First 'proper' bike for a toddler - recommendations?
Discussion
I know the default answer is 'go to a bike shop' but just now that's not exactly an easy option thus ordering online looks likely.
My little boy is 3 soon, weighs 18.5kg and is 102cm and thus far he's been on a Chilafish balance bike (which was surprisingly good!) and he's pretty competent on it... feet up and will gladly take on a mile loop of the woods.
I think it's time to move on to a proper bike, ie pedals, brakes, pneumatic tyres not only due to his size and ability but his little, light balance bike gets thrown about off road so he's starting to get annoyed and thus his eagerness is starting to fade slightly.
There's no brand desirability and I'd rather skip the stabiliser stage and I'd like something pretty good quality, ideally no steel rims or cheapy parts. I'm fine assembling it myself. He'd like a yellow one but that's not critical.
I think something with a 14" wheel looks plausible (though some online sizing guides are contradictory!) and I don't want anything with plastic dress up bits or fireman styling / themed etc, ideally a BMX style or a mini mountain bike. He rides about off road mostly.
Never ordered online nor do I have much experience of bikes at this level so really just looking for any recommendations be it specific bikes, things to be wary of and also any suggestions where to buy... there's a million and one options out there, hence any real world experience would be grand.
Thanks
My little boy is 3 soon, weighs 18.5kg and is 102cm and thus far he's been on a Chilafish balance bike (which was surprisingly good!) and he's pretty competent on it... feet up and will gladly take on a mile loop of the woods.
I think it's time to move on to a proper bike, ie pedals, brakes, pneumatic tyres not only due to his size and ability but his little, light balance bike gets thrown about off road so he's starting to get annoyed and thus his eagerness is starting to fade slightly.
There's no brand desirability and I'd rather skip the stabiliser stage and I'd like something pretty good quality, ideally no steel rims or cheapy parts. I'm fine assembling it myself. He'd like a yellow one but that's not critical.
I think something with a 14" wheel looks plausible (though some online sizing guides are contradictory!) and I don't want anything with plastic dress up bits or fireman styling / themed etc, ideally a BMX style or a mini mountain bike. He rides about off road mostly.
Never ordered online nor do I have much experience of bikes at this level so really just looking for any recommendations be it specific bikes, things to be wary of and also any suggestions where to buy... there's a million and one options out there, hence any real world experience would be grand.
Thanks
Edited by Davie on Saturday 25th April 07:57
A Frog bike is exactly what you are looking for and best by a long long way. Great second-hand market for that reason, so you'll get most of it back later too.
(And you are right about stabilisers, they would undo all he's learned already. They should be banned!
(And you are right about stabilisers, they would undo all he's learned already. They should be banned!
Excellent, thanks... hadn't heard of them before but the Frog 40 looks like it could be an option. Also totally forgot about his issue leg, which is give or take 40cm so that's ideal. £270 is a bit of an eye opener for a first bike but worst case, it'd fall under the usual 'tell her it was £60' rule that applies to all significant online purchases. It would have been great to take him to buy something in a shop but such is life, a trivial issue in the bigger scale of things
14” is perfect
No stabilisers. He’ll work out pedalling in about 30 seconds.
I’m about to buy him a 24” mtb for his 8th birthday.
No stabilisers. He’ll work out pedalling in about 30 seconds.
lufbramatt said:
Both of mine have got frogs- the key, same as with islabikes- is to buy them second hand. Then sell them for what you paid when you’re done, they hold their value very well so work out cheaper long term than some heavy old thing from Halfords.
This. In spades. Michaels Isla cost me about £30 depreciation. I’m about to buy him a 24” mtb for his 8th birthday.
Frog bikes.
They are considerably lighter than the normal s hite you can buy for cheaper and it will be easier for your lad to ride . As others have said, they really hold value so the £60 you mention to her could be the ‘loan’ cost when you come to change up to a bigger size....
Good luck. It’s great watching them gain independence and zoom off at that age.
They are considerably lighter than the normal s hite you can buy for cheaper and it will be easier for your lad to ride . As others have said, they really hold value so the £60 you mention to her could be the ‘loan’ cost when you come to change up to a bigger size....
Good luck. It’s great watching them gain independence and zoom off at that age.
Those Frog bikes are great but they are spendy for something that is probably only going to last a year or two before you need a bigger size.
Yes you will get most of it back at resale, but if you would rather spend a bit less initially, the Ridgeback 14 and 16 inch wheel kids bikes are pretty good. There is a ready supply of second-hand ones for between 50 and 100 quid. You won't lose much on those either.
Main things with kids bikes IME is making sure that they aren't too heavy and that the brake levers are manageable by small hands.
Yes you will get most of it back at resale, but if you would rather spend a bit less initially, the Ridgeback 14 and 16 inch wheel kids bikes are pretty good. There is a ready supply of second-hand ones for between 50 and 100 quid. You won't lose much on those either.
Main things with kids bikes IME is making sure that they aren't too heavy and that the brake levers are manageable by small hands.
I had a Hoy Bonaly delivered for my daughter this week. She went from very wobbly to riding short distances unassisted within the hour. It was the lightest of anything I could find at under 6kg and very well made - it’s also yellow!
https://www.evanscycles.com/hoy-bonaly-16-inch-whe...
https://www.evanscycles.com/hoy-bonaly-16-inch-whe...
My 3bkids have all shared a Frog bike, a Pinnacle Ash (Evans) and an Carrera bike from Halfords which was by far the cheapest. All bought second hand or handed down. You can over think this, they out grow them so quick and whatever the get they're not going to be going at your pace until they're at least 10 or 11.
Thanks gents.
I did consider used, have no issues with that though I'd rather put eyes on it first which limits availability massively. Plus, some used stuff is either dear or can be a bit false economy if it's a bit tired.
I'm quite happy to pay to get him something light, good quality and that will last as not only do I think it'd benefit him short term, but long term it could go to my sisters little boy once mine out grows it then back to me as I've got another due in August. Hence, I'd rather pay more and it lasts.
One thing, perhaps obvious but I assume the likes of the Frog 40 and similar all have freewheeling ability... ie it's not a fixed drive?
I did consider used, have no issues with that though I'd rather put eyes on it first which limits availability massively. Plus, some used stuff is either dear or can be a bit false economy if it's a bit tired.
I'm quite happy to pay to get him something light, good quality and that will last as not only do I think it'd benefit him short term, but long term it could go to my sisters little boy once mine out grows it then back to me as I've got another due in August. Hence, I'd rather pay more and it lasts.
One thing, perhaps obvious but I assume the likes of the Frog 40 and similar all have freewheeling ability... ie it's not a fixed drive?
I noticed that they made the entry Frog smaller it used to be a 43 for a 43cm inseam.
I started my lad on a Frog 43 when he was 3 1/4yrs and have only just changed up to a 20” wheel Giant ARX, 2 years later.
With the Frog I swapped out the standard stem for a 60mm one which gave him a bit more reach and bridged the gap to a 20” wheel bike as moving from the Frog 43 to say a 48 would’ve been silly as he would’ve outgrown that within a year.
The Frog 43 was £240 when I bought it and I sold it within a day on FB for £125 so not quite Isla bike resale but still £115 for 2 years of ownership is good and he loved it in bright green too.
I started my lad on a Frog 43 when he was 3 1/4yrs and have only just changed up to a 20” wheel Giant ARX, 2 years later.
With the Frog I swapped out the standard stem for a 60mm one which gave him a bit more reach and bridged the gap to a 20” wheel bike as moving from the Frog 43 to say a 48 would’ve been silly as he would’ve outgrown that within a year.
The Frog 43 was £240 when I bought it and I sold it within a day on FB for £125 so not quite Isla bike resale but still £115 for 2 years of ownership is good and he loved it in bright green too.
Edited by Matt_N on Sunday 26th April 09:58
Davie said:
Thanks gents.
I did consider used, have no issues with that though I'd rather put eyes on it first which limits availability massively. Plus, some used stuff is either dear or can be a bit false economy if it's a bit tired.
I'm quite happy to pay to get him something light, good quality and that will last as not only do I think it'd benefit him short term, but long term it could go to my sisters little boy once mine out grows it then back to me as I've got another due in August. Hence, I'd rather pay more and it lasts.
One thing, perhaps obvious but I assume the likes of the Frog 40 and similar all have freewheeling ability... ie it's not a fixed drive?
Yeh freewheel with a good gearing set and crank length to assist with pedal technique. I did consider used, have no issues with that though I'd rather put eyes on it first which limits availability massively. Plus, some used stuff is either dear or can be a bit false economy if it's a bit tired.
I'm quite happy to pay to get him something light, good quality and that will last as not only do I think it'd benefit him short term, but long term it could go to my sisters little boy once mine out grows it then back to me as I've got another due in August. Hence, I'd rather pay more and it lasts.
One thing, perhaps obvious but I assume the likes of the Frog 40 and similar all have freewheeling ability... ie it's not a fixed drive?
Just to throw something different into the mix...
My 4yr old has been riding a Wiggins balance bike, which he loved. However we put him on some cheapo pedal bike that weighed a ton, and in fairness to him he did learn to ride it and we managed a few family 2-3 mile bike rides.
So over Easter I went looking for a Frog bike. However I heard from a couple of people that, although Frog bikes were good, Early Rider were better. I ended up buying my Son an Early Rider Belter 16 which uses a drive belt rather than a chain. The premise here being that the natural elasticity of the belt makes starting off easier. And it's been a revelation. It's so much lighter than his old bike and we now go for daily bike rides; we even did 20km one day last week. 20km...and he's only 4! I cannot recommend this bike enough.
HTH.
My 4yr old has been riding a Wiggins balance bike, which he loved. However we put him on some cheapo pedal bike that weighed a ton, and in fairness to him he did learn to ride it and we managed a few family 2-3 mile bike rides.
So over Easter I went looking for a Frog bike. However I heard from a couple of people that, although Frog bikes were good, Early Rider were better. I ended up buying my Son an Early Rider Belter 16 which uses a drive belt rather than a chain. The premise here being that the natural elasticity of the belt makes starting off easier. And it's been a revelation. It's so much lighter than his old bike and we now go for daily bike rides; we even did 20km one day last week. 20km...and he's only 4! I cannot recommend this bike enough.
HTH.
It is admittedly more difficult at present, but for kid's bikes used is a great option as the majority are garage queens that get hardly any use before they are grown out of.
Just avoid the really heavy cheapo brands with scaffolding pole frames. It really isn't hard to get a virtually as-new good quality bike for under 100 quid.
Of course if you have a pipeline of kids coming through who will all use it in turn, a new one could make sense too!
Good luck with the search.
Just avoid the really heavy cheapo brands with scaffolding pole frames. It really isn't hard to get a virtually as-new good quality bike for under 100 quid.
Of course if you have a pipeline of kids coming through who will all use it in turn, a new one could make sense too!
Good luck with the search.
Excellent, all duly noted.
I'm swaying towards the Frog / Hoy sort of thing but have a few weeks till his birthday so I'll keep an eye on used stuff but unless something suitable comes up between here and work, then collecting is an issue and I'm wary of buying unseen.
I'm definitely not in the market for a little themed bike or a heavy, BMX style and to be fair, neither is he. He seems intent on getting a bike like Daddies though yellow seems to be a requirement too. At least it is this week. Usage wise, we're out on a farm so it's mostly tracks / gravel / mud and whilst he's been everywhere on his little plastic balance bike, it's just so light plus with airless rubber tyres, it gets knocked about on stones / roots etc and he's starting to get frustrated. We did have a go at a skate park pre lockdown and he was pretty good.
I'm hoping that with the right bike, he'll be able to freewheel then get his feet on the pedals then work up to getting him pedalling. He's got his balance bike sorted, he can go a good distance with his feet up but a lack of brakes / top much speed is starting to become an issue hence I think now is the time to move up.
Again, much appreciated... will hopefully get something in place in the next couple of weeks.
I'm swaying towards the Frog / Hoy sort of thing but have a few weeks till his birthday so I'll keep an eye on used stuff but unless something suitable comes up between here and work, then collecting is an issue and I'm wary of buying unseen.
I'm definitely not in the market for a little themed bike or a heavy, BMX style and to be fair, neither is he. He seems intent on getting a bike like Daddies though yellow seems to be a requirement too. At least it is this week. Usage wise, we're out on a farm so it's mostly tracks / gravel / mud and whilst he's been everywhere on his little plastic balance bike, it's just so light plus with airless rubber tyres, it gets knocked about on stones / roots etc and he's starting to get frustrated. We did have a go at a skate park pre lockdown and he was pretty good.
I'm hoping that with the right bike, he'll be able to freewheel then get his feet on the pedals then work up to getting him pedalling. He's got his balance bike sorted, he can go a good distance with his feet up but a lack of brakes / top much speed is starting to become an issue hence I think now is the time to move up.
Again, much appreciated... will hopefully get something in place in the next couple of weeks.
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