It seems like every preschooler we know has some version of the balance bike, and for good reason. These pedal-less bikes are a safe way for kids to teach themselves to balance and self-correct at their own speed. We've posted about balance bikes before, but the much-acclaimed Early Rider, formerly available only in Europe, is a great new entry in the Stateside arena, with a couple of features that differentiate it from the rest of the crowd.
Early Rider Balance Bikes
Unlike most other balance bikes on the market, the Early Rider features "Fat Boy" rear tires for extra stability and comfort. And unlike most other balance bikes on the market, the Early Rider comes in three sizes, for smaller and larger preschoolers and kindergartners. The Lite version, designed for kids as young as 20 months all the way up to 4 years old, is the lightest balance bike you can find, weighing in at just 7.2 lbs. The Classic, at 10.5 lbs, is designed for 2-to-5-year-olds. And the Evolution is slightly taller, making it suitable for the 3.5-to-6-year-old set.
Your choices don't end at size. Made of sustainable birch, Early Riders come in your choice of pink, blue and natural. All feature cool embossed flames and a faux leather seat pad.
Prices range from $159.99 to $199.99 at TykeRider (currently the sole U.S. retailer). They aren't exactly cheap, but in our experience with similar models, these kinds of bikes have decent resale value. (Besides, isn't this what grandparents and holidays are for?)
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The balance bike concept os so great. We got one for our daughter last year, and she learned to ride so quickly that I'm very glad we got her a Trek bike that has removable pedals. Once she got the balancing part down, we popped the pedals back on, and she was on her way! I love the look of those wooden bikes, but I'm happy we didn't have to buy two bikes.
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/kids/ages_4_6/float/
view aprilf00l's profile
That's a fantastic idea - I love the wooden bikes, too but I'm definitely going to check out the Trek.
view keltrue's profile
we LOVE our balance bike! it's a cheapy, metal one called the Wee Ride that we got from amazon for $30-something. I would have liked a wooden one since they seem... gentler, in a way, but it was not in our budget.
here's a peek at my little guy riding his:
http://howaboutcookie.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/balance/
aprilfool, I'm eyeing the float for next summer! thanks for the reminder.
view howaboutcookie's profile
Those are cute. We are past that stage now, but I think all tots should learn to ride a balance bike.
view stickyricemama's profile
Beautiful!
view the_green_earth's profile
Ah, if only we all could afford the beautiful LikeaBike. This one is a nice alt. But there are a lot less expensive choices in the $60-$80 range for wooden versions. Just search "balance bike" on amazon.
view suezq's profile