How to get the kids rolling.
Training wheels are a thing of the past. The new thinking in getting kids comfortable on bikes is to get them started on a pedal- and drivetrain-free balance bike to help learn the basics. Kids sit low enough and learn to balance and steer with both feet on the ground. Strider Bikes is one of the manufacturers credited with bringing this concept to children (though the pedal-less bike is an invention from the 1800’s).
According to Strider CEO and founder, Ryan McFarland, “Strider Bikes teach balance and inspire kids as young as 18 months old to enjoy the freedom of two wheels. Tricycles and training wheels are a disservice to all. Most children who start on a Strider Bike transition easier and faster to a pedal bike than those who start on three wheels.”
Tons of options for toddlers have flooded the market in recent years, with everything from beautiful, handmade wooden bikes like the ones from Heritage Bicycle (photo above), to the colorful, lightweight aluminum Woom with geometry designed with the youngest rider in mind: 18 months.
They’ve become such a phenomenon that there’s an actual race series, the Strider Cup, with events for 2, 3, 4 and 5 year olds. If you need a smile today, check this video out of last year’s world championship in San Francisco:
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