Choosing a balance bike, advice from an expert!

Choosing a first bike can feel daunting. There is so much information out there to work through, and once you’ve decided what type and brand you’re going for, you have to start making decisions about size, too!  

We asked Karen Wood, balance bike expert and co-owner of Kidvelo® Bikes, to share some advice on choosing the right balance bike for your child...  

Choose one that fits your child and that is light enough for them to handle.  

Size: Unlike a bike with pedals, feet will be on the floor. Ignore wheel and frame size, the bit that matters is whether they can reach the floor when sitting on the seat. Check the minimum seat height. Always check the inseam of your child.

Don’t rely on age indicators given by manufacturers alone. Some brands will market their bikes for toddlers, but the seat starts at 34cm upwards so they won’t fit for the youngest kids. A good starting point is around the 30cm mark. 

Adjustability: You need the bike to grow with your child. Kids tend to ride their balance bikes up to the age of 5. Sure, they can probably transition to a pedal bike before this, but as pedal bikes are heavier, the child often opts for their balance bike as it is easier.  

I often find they overlap, wanting their balance bike one day, a pedal bike the next. That is fine. Just encourage them on either.    

Avoid bikes that don’t tell you the lowest and highest seat positions, as you will want a few years’ use out of the bike. Most metal bikes have the advantage here, as wooden bikes rely on 3-4 pre-drilled positions, so adjustability is poor.   

Weight of bike: If a bike won’t state its weight, then it is probably because it’s too heavy.  

Anything over 3 kg is just too heavy for a child that only weighs a few kilograms. When a heavy bike falls over it scares a child and knocks their confidence. Tassels, steel frames, baskets, flags and mudguards all add up. Aluminium is far better than Steel, as it won’t rust and is lighter.   

Brakes: I am not a fan for the under-4s. I have seen countless children struggle with a front lever system that they either can’t reach, can’t control the force they use to pull them, or worse, take their hands off the handlebars to reach them. If your brakes fail on your bike, then instinct tells you to put your feet down. Toddlers and young children will simply stop with their feet.   

Footrest: Quality balance bikes have them discreetly built into the frame, under the seat and exactly where pedals will be on their next bike.  

As well as teaching balance in the correct position, the child can rest their feet up on it to take the knocks and bumps in their legs. If you have ever gone off a curb with your feet dangling, you won’t do it again as it hurts. It is just the same for advanced balance bike riders. It allows them to put their feet up for longer and coast.   

Tyres: Some cheaper bikes go for foam tyres as they are light and cheap to manufacture. They are great for the first few weeks but they don’t last and are uncomfortable as the child gets heavier. Alloy Rims and pneumatics add cost and weight, but last much longer and give a far smoother ride.  

So, once your researched bike of choice is assembled and ready for the rider, what happens next?

The simple method is to just leave the bike lying around so the child can pick it up and use when they wish. Your child will know what to do. Try not to hold the bike for them, unless they are really young, as the child will figure it out.

Gentle encouragement is all that is needed.   

Read more about why balance bikes are a fantastic way to start learning to ride in our article Why choose a balance bike first? An expert gives their reasons for binning the pedals.

If you’re not sure about investing in a balance bike right away, look for rental services in your area and see if you can try one out before you buy.

Visit the Kidvelo® website to check out their balance bike range.