The excitement of buying a child their first bike is an exciting moment for any parent. The wide array of options, from balance bikes to tiny pedal bikes to mini mountain bikes, can make the decision a bit overwhelming. To help you find the perfect bike for your young rider, let’s consider some important factors.
1. Child’s Age and Inseam Length
When it comes to choosing the right bike for your child, their age and inseam length are two critical factors to consider. A child’s age sometimes correlates with their height, but not always. Every child is different. A tall four-year-old, for example, might be fine on a bike with 16-inch wheels, whereas a small four-year-old might not fit a 16-inch bike until they are five or six. Measuring their inseam (or inside leg, i.e. the distance between the crotch and the end of the leg opening) will ensure the bike’s perfect fit.
2. Balance Bikes: A Great Start
For first-time riders, balance bikes are an excellent choice. These lightweight bikes don’t have pedals and teach kids the fundamentals of balance, steering, and coordination. As an added bonus, they often have adjustable seats to accommodate different ages and sizes. Even really tiny kids can quickly gain proficiency on a small balance bike, which will mean they are able to move on to riding a pedal bike at a much younger age than children who didn’t learn on a balance bike first.
Many balance bikes do not come with a brake, but you might want to think about one that does have one. This will help your child learn an important skill in the early stages, before transitioning to a pedal bike. It’s a particularly good idea to get one with a brake if your child will be doing a lot of their balance bike riding in hilly areas.
The general consensus these days is that attaching stabilisers to a pedal bike is a pretty old-fashioned way of teaching a kid to ride. While it is of course possible to learn by having stabilisers first, it generally takes a lot longer than it does if a child learns to rise a balance bike first. My children both started riding balance bikes around the age of two. My daughter learned to ride a pedal bike and four-and-a-half, and my son at three-and-a-half. They would both have learned much later I think had it not been for their balance bikes.
3. The Transition to Pedal Bikes
Once your child has learnt to confidently zoom around on a balance bike, you may decide they are ready for their first pedal bike. Don’t rush it though. Many parents try and move their kids onto a pedal bike before they’re ready, and often one that is also too big for them. Let them ride their balance bike for as long as they want to. If they reach the point where they’re begging for pedals, they’re far more likely to learn really quickly when they make the transition. I’ve heard of lots of kids who loved their balance bikes but were totally put off pedals due to being given one too early. It can then take a long time to get them excited about riding a bike again.
4. Stabilisers
Some parents choose to stick with the method of attaching stabilisers onto the back of a pedal bike to help their children learn. While many children have learned to ride a bike like this (myself included – balance bikes just weren’t a thing when I was a child), these days balance bikes are considered to be much more effective in teaching children to ride a bike. So, consider ditching the stabilisers and getting hold of a balance bike instead, even when your child is still far too tiny for pedals!
5. The Perfect Fit
As I said, every child is different but it’s often best not to move them on to pedals too soon after they’ve gained confidence on a balance bike. When you really feel your child really is ready to try pedals, you can choose between various wheel sizes. Most parents opt for 12-inch or 14-inch wheels to start with, but it’s important to check the minimum and maximum seat height, measure the child, and check the size guide on the bike brand’s website carefully to ensure you’re getting the right size.
It’s crucial to find the right size bike for your child. Riding a bike that’s too big can be challenging, demotivating for the child and also unsafe. Reputable bike brands such as WOOM Bikes, Islabikes, and Frog Bikes specialize in creating high-quality bikes designed to fit young riders perfectly. While of course, it’s a good idea to leave a bit of room for growth (after all, buying a child’s bike is an investment of both time and money), don’t be tempted to buy a bike that’s much too big for your child as they could easily be put off cycling altogether.
6. Lightweight Frame: The Best Choice
A lightweight bike is essential for young children. It allows them to manoeuvre the bike more easily, resulting in a smoother ride. The bike’s weight is a key factor in determining your child’s ability to control it.
Although they’re very expensive, there’s no doubt that the top brands of children’s bikes such as Islabikes and Frog Bikes (there are a few others that I will come to near the end of this post) are much easier for children to ride than many of the cheap bikes which can be really heavy and difficult to ride. A bike from one of these top brands is a particularly good choice for families who are going to be doing a lot of cycling once their child is proficient with pedals. A lighter bike is going to be much easier and more fun for the child to ride when they have to keep up with the grown-ups and big kids in their family.
7. Mountain Bikes for Adventure
For true little adventurers, miniature mountain bikes might be a good option. These bikes offer an upright riding position, have thick tyres and come in various wheel sizes, with 16-inch and 20-inch being common choices. They provide a smoother ride over rough terrain and are often equipped with high-end components for added durability and versatility (they inevitably take much more of a hammering than bikes that are mostly used on pavements or in the park). Here is a handy detailed guide on kids’ mountain bikes by Rascal Rides:
https://rascalrides.com/best-kids-mountain-bikes/
8. Visiting Your Local Bike Shop
While online shopping can be convenient, visiting your local bike shop might be a good idea when choosing a child’s bike. Experienced staff can help you find the right bike, ensure the best balance between price and quality, and offer expert advice. Even if you end up buying the final choice of bike online, you might find it reassuring to know you’ve also seen that model of bike in person in a shop.
9. BMX Bikes for Older Children
As your child grows, they may become interested in BMX bikes. While most of these bikes are designed for older children (who are at least five years old), there are companies that specialise in BMX bikes for really young kids too, offering different colours and designs to suit their tastes.
10. Guardian Bikes for Safety
Guardian Bikes are known for their advanced safety features. They come with the patented, award-winning SureStop Brake System, which prevents head-over-handlebar accidents, making them an excellent choice for peace of mind. These bikes may be the perfect choice for over-zealous kids with little sense of risk or danger!
10. Consider Buying Second Hand
Buying a new bike from one of the top brands will cost hundreds of pounds. We have never bought new bikes for either of our kids and probably never will. Instead, we look out for top-quality second-hand bikes in really good condition (we usually give them as Christmas or birthday presents) on places like Facebook Marketplace or eBay.
I drove nearly a four-hour round trip to collect a tiny second-hand ‘small’ version of an Islabikes Cnoc for my son when he switched to a pedal bike at the age of three. His inside leg was so short that it was the only one that had the lowest minimum seat height, and that particular model of bike is hard to come by second-hand.
Our children have always had either Frog bikes or Islabikes since they switched to pedals. They are both excellent brands, although we prefer the Islabikes overall as they are just so brilliantly made and very lightweight.
For more recommendations of top brands of ‘best kids’ bikes’, price point comparison and generally helpful advice, head over the the brilliant and dedicated Cycle Sprog website https://www.cyclesprog.co.uk/. They also ask families to test and compare bikes which can be really helpful when choosing the best fit of bike for your own child.
12. The Range of Bikes
Bikes for young kids come in various sizes and types to cater to different ages and abilities. Remember that every child is unique, and what’s best for one might not be ideal for another.
In conclusion, choosing the right bike for your four-year-old is a decision that will take a lot of time and consideration. Consider their age, inseam length, and riding aspirations (as well as the riding aspirations of your family) to find the perfect fit. Whether you opt for a balance bike, a mountain bike, or something in between, prioritize safety and quality, and don’t hesitate to consult your local bike shop for expert guidance. Riding a bike is a great way for kids to explore the world, and finding the perfect bike is the first step on their cycling adventure.
13. The Bikes My Own Kids Have Ridden and Those Recommended by Friends
To finish, I thought it would be helpful to list the bikes that we have bought for our own children, as well as the bikes our friends have bought for their kids which they’ve been very happy with. I have provided links to these bikes as sold new online just to show the model/colour, but please bear in mind that all of these bikes can be bought second-hand at a fraction of these prices. Frog bikes and Islabikes hold their value incredibly well, especially Isalbikes which are highly sought after second-hand. We sold my son’s first Cnoc Islabike virtually for the same price we bought it for.
PUKY Balance Bikes
https://www.kidsbikeshop.co.uk/collections/puky-balance-bikes
While we borrowed a balance bike from a neighbour for our daughter to learn on (I can’t remember the brand), our son started on the red version of this wonderful little PUKY balance bike (although it was an older model than the ones currently on sale). He reached some incredible speeds whizzing down big hills even before he’d turned three. The only downside is that there is no brake, but this never seemed to be a problem for him and he always managed to stop at the bottom in the end! I’ll never forget the faces of surprised onlookers who would start clapping and cheering him as he raced past them, totally wowed by how small and speedy he was! The confidence he gained on this little bike was undoubtedly one of the reasons he was able to transfer to a pedal bike so young (at the age of three and a half). The PUKY bike is really well made, super sturdy, and has solid, thick tyres that can’t puncture which is a huge benefit.
Frog bikes – Frog 44
https://www.frogbikes.co.uk/First-Pedal-Bikes-Frog-44?whence=
While my son needed the smallest 14-inch pedal bike we could find because he was so tiny when he was ready for pedals, my daughter was much older at four and a half when we decided she was ready to make the transition to a pedal bike. We knew about Frog bikes from older cousins who had used them, and we weren’t disappointed with the Frog 44 my mum bought her. This is the only bike we have had new, and even the new price was a lot cheaper than some other children’s bike brands. My daughter loved the spotty design and learnt to ride it within a couple of weeks of going to school and back on it. Not only has this top-quality bike been really easy and fun for her to ride, but it has lasted her for ages! She hasn’t grown nearly as fast as her younger brother, and so at the age of seven she is only just ready for the 20-inch Islabike we’ve got her for Christmas. We really feel my mum got her money’s worth with this bike!
Islabikes – Cnoc 14 (‘small’ model and ‘large’ model)
https://www.islabikes.co.uk/products/cnoc-14-small-kids-bike
I remember people looking at me like I was mad when I told them I had driven to York from Manchester to collect the ‘small’ model of the Islabike Cnoc from a seller on Facebook Marketplace. But I cannot tell you how difficult the small version is to find secondhand! It’s the smallest pedal bike in Isalbike’s range (and one of the smallest bikes it’s possible to buy) and if we’d bought the ‘large’ model, the saddle would have been too high for him (his inside leg measured a tiny 34cm). We were determined to get him going on pedals as he was so brilliantly competent on his balance bike, and starting to look very big for it. We weren’t disappointed by this brilliant little bike, which was just so well made and easy for him to manage despite the fact he was only three. While we thought he would immediately take to the pedals, he was a bit reluctant at first, so we took the advice of a local ‘bike mad’ mum and took the pedals off for a while. He rode it as a balance bike for six months before I casually asked one day if he wanted to try with pedals again. We put them on, and he was off. The pedals were extremely easy to remove and put back on again, which totally removed the stress of him not being quite ready to try it with pedals.
Islabike – Cnoc 16
https://www.islabikes.co.uk/products/cnoc-16-orange-shop-soiled-nearly-perfect-age-4-age-4
My son currently has this bike in orange and loves it just as much as the Cnoc 14. I cannot emphasise enough just how lightweight and well-made these little Islabikes are. While it won’t last him as long as his sister’s bikes last her (he just grows so much faster), it’s so reassuring to know that we will probably get back most of what we paid for it secondhand when we sell it on again.
Isabike – Beinn 20
https://www.islabikes.co.uk/products/cnoc-16-orange-shop-soiled-nearly-perfect-age-4-age-4
Again I scoured the online second-hand groups to find a Beinn 20 Isalbike for my daughter who has finally outgrown her Frog 44 at the age of 7, and found a purple one in really good condition for a reasonable price on eBay. The seller was great and kindly agreed to post it to me for no extra charge (it’s always worth trying to haggle a bit on price/delivery with second-hand bikes). The bike arrived really well-packed via courier a few days later, and although she hasn’t ridden it yet (we’re giving it to her for Christmas), we’re sure she’s going to love riding it. It really is hard to go wrong with Isalbikes, they’re just so well made.
Living in the suburbs of Manchester, lots of children at our primary school bike to school. The fact that the bike racks always contain a sea of Islabikes and Frogbikes, shows just how trusted these brands are by parents.
Black Mountain Bikes
We haven’t tried Black Mountain bikes for our kids, but we have friends who bought one for their daughter and love it. The best thing about these bikes is that they grow with your child. Their smaller models of bike, the Pinto and the SKØG go from being a balance bike, to a really small pedal bike, to a bigger pedal bike, so it will last a child far longer than other brands will. Their larger models also transform into bigger bikes as the child grows.
Black Mountain bikes are a good option for families who don’t mind spending more on a quality bike that will last their child for years before they have to buy another one. Unlike Islabikes and Frog bikes, they are difficult to find second-hand.
Top Tips on Getting Your Child Going on Pedals
Wait until they’re ready
It’s never a good idea to try and force a child to ride with pedals when they’re not ready, and the size of the child has little to do with their readiness. I have known children as young as two who learnt to ride a pedal bike well before their third birthday, and children as old as five who still haven’t been ready for pedals. They all learn in their own time, and the most important thing is that they enjoy being on a bike, whether it has pedals or not. It’s always tricky to know when it’s the right time to move a child onto a pedal bike once they are confident on a balance bike. We bought our son his first pedal bike (a red Cnoc 14) for his third birthday, because we really did think he was ready. It turned out he wasn’t too keen to try with his new pedal bike, so we carried on with his balance bike for a few more weeks. Parents are often disappointed when their child chooses their faithful old balance bike over their shiny new pedal bike, but this is usually a sign that they need a bit longer before making the transition.
Take off the pedals
When she enquired as to why our son wasn’t riding the pedal bike she knew we had bought for him, a knowledgeable friend suggested we take the pedals off to start with. Once we did this, he happily rode the Cnoc 14 as a balance bike for a few months, and then managed to learn quite easily once we put the pedals back on.
Hold the bike, not the child
When supporting a child who is just learning how to pedal, try to remember the ‘hold the bike, not the child’ rule. I held on to the back of the saddle to start with on the school run when they started with pedals, and while this was absolutely backbreaking for me, it wasn’t long until they no longer needed me to hold on (thank goodness!).
Bike to and From School
As with everything, children are only going to master tricky skills such as riding a bike with time and practice. We live half a mile away from our children’s school, which is why we were always going to prioritise getting them to learn to ride bikes early. The school run is a perfect opportunity to practise (my daughter even practised roller skating on the school run for a while!) and it’s worth getting their bike out even if you live a much shorter distance from your child’s school than we do.
Finding the time in busy family schedules to practise these kinds of skills is never easy, so make the most of the journey to and from school that happens nearly every day.
Buy Second Hand
Children do not need brand-new bikes to enjoy cycling from a young age. Well-used high-quality bikes with plenty of life left in them can be easily picked up for bargain prices. It’s also worth remembering that bikes from reputable brands such as Islabikes and Frog Bikes hold their value really well, because most parents aren’t prepared to buy new bikes for their kids. We have never bought new bikes for ours, and after the initial cost of buying their first balance bikes and pedal bikes, we have always managed to sell them on for virtually what we paid for them. While it is, in my opinion, worth getting children lightweight, well-designed bikes from reputable brands, this is not essential. Children can still learn to cycle and have great fun on cheaper, heavier bikes, so don’t worry if you don’t have the budget for the more expensive brands. They will manage just fine on whatever you’re able to provide them with.
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