Five Key Features to Look For When Purchasing a Balance Bike
Have you heard of a balance bike? If you have not, they are the newest sensation to hit the market to train young children to ride a bike. The logic is that a child will first learn to balance themselves before they graduate to a larger more dangerous bicycle. These bikes have not pedals. They tend to get in the way. The child propels themselves by pushing off with their feet and walking with the bike while sitting down on the seat. Once they get more balance they will begin to bring their feet up and glide on the bike. Once they have gotten to this point they are ready to graduate to a larger bike with pedals.
So, do you think you may want one? Well here are six must haves when purchasing your very own balance bike.
1. Adjustable Handlebars - Find a balance bike with adjustable handlebars. As your child begins to grow into the bike you may have to raise or lower the handlebar to fit your child. The other benefit of buying a balance bike with adjustable handlebars is that you can keep the bike longer.
2. Adjustable Seat - This is very important. You want a balance bike with an adjustable seat that is easy to adjust. Some bikes comes with seats that you have to break out tools to adjust. This is common. But an easier solution to is find a bike with a quick adjust that you just pull open and raise or lower the seat. Boot Scoot and Strider both have this adjustment on their seats. Boot scoot quick adjust comes with each of their bikes. Strider you will have to pay an extra $10 for the quick adjust. But it is worth the price.
3. Low Profile Frame - Find a bike that has a low frame especially if you have a younger child. Some of the frames are more appropriate for three to four year old children. Lower profile bikes allow your child to always keep contact with the ground. You will never have an occasion for your child to fall off the bike.
4. Large Color Selection - This is not as important put if you have a specific color that you are used to buying for your child you may want to search for a company that has a large assortment of colors to choose from. Strider has six colors to choose from in their inventory. They include blue, red, yellow, pink, orange and green.
5. Foot Rest - Picking a bike with a foot rest is one of the most important features to look for. As your child gets more proficient in riding they are going to want a place to rest their feet as they glide.
Balance bikes are a great starter bike. They have helped numerous children to learn to ride a bike without the danger of the bike tipping over and throwing the child off. Always look for quality and follow these features and you will see your child's confidence and motor skills grow over time.
So, do you think you may want one? Well here are six must haves when purchasing your very own balance bike.
1. Adjustable Handlebars - Find a balance bike with adjustable handlebars. As your child begins to grow into the bike you may have to raise or lower the handlebar to fit your child. The other benefit of buying a balance bike with adjustable handlebars is that you can keep the bike longer.
2. Adjustable Seat - This is very important. You want a balance bike with an adjustable seat that is easy to adjust. Some bikes comes with seats that you have to break out tools to adjust. This is common. But an easier solution to is find a bike with a quick adjust that you just pull open and raise or lower the seat. Boot Scoot and Strider both have this adjustment on their seats. Boot scoot quick adjust comes with each of their bikes. Strider you will have to pay an extra $10 for the quick adjust. But it is worth the price.
3. Low Profile Frame - Find a bike that has a low frame especially if you have a younger child. Some of the frames are more appropriate for three to four year old children. Lower profile bikes allow your child to always keep contact with the ground. You will never have an occasion for your child to fall off the bike.
4. Large Color Selection - This is not as important put if you have a specific color that you are used to buying for your child you may want to search for a company that has a large assortment of colors to choose from. Strider has six colors to choose from in their inventory. They include blue, red, yellow, pink, orange and green.
5. Foot Rest - Picking a bike with a foot rest is one of the most important features to look for. As your child gets more proficient in riding they are going to want a place to rest their feet as they glide.
Balance bikes are a great starter bike. They have helped numerous children to learn to ride a bike without the danger of the bike tipping over and throwing the child off. Always look for quality and follow these features and you will see your child's confidence and motor skills grow over time.
