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What bike after tricycle?

schnappycatschnappycat member
in Pre-School and Daycare

DS is almost 4 and we are thinking of getting him a bike for Christmas or his birthday. He has never really loved his Kettler tricyle, and because of that, was really late to learn to pedal. He just mastered it late this summer. It wasn't for lack of ability, I don't think. He just wasn't ever very interested in riding and told us he prefers running. But he will need to learn to ride a bike, and I suspect will enjoy a "real" bike more than the trike.

Anyhow, I'm not sure what the next step is? 12 inch? 16 inch? I assume they all come with training wheels? Any brand/style/model you would rec for a reluctant rider (although he's quite coordinated)? I'm just starting to investigate, but thought I'd ask the experts. 

 

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Re: What bike after tricycle?

  • rsd12rsd12 member
    We got our oldest a 12 inch when he turned 4 with training wheels. The great thing about the size was that he learned to balance on his own with out training wheels when he was 5. My middle son loved riding his bike with the training wheels this past summer (he will be 4 at the end of this month). He also just started to pedal this past spring. So we picked him up a similar bike ($40 from toys r us) when we took the training wheels off of his brothers. He also likes to try with out the training wheels, but is not getting the balance thing yet. I think the shorter bikes are perfect for learning to balance. We will get my oldest a bigger (16 inch) for his birthday in February now that he has mastered to 2 wheeler.
    Boy 1 2/06 - Boy 2 12/07 - Boy 3 9/09
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  • KristinKDKristinKD member

    We got DD1 a 16-inch bike with training wheels for her fourth birthday. Anything shorter would have been too short; she is average height, and can still keep her feet on the ground with her knees bent.

    Like your DS, she only just mastered pedaling over the past spring/summer. Except for us the Kettler trike helped; it was the FP one we had when she was younger that was holding her back. In any case, she can pedal the 16-inch bike just fine.

    Emily 11.29.2007 | Kate 4.3.2010 | James 8.22.2013
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  • MamaKctMamaKct member
    If he'd prefer to run, get him a "run bike" or a "balance bike".  They are 2 wheels and no pedals.  It teaches them balance first then you add the pedaling once they have the balance down.  Both my boys were very successful with the one we have - a Kinderbike and skipped training wheels all together.  My 4 year old has been on 2 wheels (with pedals) for 6 months now thanks to the balance bike.
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  • franciscazfranciscaz member
    The twelve inch unless he is particularly tall.
    Mom to Harmon 1/17/08 and twins Rachel & Callum 8/28/09 Photobucket 29o0v13.jpg
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  • schnappycatschnappycat member

    Nope, he's not tall. Quite average--usually 50-60% for height.

    Thanks for the input! I'll try to check some out at the store this weekend.

     

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  • AgrippaRidesAgainAgrippaRidesAgain member

    DS has a balance bike and a trike and much prefers the balance bike.  I think  he'll get another year out of it and we'll be able to get him a big kid bike sans training wheels for his 5th birthday.  That way we'll also be able to get him a bigger one that will last longer.  You might want to check them out, particularly if he just learned how to pedal.  DS was coasting along with his feet up only 10 days after getting it.  This is the one we have:

    https://www.stridersports.com/ 

    image
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