Kids first bike.
Discussion
3yo will make best use of a balance bike. Try to avoid stabilisers. They will only set her back.
5yo should be on a small pedal bike if he's had a balance bike before. Don't buy too big. Make sure the brake levers are easy to pull for little fingers. Avoid gimmicks like gears or suspension at this age. Something simple and light will serve him best.
95% of PHers like Islabikes. I do too but not at their prices for the "early" bikes. Now that my son is approaching 9yo, I can see the point but over £100 for a balance bike seems daft to me. But, choice is choice.
My son had a borrowed balance bike to begin with followed by a cheapo when he needed a pedal bike. Once he had got stuck into riding, we bought him a Ridgeback MX20 which he's still using. On that basis, I would recommend the MX16 for a younger lad. It's still £130 but that's £70 cheaper than the Isla. Have a look on Ebay and you'll see that when it comes to sell, you get a good return for Isla's but not if you give it away as a present.
My daughter had a £20 lightweight ali piece of nonsense from Toys R Us - a Pearl thingy. It was as light as paper but had no proper bearings in the headset or wheels but it was pink and white, and she loved it which encouraged her to use it. Since then she's had a couple of second hand bikes and only cares what colour they are.
It's tricky having a boy and a girl - I have the same problem of NOT being able to hand a bike down from the boy to the girl (entirely) because of the colour. Silly really, and to be honest she has had a boy's bike for her first pedal bike but now she's 5yo she wanted something girly. Thanks to friends, she's currently got one of their hand-me-downs but for her next bike I'll have to buy her a new one of her own I suppose. I don't begrudge this though - my kids ride reasonable distances with me (my son, at 6yo, was riding up to 14 miles with me on cycle paths and greenways, and around parks).
I gave my son a choice when it came to buying his current bike but I was careful to only put bikes I was confident would be suitable for him in front of him for selection. The MX20 was in with the Islabikes Beinn but at £170 vs £299 I was slightly reticent. Fortunately (for my wallet) he chose the MX20. I suspect the next one will come from Isla though, and that'll be serious cash.
5yo should be on a small pedal bike if he's had a balance bike before. Don't buy too big. Make sure the brake levers are easy to pull for little fingers. Avoid gimmicks like gears or suspension at this age. Something simple and light will serve him best.
95% of PHers like Islabikes. I do too but not at their prices for the "early" bikes. Now that my son is approaching 9yo, I can see the point but over £100 for a balance bike seems daft to me. But, choice is choice.
My son had a borrowed balance bike to begin with followed by a cheapo when he needed a pedal bike. Once he had got stuck into riding, we bought him a Ridgeback MX20 which he's still using. On that basis, I would recommend the MX16 for a younger lad. It's still £130 but that's £70 cheaper than the Isla. Have a look on Ebay and you'll see that when it comes to sell, you get a good return for Isla's but not if you give it away as a present.
My daughter had a £20 lightweight ali piece of nonsense from Toys R Us - a Pearl thingy. It was as light as paper but had no proper bearings in the headset or wheels but it was pink and white, and she loved it which encouraged her to use it. Since then she's had a couple of second hand bikes and only cares what colour they are.
It's tricky having a boy and a girl - I have the same problem of NOT being able to hand a bike down from the boy to the girl (entirely) because of the colour. Silly really, and to be honest she has had a boy's bike for her first pedal bike but now she's 5yo she wanted something girly. Thanks to friends, she's currently got one of their hand-me-downs but for her next bike I'll have to buy her a new one of her own I suppose. I don't begrudge this though - my kids ride reasonable distances with me (my son, at 6yo, was riding up to 14 miles with me on cycle paths and greenways, and around parks).
I gave my son a choice when it came to buying his current bike but I was careful to only put bikes I was confident would be suitable for him in front of him for selection. The MX20 was in with the Islabikes Beinn but at £170 vs £299 I was slightly reticent. Fortunately (for my wallet) he chose the MX20. I suspect the next one will come from Isla though, and that'll be serious cash.
Definitely balance bike orientated. Utter common sense, makes you realise how terrible stabilisers actually are.
Just get any size appropriate pedal bike and take out the crank, chainring, bearings - leave the bottom bracket hollow. Once the rider has got their balance bearings and a need for speed, put the crank, bearings etc back in and it will save you from having to buy a pedal bike.
Not really a need for an actual balance bike to learn on, in my opinion.
Just get any size appropriate pedal bike and take out the crank, chainring, bearings - leave the bottom bracket hollow. Once the rider has got their balance bearings and a need for speed, put the crank, bearings etc back in and it will save you from having to buy a pedal bike.
Not really a need for an actual balance bike to learn on, in my opinion.
I'm a bike Islabikes fan - I bought my daughter a Cnoc14 for her 3rd birthday and have just upgraded to a Beinn 20 for her 5th and both have been fantastic.
Yes; they are expensive to buy but (with a little bit of luck) not expensive to own as they barely depreciate. I did blanch somewhat at the thought of paying £300 for the Beinn so looked long and hard for a second hand one but most were going for ~£250 so the saving hardly seemed worth it! Same applies to the Cnoc - We paid £200 for it but fingers crossed I should get ~£150 back when I put it on ebay in the next couple of weeks. Will let you know how it goes!
Yes; they are expensive to buy but (with a little bit of luck) not expensive to own as they barely depreciate. I did blanch somewhat at the thought of paying £300 for the Beinn so looked long and hard for a second hand one but most were going for ~£250 so the saving hardly seemed worth it! Same applies to the Cnoc - We paid £200 for it but fingers crossed I should get ~£150 back when I put it on ebay in the next couple of weeks. Will let you know how it goes!
Mr Will said:
I'm a bike Islabikes fan - I bought my daughter a Cnoc14 for her 3rd birthday and have just upgraded to a Beinn 20 for her 5th and both have been fantastic.
Yes; they are expensive to buy but (with a little bit of luck) not expensive to own as they barely depreciate. I did blanch somewhat at the thought of paying £300 for the Beinn so looked long and hard for a second hand one but most were going for ~£250 so the saving hardly seemed worth it! Same applies to the Cnoc - We paid £200 for it but fingers crossed I should get ~£150 back when I put it on ebay in the next couple of weeks. Will let you know how it goes!
Yes; they are expensive to buy but (with a little bit of luck) not expensive to own as they barely depreciate. I did blanch somewhat at the thought of paying £300 for the Beinn so looked long and hard for a second hand one but most were going for ~£250 so the saving hardly seemed worth it! Same applies to the Cnoc - We paid £200 for it but fingers crossed I should get ~£150 back when I put it on ebay in the next couple of weeks. Will let you know how it goes!
They do hold their value well. I paid £60 for my daughters Rothan (2nd hand off a mate), and sold it 18 months later for £50. Back in May I picked up a mint 2nd hand Cnoc 14 for £140, and I expect I'll be able to sell it on next year for £100 plus. Watchman said:
anonymous said:
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Those are really nice. I've just been looking through them. Good price for the specs.Will definitely look again when it's time for her next bike in a few years though. Both of these problems should have been resolved by then.
My kids are a similar age; almost 3 (girl)and 5 (boy)
We have an Islabikes Rothan (red), CNOC14 (purple) and now a Beinn 20 (red) all in unisex colours.
Great bikes, well worth it; I'd actually say the CNOC wasn't as good as the other two as it's rather heavy but still decent.
Our 3 year old is getting the hang of the Rothan, our 5 year old bombs around on his Beinn. Happy kids, happy Dad!
We have an Islabikes Rothan (red), CNOC14 (purple) and now a Beinn 20 (red) all in unisex colours.
Great bikes, well worth it; I'd actually say the CNOC wasn't as good as the other two as it's rather heavy but still decent.
Our 3 year old is getting the hang of the Rothan, our 5 year old bombs around on his Beinn. Happy kids, happy Dad!
My 5 year old started out on a cheapy balance bike, then progressed onto a 14" Islabike. He struggled to lift his cousins heavy bike but got on with the Islabike really well.
He has a Frog bike on order which is due for delivery first week of December. 1kg heavier than the equivalent Islabike but a bit cheaper and I could order it from our local bike shop who will assemble and do the 6 week check. From looking at one in the shop the quality looks good, although I guess time will tell.
The Islabike has taken a battering and still looks in good condition and hopefully will generate a decent return on Ebay soon.
Whatever you decide I'd get an order in quick as they tend to sell out quickly at this time of year.
He has a Frog bike on order which is due for delivery first week of December. 1kg heavier than the equivalent Islabike but a bit cheaper and I could order it from our local bike shop who will assemble and do the 6 week check. From looking at one in the shop the quality looks good, although I guess time will tell.
The Islabike has taken a battering and still looks in good condition and hopefully will generate a decent return on Ebay soon.
Whatever you decide I'd get an order in quick as they tend to sell out quickly at this time of year.
Watchman said:
Those are really nice. I've just been looking through them. Good price for the specs.
Saw them at the bike show a couple of weeks ago, very light and nimble, very impressed. Only took my son (8yo) and he liked them, still preferred his mx20 as it looks a bit more rugged but am def doing to get my 6yo daughter one for her 7th birthday, especially as she is much more slight and she is insistent on an orange coloured frame.My kids - and loads of others here in germany - had Specialized HotRock junior bikes. They're rugged little things.
+1 on the balance bike for the little one. All the kids have them here, Puky make them.
I would avoid the cheap wooden balance bikes on eBay as I've seen a couple that have fallen apart.
Having had a good look at a 20" and 24" Islabike this summer I can confirm they are worth the money. They are extremely well though out pieces of kit, and would be even better with a hub dynamo, lights, mudguards and rack as standard (like nearly all kids bikes here)
+1 on the balance bike for the little one. All the kids have them here, Puky make them.
I would avoid the cheap wooden balance bikes on eBay as I've seen a couple that have fallen apart.
Having had a good look at a 20" and 24" Islabike this summer I can confirm they are worth the money. They are extremely well though out pieces of kit, and would be even better with a hub dynamo, lights, mudguards and rack as standard (like nearly all kids bikes here)
Barchettaman said:
Having had a good look at a 20" and 24" Islabike this summer I can confirm they are worth the money.
Oh the Islabikes Creig 24 looks incredible. Air fork, hydraulic discs and a 1x10. If it was an adult's bike, that spec would probably attract a far higher price than its £649 but because it's (potentially) for my son (who will be 9 when I'm considering the change) I am baulking at the price.Some 33 years ago, my parents paid around £100 for a Raleigh Bomber for me. Is £649 comparable in any way? I was 12yo at the time.
I think what puts me off is that I don't think my son values his bike like I always have. Kids these days have many distractions whereas my bike was my only real possession (of any value - monetary or emotional). Every time my parents bought me a new bike (I was lucky - I had a new one every 2 or 3 years as I grew up), I studied the brochures for months in advance, like they were my own personal bible. My son loves cycling, and from 6yo has come on some longish rides with me (up t0 14 miles, even back then) but it isn't what fires his imagination. All he and his friends talk about is Minecraft (computer game).
Sorry - this has taken us a bit away from a kid's first bike...
For pedal bikes you can't beat Isla bike - well except for the absolutely dreadful quality rear hubs / freewheels they use. However, for a balance bike the Likeabike Jumper is a much much better piece of kit. It's a lot lighter than the equivalent Isla and offers suspension too which really works, and conveniently offers somewhere for the kid to rest their feet when balancing. They're superb bits of kit.
Watchman said:
Barchettaman said:
Having had a good look at a 20" and 24" Islabike this summer I can confirm they are worth the money.
Oh the Islabikes Creig 24 looks incredible. Air fork, hydraulic discs and a 1x10. If it was an adult's bike, that spec would probably attract a far higher price than its £649 but because it's (potentially) for my son (who will be 9 when I'm considering the change) I am baulking at the price.Some 33 years ago, my parents paid around £100 for a Raleigh Bomber for me. Is £649 comparable in any way? I was 12yo at the time.
I think what puts me off is that I don't think my son values his bike like I always have. Kids these days have many distractions whereas my bike was my only real possession (of any value - monetary or emotional). Every time my parents bought me a new bike (I was lucky - I had a new one every 2 or 3 years as I grew up), I studied the brochures for months in advance, like they were my own personal bible. My son loves cycling, and from 6yo has come on some longish rides with me (up t0 14 miles, even back then) but it isn't what fires his imagination. All he and his friends talk about is Minecraft (computer game).
Sorry - this has taken us a bit away from a kid's first bike...
As an aside £100 back then is equal to about £400 these days, so the Creig is a good bit more expensive but something like a Specialized Hotrock is cheaper.
Mr Will said:
If you want him to value it then why not let him go through the same process of choosing? Tell him you'd like to get him a new bike but ask him to research which one is best. If he wants an expensive one then perhaps even make him work/save for a small part of the cost. He might not make the same choice that you would have, or even the right choice, but he'll value it ten times more.
As an aside £100 back then is equal to about £400 these days, so the Creig is a good bit more expensive but something like a Specialized Hotrock is cheaper.
He is (and always has been) involved in the whole purchase process but needs to be led or nothing would even happen outside of Minecraft world.As an aside £100 back then is equal to about £400 these days, so the Creig is a good bit more expensive but something like a Specialized Hotrock is cheaper.
He chose his current bike out of an original candidate field of 6 or 7.
My daughter's on her second Islabike, and whle I agree they're fantastically well-made and the ownership cost (while not relavant in this case) makes them cheaper to own than they might first appear, I'm not sure that she gets enough use from it to make it worthwhile.
I'll have to look long and hard when we need to get her another one as to whether the usage v cost is really worth it in our case.
I'll have to look long and hard when we need to get her another one as to whether the usage v cost is really worth it in our case.
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