Bike for a child

from_atozinc

Hello

Not too sure if I should post here or in newborn abs toddlers.

Have a old boy who will be 3 on 1sr December. He is rather tall for his age.

Want to buy him his first bike for Christmas.

Where is the most suitable place to buy this:

In a proper bike shop
Or
In a toy shop such as Smyths

Lumen

Get a balance bike, not a bike with pedals.

Kids absolutely love them and the skills transfer easily to a pedal bike.

I bought one second hand for almost nothing and sold it on a year later for the same amount.

Smyths have a few. Normally wouldn't buy a bike from Smyths but it's possible that balance bikes might be an exception. That said, I got a skateboard from there (under duress) and it lasted one afternoon.

edit: this looks decent:

http://www.altitude.ie/store/product/48217/FROG-'TADPOLE'-ALUMINIUM-BALANCE-BIKE/
http://buckleycycles.ie/products/frog-tadpole

secman

+ 1 for a balance bike, got one for our grandson a few years back and he loved it. When the time came for a bike proper, balance was a non issue, just a little peddling coordination was required.

from_atozinc

Lumen wrote: »

Get a balance bike, not a bike with pedals.

Kids absolutely love them and the skills transfer easily to a pedal bike.

I bought one second hand for almost nothing and sold it on a year later for the same amount.

Smyths have a few. Normally wouldn't buy a bike from Smyths but it's possible that balance bikes might be an exception. That said, I got a skateboard from there (under duress) and it lasted one afternoon.

edit: this looks decent:

http://www.altitude.ie/store/product/48217/FROG-'TADPOLE'-ALUMINIUM-BALANCE-BIKE/
http://buckleycycles.ie/products/frog-tadpole

Thanks. But not sure if I want to buy a balance bike and then less than a year later most likely, buy a normal bike.

He has a scooter already and whizzes around in that, which in a way helps his balance.

ForestFire

Yes also recommend balance bike.

We got this for our daughter who is 3yr and 4 months now. She is also tall and still using it, but I'd suggest you check out whatever you are getting as height maybe an issue now for a tall 3 year old.

She is on the high test seat position possible now

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=15551&langId=-1&categoryId=305253&productId=1105506&storeId=11101

pwurple

Height may not make it possible for balance bike. We went to get one for our 2.5 year old girl, who is tall for her age, and she was too tall for every balance bike in two shops.

Proper bike shop all the way. We have ten year guarantees for parts etc for them... and while the kids will grow out of them, there is no reason the younger siblings can't take them.

from_atozinc

pwurple wrote: »

Height may not make it possible for balance bike. We went to get one for our 2.5 year old girl, who is tall for her age, and she was too tall for every balance bike in two shops.

Proper bike shop all the way. We have ten year guarantees for parts etc for them... and while the kids will grow out of them, there is no reason the younger siblings can't take them.

About how much is a "standard" child's bike ?

Lumen

from_atozinc wrote: »

Thanks. But not sure if I want to buy a balance bike and then less than a year later most likely, buy a normal bike.

Yeah, that's why I got one second hand. You might be surprised though, mine had loads of fun with the balance bike even when they'd outgrown it by several years. My son still hasn't forgiven me for selling it, and he's 11 now. :pac:

OK, well if you're getting a proper bike, don't put stabilisers on it, just take the pedals off and use it as a balance bike for the first few months.

Stabilisers are an absolutely terrible invention, totally counter-productive.

JMcL

+1 also for balance bike. No need to spend a fortune the Decathlon run ride (http://www.decathlon.ie/run-ride-100-kids-10-inch-balance) is cheap, and is currently on our third learner and is still in great nick

Beasty

Thought it was a swap thread - was looking for pictures of your bike:(

At that age balance bikes are probably the way to go. Your local bike shop may have something. Halfords seem to have a fair selection