Small "real" bikes

[AimeeM]

I know somebody on the board told me before, but it's buried somewhere in another thread, I think.

 

Where can I buy a small, trike sized, REAL bike for DS5? Something with training wheels, but that can be removed, so not a trike. He's about 30 lbs and about the height of a three year old, but I think if I can get him on a "real bike" like some of the similarly aged neighborhood children, he may be inclined to go outdoors a bit more. Weather here is fairly moderate (most years), so it might be a nice Christmas gift if I can find one for him :)

[TechWife]

You should be able to find one almost anywhere - Target, WalMart, Toys r Us, even Amazon.

[AimeeM]

Really? Off to look!

[SKL]

I bought my kids' 13" bikes at Walmart (probably about $50 each) when they were under 3yo.  Other than the size and relatively thicker tires, they weren't that much different from a 16" bike.  I took off the training wheels when the girls were 3 and they began riding without help at 4 (eldest) and 5 (youngest).  I upgraded to 16" bikes (Walmart again) toward the end of KG.

[SKL]

 http://www.walmart.com/ip/12-Huffy-Disney-Cars-Boys-Bike-with-Tool-Kit/20921179

[peachskittles]

We bought our son a 10" bike at Toys R Us a few years ago (training wheels that could be removed).  Even though he hardly rode it, at least it is getting use by our 3 year old daughter (and I think she is about average 3 year old height).  She uses it without training wheels.

[StephanieF]

What about a "like a bike" do you have them in the US? A bike with no pedals, just 2 wheels. A lot of fun for a small child. Mine went from one of those to a normal bike with no training wheels because they had mastered how to balance. You can buy them made out of metal now and they are fairly in expensive

Stephanie

[Miss Tick]

I really regretted training wheels with my twins, so with my youngest we bought a balance bike, like Stephanie mentioned above. It looks like a bike but no pedals. She transitioned from that to a regular 16" this summer, with some intensive how-to-use-brakes training. I expect to sell it for a good percentage of the original purchase price.

[AimeeM]

Huh. I have heard of those, but didn't know anybody who had actually used them. Those may be the ticket.

[StephanieF]

I also used ours around town as they are "clean" ie no oily chains and therefore no one complained if I brought it into a clothes shop or cafe.

Stephanie

[lailasmum]

My son has a gyro bike which converts from a balance bike to a pedalled bike. It's really nicely made. The gyro bike has a gyroscopic front wheel that's an alternative to stabilisers.We never bothered with the gyro wheel. They seem to have changed their name to Jyrobike and looking at it they no longer convert like the version 1 bike did but there are other brands that do like kinderbike morph and littlebig bikes. 

[Starr]

There's one in my basement you can have. :D

[AimeeM]

There's one in my basement you can have. :D

If only you were here! 

(or I was there)

[blondeviolin]

I'd also recommend a balance bike. Ours is on our fourth kid. :)

[Petrichor]

My 5yo still loves his balance bike, though he has a regular bike (I'm assuming its 10"). I'd go with something a bit bigger than a strider for a 5 yr old, but my 5 yo is very tall for his age, and you have a 2 yo to pass it on to if it is too small for the 5 yo. I like the light weight of the strider though.

[SKL]

Personally I would not go with a balance bike for a 5yo, especially if you are looking for a "real" bike so he will fit in with the neighborhood kids.

 

If he can't figure out how to ride a regular little bike without training wheels, perhaps remove the pedals and put them back on once he has figured out how to balance?

 

When my kids were 4 I would take them on their 12" bike to the top of a small hill (in the grass) and let them roll down.  That way they did not have to pedal and could focus on balance.  Wearing jeans and long sleeves (that can get dirty) is recommended for this stage.  ;)

[TechWife]

I agree about the balance bike - they are used in many other parts of the world, they just haven't yet become very common in the US. You can take a regular bike and remove the pedals (and the chain, of course) and that should work, too. 

 

Learning to balance is the hardest part of riding a bike. 

[DoppeltGemoppelt]

Balance bike! Your son will still fit in with the neighborhood kids, as it takes a much closer look to notice that there are no pedals. Besides learning to balance, your son will also be able to use it on the grass and everywhere else. With training wheels you constantly need someone to help you get "unstuck", and then he will be the odd one out.