First day on Strider - all by myself!

This cute tike – only 1 1/2 yrs old, came to tryout a Strider Prebike today at our balance bike demo at Cafe Au Play in Portland, OR.

After just a few tries, he was off on his own,  and even managed to learn how to turn and stay on his feet – no help!    He loved it so much he kept practicing (in the rain!) for almost a half an hour.     Pretty soon, he decided to take it up a few notches and tried a few tricks including picking up the front wheel, riding through puddles, and giving it a bit of a run!

After only a short time on the Strider, 18 month old gives it a run!

You’d never know such a little guy could learn this in such a short time, unless you saw it yourself!    The Strider Prebike is  especially  lightweight and easy to manage, and most kids 18 months and older can manage the bike completely on their own.  Even on this uneven gravel,  this young child could manage the bike and keep it upright.  You’ll  never see a tricycle going as fast as a balance bike on gravel!

Balance bikes are not only fun for kids, but are a great means for transportation (better than sitting in the stroller!) and at the same time teach balance and coordination.  Most kids starting a balance bike by age 2 or 3 are pedal biking without training wheels by (or before) their 4th bday.

9 year old on Go Glider. 53" tall

It’s not uncommon these days to find grade school kids who are not yet riding a pedal bike without training wheels.

Why?  One reason  may be there are more families where both parents are working and kids have less free time playing outdoors during daylight hours.

More of our free time is spent in scheduled activities and sports than ever before.    Also, kids living in bigger cities have fewer safe options to ride bikes in their neighborhood due to high volume traffic and laws around riding on sidewalks.

Older kids tend to be more fearful (than the little guys) of trying to learn to ride a bike, possibly due to embarrassment of falling,  fear of falling, and the higher difficulty of learning on a bigger and heavier bikes.

Thanks to the Glide Bike Company,  learning to ride a bike after 5 years old has become easier by using their 16″ Go Glider Balance bike.  This bike has 16″ wheels and has many features of a pedal bike including 5  fun colors,  foot pegs to use while gliding,  a handbrake,  and a kickstand.

New Go Glider color! Green!

The Glide bike is great for kids over 44″ tall with an inseam of at least 18.5″ or greater for the best starting fit.   Kids smaller than this should go with the Mini Glider version.    Learning to ride is a snap.  You simply walk the bike while sitting on the seat.  After getting comfortable, you can go faster or down a small incline while picking up your feet slightly.    Once a child is able to glide with their feet on the pegs, they are ready for a pedal bike (though they may not want to give up their balance bike yet!)

Check out Glide Bike owner Ed Mondello as he teaches several kids and an adult how to ride a bike on one of their Learn to Ride events:

Did you see that cool adult balance bike near the end of the video?

Yep – that’s Glide Bikes newest Super Glider for adults or older youth ages 11 and older (around 5″3″ and taller). What’s so great about the Super Glider is that it has many uses.

It’s a foldable bike to use while travelling.  You can also add on pedals/chain for regular pedal biking when you are ready (this is included).    The pedals can actually be added and folded back into the bike at any time so you can transition back and forth from balance bike mode to Pedal bike mode or use it for several different riders.

Super Glider Balance Bikes for adults or older youth 10+ yrs.

The Glide Bikes continues to expand it’s line of products and recently added Orange and Green to their Go Glider line up,  and the mini gliders for kids 3 -5 yrs will come in the additional colors as well in late Spring.

So if you are frustrated at seeing your child struggle with training wheels or they are hesitant to learn to ride a bike, consider the 16″ Go Glider or Super glider for older youth to give them a secure and comfortable start.   It will be worth the investment when you see your child quickly and confidently begin pedal biking within a matter of weeks to months.

And trust us when we say, you will NOT be tossing that Go Glider out once they learn to pedal bike!   We have  older kids play on the 16″  glider bikes long after mastering a pedal bike!   Same goes with the little kids age 5 and under.  Riding a balance bike is simply fun and easy and can be easily done even inside a basement or garage during poor weather, or on the sidewalk in the neighborhood.   Because a balance bike is easily controlled with your feet,  it is safer and easier for kids to manage on sidewalks than a pedal bike.

Check out the selection of Glide Bikes at Kids Balance Bike Store

12 month old climbs on Strider Bike

This adorable little girl, just turned one, happen to be at Kids Balance Bikes demo ride at Cafe Au Play yesterday.   She was instantly attracted to the bikes and kept toddling over to them and tried to climb on.   Being only 12 months old , she is still too small to be an “independent” Strider rider,  but did she care about that?

No way!   She wanted to get on!

Well her persistence paid off and mom finally let her get on and give it a ride.   I think I see a Strider Prebike in this girls future!   She’s been invited back to our weekly demo rides and I think she will be climbing into the  stroller next Tuesday about 9am to head on over!

The Strider Prebike is great for kids with an 11″ inseam up to 5 years old!   Some tall kids reach this leg length by 15 months and some take until 20-22 months old.   Legs grow fast between 1 and 2 years old, and we have never had a turning 2 year old not fit on the Strider bike, the littlest starting range and lightest of all balance bikes.

Read more  about the Strider Prebike including their new BMX program at our new Balance Bike Info site,  now under development.

The answer is no!  Most people don’t realize the vast difference between 12″ balance bike sizing.    The biggest variation is the starting seat height.  The next is the handlebar range.  These things make a big difference at the starting point of your child’s balance bike experience!   I hear  parents disgard this advise because they have their eye on a specific bike.    Then they are frustrated when it arrives and doesn’t fit right away.  One of the most common bikes this happens on is the Skuut.    The starting seat range is 13.5″ which most kids don’t reach the minimum 14″ inseam range until 2 1/2 or 3 years old.    Nothing says it better than a picture.  Here is the Skuut balance bike  next to the Strider Prebike at the lowest settings (11″ seat range) and the Skuut at the lowest seat range:

Skuut and Strider balance bike starting seat height

Here is another picture of one of our medium balance bikes the Mini Glider – which has a wider seat range than the Skuut, but a higher handlebar starting height.  This is why the Mini Glider is a great choice for older toddlers ages 3 and 4 years old who need more arm room.

But wait!  Don’t think the Strider Prebike balance bike is too tiny for your child!  It has one of the widest ranges of adjustments for balance bikes.  Here is what it looks like with the handlebars up and the original seat at the highest range.  Strider Sports also has an XL seat post to bring it a few inches higher.

Here is a great picture of the age range the Strider Prebike Balance bike can handle:  I’m guessing this is a 2 year old and a 4 1/2 year old riding together at one of the many Strider races held around the US.

The important thing to remember in choosing a balance bike is to check out the seat range first, then the handlebar range. Pay attention to photos that may be available of younger and older kids on the bikes to get a feel of how your child will fit into this range.   Remember the most important fun thing about giving your child a balance bike as a present is that they can use it right away!    Nothing spoils the surprise more than the bike not fitting and having to wait or send it back.

Check out “what bike is best” at Kids Balance Bikes online store or feel free to call us to discuss sizing options for your child if you are not sure at 503-709-8782!   There is the right size bike out there for your child and more coming out on the market every year!  2012 is going to awesome for balance bike options!

The Strider Prebike, one of the most popular balance bikes on the market, has just expanded to offer super  fun options including choosing your own colored wheels,  grips, and seat!   Create a bike exactly to your liking!  Choose your favorite sport team colors, or your child’s 2 or 3 favorite colors.  Mix and match and make it your own!   Here are a few examples of what people are creating!   Go to Kids Balance Bikes website and use our new tool to mix and match your strider parts to see what your Strider balance bike could look like!   CUSTOM STRIDER website page.

Here are the accessories to choose from.   Wheels, grips and seats are purchased separately.   All bikes come standard with black wheels, grips and standard seat and can be changed out with your new colors:

So you have an older toddler who already has a Strider and is ready for pneumatic (air) tires?  Strider has their own Pneumatic air tires that are awesome and FAST!  They do add weight to the ultra light Strider bike and are best for kids ages 3 and up.

Also coming in the next few weeks from Strider Sports is an all new decked out model called the ST3 which comes standard with quick releases for the handlebars and seat, smaller seat for the younger kids ages 18months-3 years,  smaller grips for little hands, and handlebar pad.  Quite impressive!  If your child is turning 3 or younger, this is the model to buy!  Here is a sneek preview!:

Come visit us at Kids Balance Bikes for more pictures and to purchase your personally designed Strider bike for the Holidays!

Are you thinking you’ve lost the chance for your child to learn on a balance bike now that summer is over and winter is looming?    Not so!   Many children – including my own have used their balance bikes year round, even in the rain and snow!   Kids need to get out and burn energy and get exercise and there’s is no easier way then on two wheels!  Check out these kids on balance bikes in the winter!    Also, many kids (and parents) take advantage of basement areas and garages to let kids have some fun on their balance bikes during the bad weather.  We built an obstacle course in our basement one winter and my son rode around it for hours while we were snowed in.   So don’t wait!   By Spring weather, your child could be an “expert” rider and ready to zoom right out the door back into the sunshine – or possibly even ready for their first pedal bike!

This balance bike and trike from Wishbone is the newest addition to Kids Balance Bikes and we want to write to brag about it!   This is probably the most versatile wooden balance bike on the market and great quality with a great price.  Your child can start at any age – from the time they can walk and up to 5 years old.  This bike is capable of 3 positions -  trike mode, smaller balance bike mode (with 3 settings) and larger balance bike mode (with 3 settings).   This means it is a great investment to pass down to younger siblings as well!    This is what it looks like in different size pics:

With pnuematic air tires, you can ensure a smooth ride and wishbone puts careful attention to quality workmanship so your bike lasts!

What is also cool, is that wishbone offers special addition models with fun designs.

2010 model Koru which touts  an iconic symbol used in Maori art to represent new life, new beginnings, peace and hope for the future.

Made from kiln dried, preservative free plantation birch and eucalyptus, non toxic dyes, orangic cotton, wheels from 60% recycled plastics as well as recycled packaging, this bike is eco friendly and safe for your growing child!    Also light weight-  only 8.4 pounds  in balance bike mode, and the trike mode 12 pounds which allows for great stability for the young toddler.

What is also fun about the wishbone wooden balance bike and trike is that coming out soon are ways to personalize your bike with difference color durable seat pads and stickers (flowers or flames packs) :

Purchase your wishbone bike and accessories for the holidays now at www.kidsbalancebikes.com!

This young girl is 4 1/2 yrs old and 42 inches tall and loves her Skuut!

The metal skuut has been discontinued by the company Diggin Active in mid 2011.   You can find a similar model through PotteryBarn kids online store – though they may also be discontinuing after this year.   A few metal Skuuts can still be found on  toysrus.com or ebay.    Similar sized bike coming in April 2012 will be the Kinderbike Morph.  See our store to get on the Notify list!

Skuut has come out with a new balance bike that is metal and great for the older preschoolers!   It is one of the largest 12 inch balance bikes out there almost the exact size of a 12 inch pedal bike – which makes it perfect for the 4 and 5 yr olds who need alittle confidence and balancing skills before hoping on a pedal bike (or those really tall 3 yr olds!).    What’s nice about this bike is the real feel of a bike with the pneumatic air tires and upright handlebars.   It comes with a handbrake and a free bell.

One thing to remember before buying the Skuut is to make sure it will fit your child out of the box!  The starting seat height is 16 inches from the ground and goes up to around 19.5 inches.

Here are some more pics of the metal Skuut!

This boy is 4 yrs old and 40 inches tall

Metal Skuut next to a 12 inch pedal bike

Simon is finally getting REALLY crazy about his pedal bike!  He is now 4 1/2 yrs old.     He could ride this pedal bike at 3 1/2 yrs old, but being very small for his age, he could hardly touch the ground with his tippy toes to start and stop so we put it away for one more year.   Early this Summer, we carted it to the school yard, he hopped on and off he went!  No coaching, no tears, no falls.     How could this be so easy?    He has been riding a Strider Balance Bike (Prebike) for 2 years now.   He still loves to ride his strider – all around the garage, up and down the driveway – it’s such a fun and a quick and easy thrill!    It’s hard to tell when he’ll be ready to retire his strider.

Over the weekend,  less than 2 weeks after starting to ride his bike, we rode in the Portland Sunday Parkways – about a 4 mile loop through North Portland streets which are completely blocked off from traffic, with parties and bands and booths with food and games.  What fun!   Portland has this event 4 times every summer in different parts of town and many thousands of adults and kids participate.

Here is a look back at Simon on his balance bike:

Age 2... still in diapers

dare devil down hills age 2

keeping up with big brother on the dirt trails

Trying out the mini glider at the skate park age 3 1/2

Age 4, snow can't stop Simon!

We now have the Portland Biking book out for regular browsing as Simon, big brother age 7 and mom get ready for a summer of biking.   We already hit one page from the book last Sunday – a large local park near a lake with lots of paths and fun things to do.  I snapped this cute picture of our bikes together.      We are now on a new phase of biking which could never have been possible so soon without our experience with a balance bike.

Our bikes parked on our first all pedal bike outing

Best friends Simon and Stella on their Strider and Mini Glider balance bikes for a special trip

These two preschoolers, both age 4, went for a 15 block  ride (each way!) to the ice cream shop yesterday for a yummy treat!   Lots of shoppers were out on the sidewalks, people eating at cafes,  window shopping and didn’t seem to mind the two tikes  zipping politely around everyone as they headed for their destination.

Traveling by balance bike is sure a fun and easy way to get from point A to B!   These kids would never have walked 30 blocks without a complaint – even for ice cream!   I had to walk at a fast clip to keep up with them – what a great way for alittle exercise!

I was sure to set up the rules of stopping at the end of each block so we could all cross the street at the same time.  Anyone who broke the rule would have to walk holding mom’s hand while mom carried the ultra light bike…. however no one broke the rule      Younger kids may need more guidance and closer supervision while riding on a city sidewalk.

What a fun outing!  We will definitely be doing it again!