Trike vs. Balance Bike vs. Scooter vs. Big Wheel etc.

GrayGhost13 · October 2012

We're thinking about getting DS something along these lines for Christmas, but I have no idea what would be most healthy or appropriate for his age. (I never learned to ride a bike Embarrassed so I'm doubly clueless).

Can anyone explain the advantages of one over the other or just tell me about which one you're buying for your LO? (Links are welcome.)

TIA!

mommyfied · October 2012

I got a bike with extra wheels when I was "yay high", I know how to ride one - so I'd go for that

(The others I don't know so I'll pay attention to what other say)

missmuffin87 · October 2012

I don't know how to ride a bike either!!! Cool we're so cool.

the ILs said they want to get hazel a balance bike for xmas or her bday. I think they look a little difficult, not mention we don't even have a yard. It's not like a tricycle that she could just ride down the sidewalk. But whatever if they want to buy it for her I won't stop them.

If I were choosing, I would go with the radio flyer trike with the removable grown-up handle on the back

lrn327 · October 2012

Ohh, I'm just waiting to pull the trigger on a Kettler trike on Craigslist. They are way too expensive full-price but they are so nice! We have this nearby park that has loads of ride-ons for community use. From this, I know that C enjoys trying to use the trike and being pushed on it, but has little interest in the balance bikes and is not quite tall enough for big wheels yet (he's tall too!). He kind of liked the scooters too but might wait another year or so on that since I can have some control over the trike while he's learning.

TripMomma · October 2012

We started the trio with trikes. They are now on big bikes with training wheels.

Jericho has been trying to ride their old trikes, so that works for us.

I will say if you decide to do the balance bikes I saw a tip once that you should just buy a regular bike and take the pedals off. This way when they are ready for the next step you don't have to buy another new bike, you can just put the pedals back on.

dee12807 · October 2012

We're probably going to go with a balance bike b/c T wants to ride a regular one with the other kids around but they don't make one small enough. I know one family (5 kids) that used only balance bikes and all the kids learned to ride independently on a regular bike with no training wheels by 3.5 at the latest.

GrayGhost13 · October 2012

lrn327:
Ohh, I'm just waiting to pull the trigger on a Kettler trike on Craigslist. They are way too expensive full-price but they are so nice! We have this nearby park that has loads of ride-ons for community use. From this, I know that C enjoys trying to use the trike and being pushed on it, but has little interest in the balance bikes and is not quite tall enough for big wheels yet (he's tall too!). He kind of liked the scooters too but might wait another year or so on that since I can have some control over the trike while he's learning.

What!? That is so cool! I would love something like that, as we really have so little space to store a bike in the house.

Thanks, everyone for the feedback!

GrayGhost13 · October 2012

letranger:
We are bike people. So he is getting a balance bike. We live in a hilly area trikes/bikes with training wheels are terrible on hills and aren't as safe as a two wheeled bikes in motion. Trikes/ t.w. are safer when not in motion, in motion the weight shifts and i a child can't balance the bike it is likely to topple. The hardest part about biking isn't pedaling it's balancing so that's why balance bikes are good at first. Also m will learn to bike on pavement and sidewalks not grass so our little back yard isn't a factor for us.

Thanks for the explanation. I had never even heard of balance bikes before the Bump, but that makes sense.

We live in the city as well, so no yard for us. Have you found any balance bikes that are smaller or can be folded or taken apart? We live on a very busy street, so I'm guessing when he's just getting started that we might have to take the stroller to the park, so it would be nice to have something small that we could carry with us or stick in the stroller basket.

kj07 · October 2012

GrayGhost13:
lrn327:
Ohh, I'm just waiting to pull the trigger on a Kettler trike on Craigslist. They are way too expensive full-price but they are so nice! We have this nearby park that has loads of ride-ons for community use. From this, I know that C enjoys trying to use the trike and being pushed on it, but has little interest in the balance bikes and is not quite tall enough for big wheels yet (he's tall too!). He kind of liked the scooters too but might wait another year or so on that since I can have some control over the trike while he's learning.
What!? That is so cool! I would love something like that, as we really have so little space to store a bike in the house.
Thanks, everyone for the feedback!

That is way cool! Add me to the jealous list.

We're going with a balance bike. B's a peanut so I know some are still too big for him. There are a few websites that seem to have summaries and comparisons of the different types out there. One is this site: https://www.kidsbalancebikes.com/. I'll have to see if I can find my link to the other comparison page.

I'm leaning towards the Strider - it seems to be one of the smaller, lighter ones out there. My mom likes the Wishbone 3-1 bike, which has a trike option. It's way more than I'd spend, but my parents are a little crazy when it comes to B. I'm not sure I'm going to give into her yet, or push for the smaller bike.

Rink08 · October 2012

I want to get the kids balance bikes. DS1 has issues learning to ride his bike without training wheels and I feel like that would help him. We might get one for Chrismas but DH wanted to look into them more.