Bicycle for three year old

[NoelWatson]

Following on from my electric car request a year or so ago

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0... on electric cars for two year old&mid=31217

I'm wondering if someone can point me in the direction of a good place to buy a run of the mill bike for a three year old, or is it just a case of going to Argos and getting a £100 Raleigh?

[cheadle hulme]

Isla Bikes. Avoid Argos rubbish.

[rhinochopig]

Likeabike Jumper. My Son has one - we got it when he was 20months and now at 2 he he can ride feet up down forest fire tracks. The geo on it is absolutely spot on, and has an anti-jackknife feature which is great for young riders.

It also come elastomer rear suspension which works well. The build quality really is second to none and is the equal of proper adult bikes. They're not cheap, but second hand prices are about 70-80% of new.

Video of what they're capable of here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxp4TjAkSL8

[flemke]

cheadle hulme said:

Isla Bikes. Avoid Argos rubbish.

Another vote for Islabikes. Designed from the ground up for children. Unlike typical bikes for children, which seem to be made from pig iron (the bikes, not the children), the frame is reasonably light, and the gearing is right.

[R6dug]

cheadle hulme said:

Isla Bikes. Avoid Argos rubbish.

Agreed the best bike for young kids imo

[Mars]

NoelWatson said:

Following on from my electric car request a year or so ago

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0... on electric cars for two year old&mid=31217

I'm wondering if someone can point me in the direction of a good place to buy a run of the mill bike for a three year old, or is it just a case of going to Argos and getting a £100 Raleigh?

Let me get this straight - you're after a proper pedal bike, rather than a balance bike?

Whatever you go for, just have a go with the brakes yourself. We bought our son a Halfords bike (pic) - it wasn't particularly heavy and had light-touch V-brakes. The more recent version of this bike comes with caliper brakes which require much more effort.

The pic is of my son a couple of weeks before we upgraded him to a bigger bike - which is why it looks small:



P.S. It was 50 quid and lasted him no nore than "months". It's far far far better than the bike I learned on at his age. Whilst I think Islabikes are good when you can get your money's-worth out of them, for the duration my boy had this one it just wasn't worth it.

That said, I've recently bought a front-sus Ridgeback for my boy now that he's graduating to a 20" wheeler. I considered the un-sprung Isla but it was only a matter of 300g lighter, for which I'd have paid £70 more. I wasn't *that* impressed with it to be honest. I know the PH crowd loves Islabikes but I don't think they're worth the extra over any other carefully selected brand.

Edited by Mars on Monday 30th May 18:45

[936ADL]

Islabikes here too! The best kids bikes available bar none!

[DrMekon]

We had our eldest on a balance bike from 2 (Likeabike Jumper) and bike from 3 (Islabike Cnoc). We went for the cnoc16, as his just about fit on it. In retrospect, we´d have been better off on the 14, as it took him a few months to get really confident.

Within reason, don´t worry how quickly the grow out of them, as Islabikes have bulletproof residuals. We´re after a Islabike Beinn Large. They are £250 new. 3 year old ones go for £200 on ebay, so we´re just going to get a new one.

[Mars]

DrMekon said:

Within reason, don´t worry how quickly the grow out of them, as Islabikes have bulletproof residuals. We´re after a Islabike Beinn Large. They are £250 new. 3 year old ones go for £200 on ebay, so we´re just going to get a new one.

This is a very good point. My brother just bought a 16 at about 5/6ths of new price.

[Omaruk]

Isla +1 just bougt my 4 year old daughter a Cnoc 16, lovely detail and well made. She came from a Early Rider balance bike so I took the pedals off to get the feel and more importantly to master the brakes her previous one did not have brakes. Once the braking became pretty much 2nd nature I put the pedals on and she was away in about 5-10 mins!

[Omaruk]

Only one week after turning the pedals for the 1st time = very proud Dad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw3a4YZ7AlU&fea...

The exceedingly noisy hub is the Hope pro 2 on my bike!

[NoelWatson]

Mars said:

Let me get this straight - you're after a proper pedal bike, rather than a balance bike?

Yes

Mars said:

P.S. It was 50 quid and lasted him no nore than "months". It's far far far better than the bike I learned on at his age. Whilst I think Islabikes are good when you can get your money's-worth out of them, for the duration my boy had this one it just wasn't worth it.

There is the issue that he will grow out of it quickly, but this is mitigated slightly by the fact my daughter is only a year younger so it will get two lots of use. But, as you say, these bikes are far better than we had to learn on.

Think I will pop down to Halfrauds, and if nothing suitable, go down the Isla route.

[PH5121]

How about a Specialized Hotrock? My 3 year old progressed from a balance bike to one of these last year, and within a couple of weeks was riding without stabilisers.

I bought it for £60 or £70 off E bay. I am now looking to get him a 16 inch wheeled version of the Hotrock. (The 12 inch hotrock will be saved for my youngest who is getting a balance bike for his second birthday next month).

For the price of a new, but heavy, Halfords / Argos bike it is a proper bike with proper wheels and tyres and an aluminium frame.