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"It seems hard to believe that we ever took training wheels seriously. They teach novice riders a lot of bad habits and probably cause more crashes than they prevent. Rolf Mertens and his LikeaBike showed Europe a better way almost 25 years ago, but it took about a decade for the pedal-less, two-wheel balance bike to become ubiquitous this side of the Atlantic. The first models were simple in the extreme and far too close to the infamous “department-store bike” for the liking of committed cyclist parents. Today, you can get functioning brakes, higher-quality wheels and tires, and carbon-fiber frames, all the better for the no-pedal races held for children at most BMX tracks nowadays. All balance bikes work in same fashion: The rider sits low, with knees bent, and uses both feet to push their bike along and to hold the machine upright. As speed and familiarity increase, the rider goes feet-up to experience a few thrilling moments of balanced flight on two wheels. A Variety of Sizes The original Striders had twelve-inch wheels. Today, most of manufacturers make larger balance bikes with 14-inch wheels for older riders; for smaller or younger riders, models exist with 10-inch wheels and low standover heights. Regardless of wheel size, choosing a model with a wide range of seat adjustment is always a good idea for fast-growing children. Air Is No Longer Rare Direct and reliable feedback from a balance bike’s steering can help a child feel immediately comfortable , so low-grip tires can make the learning process a little frightening. The most affordable balance bikes have hard plastic wheels, more or less as you remember from the “Big Wheel” trikes of the Seventies, with all the attendant drawbacks. Moving up to a foam tire on a plastic mag wheel, as found on the segment-defining Strider Classic, offers a bit more traction (at the expense of durability). More and more balance bikes are using a traditional pneumatic tube and tire, which improves the riding experience but increases the likelihood of maintenance. To Brake or Not to Brake The first balance bikes didn’t have a brake, but many of the newer and more sophisticated entrants to the segment have at least one. The Woom 1 Plus has a three-brake system: front, rear, and rear coaster. Why bother? It’s just as important to learn stopping as it is starting. Many of the larger-wheeled models can reach worrisome speeds with a committed pilot. Plus, a brake saves wear on shoes since kids don’t have to use their soles to stop, Fred Flinstone-style. Making the Move to Pedals and Other Upgrades Parents looking for the easiest transition to traditional riding might want to consider one of the models with add-on pedal power. It’s not cheap, and it requires some mechanical aptitude, but the convertible pedalers offer even more confidence to young riders. Seat adjustment is a critical part of balance biking, and it’s best to get the model with the largest range of possibilities. If you expect your child to be on a balance bike for the long haul you might consider choosing a model with adjustable or replaceable handlebars. Some parents are understandably reluctant to spend $200 or more on what is essentially a training tool, but if your child will be using the balance bike to accompany you on even short rides away from the house, upgrades might be worth the cost. The balance bike is firmly established as the preferred way to join the cycling hobby, but It can also be a gateway to real competition: Both USABMX and BMX Canada offer balance-bike race classes at dozens of local tracks. Ready to get started? We’ve selected the most compelling options below. How We Tested and Selected To choose the best balance bikes, we relied on our experience as parents of young riders. We also attended several balance-bike races held at USABMX tracks and talked to parents of competitors about what works and what doesn’t. Several of these bikes were tested directly; others are well-known products from established manufacturers. ―RETRO APPEAL― GT Vamoose The Vamoose has plenty of retro chic, but there’s substance behind the style. The unique-looking frame makes it easy for the smallest riders to get a leg over. Pneumatic tires help the ride, and there’s a full range of adjustment for both seat and handlebar. Last but not least, the geometry is very forgiving; this bike is less likely to “flop over” during a turn than some of the more commonly seen competition. ―BUILT TO BE ABUSED― Burley MyKick Balance Bike Of all the bikes in this roundup, this is the one that looks most like a traditional bicycle, thanks to Burley’s heavy reliance on chrome and vintage detailing. The seat is quick-adjust and the simple bar/stem combination can be adjusted with a single wrench. The seat is large and comfortable. The bike is on the heavy side—but it’s a Burley, so it’s likely to last a long time. ―MOST POPULAR― Strider 12 Pro The widely distributed Strider brand made balance biking an American pastime instead of a European import. Rugged and durable, these are the no-pedal equivalents of the no-frills Huffy department-store bikes on which many riders got their first taste of freedom. The Classic ($89) is available pretty much everywhere and has been widely proven in practice, but the Pro uses aluminum construction to drop the weight to 5.6 pounds then throws in extra touches like an adjustable seat and a sporty number plate. ―DISCONTINUED DISCOUNT!― Cannondale Trail It’s all about the fork with this balance bike; the “Lefty” single-sided variant fitted to this Cannondale balance bike is a neat nod of the head to the company’s avant-garde mountain bikes of the Nineties. The rest of the feature list is short: solid rubber tires, a simple aluminum frame, plenty of adjustability. If you have a Super V or “Beast of the East” in your garage, you’ll want this next to it. ―COMES WITH BASKET AND BELL― Banwood Bikes First Go! Balance Bike Family-owned Banwood is all about the kids—it offers balance bikes and 16-inch wheel bikes in all sorts of sweet colors (and a couple of cool patterns in it Anthropolgie collection), plus a dozen helmets to match. The 12-inch wheel First Go! is suitable for kids between 2.5 and 5 years old (certified for ages 3 to 5) and has an adjustable-height handlebar and seat. Every steel-frame Banwood bike comes with a matching bell and rattan front basket, faux leather grips and saddle, and color-matched rims. The First Go! is a straight-up good-looking bike that will have any kid riding in style. ―LEARN HAND-BRAKING EARLY― Woom 1 The team at Woom has produced some innovative children’s bikes in the past few years, numbered 1 through 5 for the order in which they should be purchased and ridden. The Woom 1, the first in the five-bike series, features a V-brake with a brake lever scaled for hands 18 months or older. Standover height is exceptionally low thanks to a curved monotube, and the seat is adjustable. The 1 Plus is designed for children age 3 and up, with 14-inch pneumatic tires. It takes a kitchen-sink approach to equipment, featuring a hand brake, a coaster brake, and a high-rise, BMX-style handlebar. Both models have a rubber steering limiter to prevent accidents caused by a quick “folding over” of the steering at speed. ―BEST VALUE― Banana Bike LT The Banana Bike LT represents a minimum-viable-product approach to balance bikes. For just under $60, you get an adjustable seat and a ball-bearing headset. Another $10 upgrades you to the GT model, which has pneumatic tires and is available in three colors of sparkly paint. Parents on a budget will appreciate the free shipping and relatively fuss-free assembly, and they’ll feel particularly satisfied with their choice the first time they see their child dragging it down the sidewalk. ―FOR BIGGER RIDERS― Strider 14x Like their scooter counterparts over at Razor, the balance-bike pros at Strider have been conservative when it comes to changing their core product—but just as Razor eventually gave in to the big-wheel crowd with the Lux, Strider has made the move to a pneumatic tire with the 14x. This is considerably bigger than the traditional Strider 12, which will please BMX parents but may be a little daunting for riders age three or younger. ―SKIS OPTIONAL― FirstBike Limited Why not make a balance bike out of plastic? It seems like an obvious idea, but only FirstBike has tried doing it at a level above dollar-store disposability. The trellis-style frames of the Basic, Racing, and Limited models are made from composite, carefully molded and finished to remove all sharp edges and pinch points. The brake is a rear drum, and the “horse saddle” seat is shaped to prevent children from slipping off the bike. A special “LowKit” makes this relatively large bike usable for smaller kids, but the most impressive option is the set of skis that bolt on in place of the wheels to make the FirstBike a winter thrasher. ―MOST BLING FOR YOUR BUCK― Swagtron K3 You may know Swagtron as an Amazon-focused purveyor of “hoverboards” and other electronic products, but the company is also interested in your balance-bike business. Towards that end, the Swagtron offers some luxury features—pneumatic tires, lattice-spoked wheels, a forward-angled handlebar for more stability—at the same price as basic models found elsewhere. Pro tip: Unbox it before your child can see the packaging and get their hopes up for a brightly lit, battery-powered sidewalk toy. ―BOUTIQUE OFF-ROADER― Early Rider Big Foot Early Rider has a name as a high-end bike builder focusing on younger riders—and for the youngest of all, there’s the Big Foot. Aimed at the 1.5 to 3-year-old crowd, the Bigfoot is set up for off-road adventures. Will it conquer the famous “A-Line” at Whistler Bike Park? Probably not. Will it give your child a few more options for riding on flat dirt trails or slightly rough terrain? Absolutely. ―HAS TRADE-IN VALUE― Prevelo Alpha Zero Like Woom, Prevelo bridges the gap between entry-level bikes and the high-end options from boutique kiddie-bike makers like Spawn and Trailcraft. The Alpha Zero is the entry point to this range. Join Prevelo’s trade-up club for $69 more, and if you trade it in within two years for the next model up, you’ll get 40 percent off the original purchase price. At 8.6 pounds, it’s slightly heavier than most of the aluminum competition, but the Prevelo offers an effective V-brake tucked under the chainstays where it won’t scratch kids’ legs. Wheel nuts, as well, are rounded off for safety. Standover height is low and the tires are pneumatic Kendas. As a final touch, Prevelo will put your rider’s name on the bike, the same way the sponsors do in UCI international competition. This bike won’t be available until September, but we couldn’t leave it off our list because, well, we really like it. ―THE EUROPEAN ORIGINAL― Kokua LikeaBike Jumper Purists will not want to settle for anything less than the original wooden LikeaBike from Kokua Bikes, but unless your personal tastes run strongly in the direction of Scandinavian furniture and eco-chic, you can save a few bucks with the Jumper, which is based on a monotube aluminum frame and weighs just 7.5 pounds. The removable steering damper and elastomer-based rear suspension will bring a smile to any parent who remembers the downhill MTB scene of the 1990s. There’s even an optional front brake for balance bikers whose training grounds include steep driveways or trails. Yes, it’s ridiculously expensive. So was the 1986 Kestrel 4000. In both cases, envious glances are part of the package."
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