Balance bikes come in a wider variety of prices; there are affordable ones as well as more expensive models too. The costlier models are often made with prime durable materials and have features that are advanced and will make riding easier and more manageable for the toddler.

However, you have to keep in mind not to go for the cheaper ones though because it might be unsafe for your kid. Do some research and look for the difference in pricing.

It is suggested that you spend a bit more on quality bikes that have safety features and are well-designed so you can guarantee that your kids will be out of harm’s way as they learn how to use the balance bike.

You can also refer to reviews and read customer opinions on the bikes they have purchased for additional reference. Safety should always be your main priority when it comes to balance bikes, thus you should always opt for quality models.