However, many folding bikes have adjustable components, such as the seat post, stem angle, and handlebars to improve fit and comfort. Many folding bikes use 20-inch wheels to ensure they fold down to a manageable size and stay relatively light when commuting or traveling on public transport. If you plan on riding longer distances, 700c wheels will offer a smooth ride and maximize your pedaling input. The Strider 12 Sport comes without a rear linear-pull hand brake—the ideal kind for a balance bike. Most kids can indeed stop a balance bike even on moderate hills with nothing more than their feet or simply step off the back of the bike, but a good squeeze of a hand brake can stop them faster. Strider does sell a $20 simple add-on foot-operated brake, which can also help teach coaster braking skills.
Firmstrong’s Bella Fashionista Single Speed Bike is our choice for a sturdy, well-designed, single-speed beach cruiser bike. We love the wide range of bright hues, especially because Firmstrong adds an extra pop of color to the rims. The extended frame is made from durable steel, to better suit taller riders. SixThreeZero’s EvryJourney Step-Through Bike is our other top pick because it’s designed to go just about anywhere. It features wider tires, which makes it great for riding on different types of terrain, including rougher trails.
Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist who has covered technology, finance, sports, and lifestyle. Ravi Davda is a certified personal trainer with nearly huffy bicycle 10 years of experience in the fitness and wellness industry. Ravi has worked with a range of personal training clients both in-person and online.
The frame and double-walled rims are both made from durable aluminum, to help you get the most out of your bike. And we like the budget-friendly price point, which comes in at around $300. From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. It’s also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, you’ll also find craft supplies, digital items, and more.
Many kids need a little encouragement (and flat, paved terrain) to get into balance biking. Unless they’ve started out with a ride-on toy car or scooter or push trike they may not pick up the bike and just go. Several parents told me that even if their kids have a balance bike, they simply don’t use it. Other parents, often with active, athletic kids, say they do great on balance bikes, and they find them to be an incredibly useful tool in learning how to ride a bike. After determining that at least one Strider bike would be a final pick, I also spent an hour on the phone with Strider inventor Ryan McFarland. We spent more than 15 hours researching, and more than 20 hours assembling, dissecting, and testing 13 balance bikes.
This is desirable for a more customized fit and will help keep your child’s knees clear of the handlebars as legs lengthen. The 14x also features smooth and shock-absorbing air-filled, semi-knobby tires on lightweight 16-spoke alloy rims. It has a removable footrest, and its wheelbase gives it plenty of speed and stability for medium- to bigger-size kids. For our experienced 6-year-old rider, Luke, it was a cinch to bunny hop. It also was nearly assembled right down to its pre-attached wheels, which were perfectly tightened so they spun freely without any play.
To mimic the approach of Strider, you could also add a couple of strips of grip tape to the rear fork. Brake-wise, we would like to see the 14x Sport come with a non-coaster setup such as hand brakes and a freewheel, allowing a child to “pedal backward” when they need a quick stability check (while climbing hills, for instance). But due to US regulations, so-called sidewalk bikes—the simplest, smallest type generally ridden by little kids—must be equipped with friction coaster brakes.
Feel free to use our chat feature to discuss any queries you have about buying any of our children’s bicycles. When they’re big enough and ready to explore for themselves, why not let them ride alongside mum and dad with our range ofkids’ mountain bikes that are perfect for weekend family rides out on the trails. Tuck them wherever they fit, but preferably indoors to prevent rust and corrosion. A few easy storage places at work and home include under a desk or table, or in a closet. If you use your bike frequently enough, it makes sense to store it near your front door so you can unfold and go whenever you’re ready. You can even get a wall-mounted bike rack to ensure easy, quick access that won’t take up more floor space.