Summer means there’s more time for your children to be children, including more time to do fun things like ride bicycles. So it’s no surprise that many folks find themselves having to purchase a kid’s bike during summer months. You want to make sure you buy the right bike for your child. Obviously you need to get the right fit, but it goes even beyond that. Here are some things you should consider when shopping for your child’s bike.
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RoyalBaby 12″ BMX Freestyle Bike
RoyalBaby Space 12″ Aluminum Kids BikeSchwinn Girl’s Jasmine Bicycle, 16″, PurpleHot Wheels 16″ Boy’s Bike, Black/Red/OrangeHuffy Star Wars Rey Bike, 18″Kent 20″ Rock Candy Girls BikeX-Games 20″ Boys FS20 Freestyle BicycleMongoose 24″ Girl’s Maxim Full Suspension BicycleTony Hawk 24″ Boy’s 720 Bike, Matte Black
Size
Choose the right size. Childrens bikes are measured by the size of their wheels. If you have a child under the age of 3 or 4, a good place to start could be with a kids tricycle. Once you’ve moved past the tricycle stage, you will find the most common kids bike sizes to be 12, 16, 18, 20, and 24 inches.
To get the proper fit you’ll need to have your child with you. Have him sit on the seat with his hands on the handle bars. If he can place the balls of his feet on the ground then it’s the right size. Go a little further and have him straddle the center bar. If he can have his feet flat on the ground with a 1-inch clearance between the bar and his crotch, then it’s a good fit.
Do not buy an oversized bike for your child to grow into. As tempting as that is to make the bike last a growing child longer, it will make it more difficult to learn how to ride a bike and it becomes a safety issue. A child is not going to be able to handle a bike that is too large.
Schwinn Girl’s Jasmine 16″ Bicycle, WhiteRazor 20″ High Roller BMX/Freestyle BikeHuffy Bicycle 20″ Girls Good Vibrations Bike, Blue
Style and Design
There are different types and styles of bicycles. Popular types include bmx bikes, cruiser bikes, comfort bikes, folding bikes, road bikes, and mountain bikes, amongst others. Consider if the popularity of a style or color is important. Also consider longevity, if your child will outgrow the bike quickly consider if it will be passed down to another. Yet another factor is the handlebars. The size, shape and positioning of certain handlebars could actually decrease the amount of space there is for the rider as well as impact maneuverability. A third factor in design is the step through space. Girls bikes traditionally have a lower step through space. Boys bikes have a bar in the center. If the color doesn’t really matter, be sure to consider which might be easier for your child.
Dynacraft 16 Inch Steel Magna Major Damage BikeRoyalBaby Space 16 Inch Aluminum Bike
Weight
Keep the weight of the bike in mind when you’re buying it. Look for the lightest bike you can find. Keep in mind that things like training wheels, accessories and a few other things don’t add to the weight of the actual bike itself, so compare actual bike only weight instead of the weight of an entire package. The two bikes shown just above are both yellow 16 inch bikes. One is aluminum and one is steel. While they may appear to be similar, the aluminum bike is 6 pounds lighter than the steel bike and that’s with it having hand brakes and a water bottle accessory.
Frame
An average adult should not be able to bend the frame by hand. You also want to check the frame alignment. To do this, stand either in front of the bike or behind the bike and make sure both wheels are on the same plane. Make sure the seat and handlebar bolts are tight and can’t be twisted.
Brakes
One of the most important features on a bike is the ability to stop, so you will want to look for a bike with good brakes. Make sure that you choose the appropriate brakes for your child. There are two types of bike brakes, hand and coaster. Hand brakes are better suited for older children with a stronger grip and larger hands. Therefore you will find most smaller bikes for little children have coaster brakes (on the back wheel, engaged by pedaling backwards). You might find some bikes with both hand and coaster brakes. These are good to have for helping your child get used to the hand brakes.
Wheels
Even though bikes are required to be created so the front wheel won’t fall off even if the nuts on the axle come loose, you still want to test the wheels. To do this, hold the tire and try to wiggle the wheel side to side. You should not feel any movement. Then give the tire a spin. It should spin freely without any stopping or knocking.
Chain
If the bike has a chain then it should also have a chain guard to keep loose shoe laces or other things from getting caught in the chain.
Radio Flyer 34B 10-Inch Red Classic TricycleRoyalBaby CubeTube Unisex bike with training wheelsCritical Cycles Cub No-Pedal Balance BikeNickelodeon Paw Patrol 12″ Bicycle Unisex
Training Wheels
Some bikes come with training wheels, someof which are fixed and some easily removed. Other bikes can easily be fitted with training wheels you purchase separately. Many people worry that a child will become dependent on training wheels. There are ways around this by gradually taking training wheels off. Another option is a kids tricycle, which has three permanent wheels and no training wheels. Balance bikes are also becoming popular. A balance bike is a bike with no pedals or chains. You push with your feet and coast around on them, thereby learning the art of balancing before ever having to pedal. So that might be an option to consider when teaching your child to ride a bike.
Assembly
Most bikes come completely unassembled. You can choose to assemble it yourself or pay the store to put it together for you. Either way you will want to go around and check to make sure all of the bolts are tight and everything is in alignment before sending your child out on his maiden voyage.
Now that you know the most important things to consider when purchasing a child’s bike you’re ready to shop!
Having recently bought another one–always factor in price. Also consider trying on bikes. Many small retailers and many discount department stores carry a wide range so comfort and fit can be checked out. Use common sense and your own personal knowledge of the kid and how/where it will be used. Don’t allow others to pressure you by style, etc.
These are some awesome tips. I am in the process of buying a big boy bike for my grandson who is moving up from a tricycle.
My kids have pretty much outgrown their bikes. I recently got a hybrid bike (cruiser/mountain) and I love it. My oldest wants one like that.
I agree with you. It’s important to take a kid when bike riding. Kids grow up so fast and hard to know what size of bike fits him or her best and features. I do need to purchase a new bike for my son. He out grew his other bike.
We are a few years away from bike buying yet but these are great to know. I honestly would have had no idea where to even begin!
I luckily received two fixed up bikes for my kids that my dad had found and repaired. They will need new bikes when they get bigger though.
As silly and trivial as it sounds, color matters a lot to kids. I had a red bike, I always wanted a pink one. Silly right?
These are some great tips and a nice lineup of bikes to chose from. All these things are important when selecting a bike. Good share
We just upgraded my oldest sons bike at Christmas time. They seem to grow out of everything when they are younger. Wish this post was available last December!