Kids Bike Sizes

Balance bikes force young riders to find their balance point on the bike under them a lot faster. It’s a steeper learning curve because more coordination is involved.

But that’s a good thing.

Kids are sponges, and they pick up motor patterns fast.

These bikes have no training wheels. Rather, think of their feet (as they’re gliding along) as “training wheels”.

Most of the best young riders (at 3, 4 and 5 years old) we get through the shop have started on a balance bike.

Advantages:

• Without pedals, children learn to balance their body weight on two wheels. This is the hardest part of learning to ride a bike.
  
  
• IIt’s also true that balance bikes are MUCH lighter than pedal bikes. They don’t have the added weight of cranks, chain and sprockets (which are often made from heavier steel).
  
  
• Plus they’re simpler and easier to maintain than a pedal bike.
  
  
• Kids can start learning to ride at an earlier age than a pedal bike and less physical strength is required.

Disadvantage:

• Kids can also outgrow their balance bike from a skill perspective. They may advance quickly, needing a pedal bike sooner.

Now, pedal bikes:

Kids who are comfortable pedalling (a lot of the time from a trike), are more comfortable with pedal bikes.

12-inch, 16-inch and 18-inch kids bikes with pedals will always come with training wheels.

Advantages:

• Pedal bikes are equipped with hand & foot brakes. Teaching children how to use brakes is an essential skill for safe riding.
  
  
• Riding a pedal bike involves learning more skills. This includes Shifting gears, using brakes, and maintaining a steady pedalling rhythm.  This is intellectually and physically stimulating.

Disadvantages:

• They are heavier, so more strength is required from riders less than 4 years old.
• Coordinating steering, pedalling and brakes can be too much for rides under 4 years old.
• Coordinating steering, pedalling and brakes can be too much for rides under 4 years old.

Surprise. There’s a third option:

Balance bikes that transform into pedal-bikes later (Kidvelo are the only brand that do this).

This option has all the advantages (above) of a balance-bike. It also eliminates the disadvantage of parents having to spend more dollars on a pedal bike.

The luxury of having a large kids range means we can physically try young riders on different sized bikes.

Seat height is important. But reach (distance to the handlebars) is crucial.

Step 1.

Riders should have a slight bend in the knee.

If the seat needs to be raised at least 40mm (from the bottom), then you're probably better going the next frame or wheel size up.

* Note: rides with very short torso's are the exception. Because the longer frame might be too long to reach.

Step 2.

Now, we check the reach.

The torso should be bent slightly forward with (slightly) relaxed or bent arms.

Step 3.

If required, we slide the seat forward to reduce the distance to the handlebars.

This will make the bike "smaller".

Step 4.

Check the brake levers.

If riders can't pull the brake levers comfortably, then we adjust these closer to the handlebar.