Upgrading from balance bike to 16inch?

[L.T.G]

I realize I'm off the OP's initial topic here.... but I'm a firm believer in balance bikes over training wheels, I'd really like to see my son on one.

I might be a little over eager in this department..   

My little guy is 15 months old, I got him his balance bike (a Firstbike) last year already..

It'll be a while before he can ride it 

a) because he's little 

b) because he's really little.... mom and I haven't passed on the tallest genes.

So to satisfy my  his need to get on a bike and have fun.. I got him one of these

 

 

But nothing will be forced, he must want to do it himself.

[Grebel]

I cannot stress enough how much better a balance bike is than training wheels. My eldest went from a black 3 wheel plastic scooter to a 10" with training wheels and we battled to get them off.

 

My youngest went straight onto a Y-Bike, then onto a JD Bug and then onto a 10" bike (The one with spoke wheels not plastic wheels). He is now on a 16" Titan MTB with front shock and gears and loving it.

[ChrisF]

I cannot stress enough how much better a balance bike is than training wheels. My eldest went from a black 3 wheel plastic scooter to a 10" with training wheels and we battled to get them off.

 

My youngest went straight onto a Y-Bike, then onto a JD Bug and then onto a 10" bike (The one with spoke wheels not plastic wheels). He is now on a 16" Titan MTB with front shock and gears and loving it.

 

JIP !

[breaker]

Absolutley balance bike ftw. However what I think I should have done is get a normal pedal bike that is the same size as the balance bike and strip it to function like a balance bike. Daughter number 2 seems to be adapting much quicker than daughter number 1, probably from watching her. She is definitely ready for pedals but too small  for a bigger bike. If her Muna balance bike had pedals she would be off by now.

[fabes]

I cannot stress enough how much better a balance bike is than training wheels. My eldest went from a black 3 wheel plastic scooter to a 10" with training wheels and we battled to get them off.

 

My youngest went straight onto a Y-Bike, then onto a JD Bug and then onto a 10" bike (The one with spoke wheels not plastic wheels). He is now on a 16" Titan MTB with front shock and gears and loving it.

Grebs howsit.

 

You don't think it had something to do with the second child copying elder brother?

 

Both my boys started on bikes with training wheels (not talking about black BP push bikes). Child number 1 battled to grasp concept of turning the pedals whilst child number 2 got on and started straight away.

 

Then getting them off the training wheels it took me about an hour a day for 4 days and eldest had it waxed. Child number 2 took 1 hour and had it waxed.

 

Child number 1 was 4 when he started Child number 2 was 2 and a half when he started.

 

Child number 2 just did a 6 km single track ride with me a while ago at age 3,5 years old.

 

He likes to compete with older brother so I think that had a lot to do with his development.

 

Just a thought

[Grebel]

Grebs howsit.

 

You don't think it had something to do with the second child copying elder brother?

 

Both my boys started on bikes with training wheels (not talking about black BP push bikes). Child number 1 battled to grasp concept of turning the pedals whilst child number 2 got on and started straight away.

 

Then getting them off the training wheels it took me about an hour a day for 4 days and eldest had it waxed. Child number 2 took 1 hour and had it waxed.

 

Child number 1 was 4 when he started Child number 2 was 2 and a half when he started.

 

Child number 2 just did a 6 km single track ride with me a while ago at age 3,5 years old.

 

He likes to compete with older brother so I think that had a lot to do with his development.

 

Just a thought

 

Howzit fabes,

 

I wouldn't say so. There is a 9 year gap between the two boys and my eldest isn't really a big cyclist. When my eldest was "ready" for a bike there wasn't really too much in the way of options. (We are talking about 13/14 years ago...) I think at that time the only options were a three wheel plastic scooter and then a 10" bike with plastic wheels and then a BMX (Which is exactly the route we went). We didn't have the luxury of choosing between different brands of balance bikes like nowadays.

 

With my youngster we were given a hand me down JD Bug with a broken frame (Never let big kids try and ramp a JD Bug...). I repaired the frame and let him ride it. Within a few months we saw the benefits and went and bought him a new one. 

 

Both my boys battled a bit with the pedaling forward concept. They were experts at pedaling backwards though! The progression was quicker second time around though and I put that down to the fact that the balance part was already done thanks to the balance bike.

 

My little guy spotted the training wheels that came with his 10" bike and asked me to put them on. I told him that he didn't need them but he insisted so I did. He did one lap of the driveway and asked me to take them off. I ended up using them for wheels on a welding trolley.

 

I suppose I can't say for certain but I do think that throwing the balance bike in the mix gives the kids a confidence boost as opposed to going straight onto training wheels. I have watched some kids at Giba on balance bikes and they seem to have a lot more confidence than the kids on training wheels and I saw that with my two boys as well.

[greg_sa]

My son went from a 12" balance bike, to a 14" pedal bike (with no training wheels). The reason I went for 14", is so that I could drop the saddle at first, and he could touch the floor while sitting. So he felt confident. Then he was peddling in no time and I've gradually raised the seat.

 

I went with an Avalanche Storm - its heavy, but rides well - geometry seems good.

 

http://avalanchebicycles.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Storm-boys-790x500.jpg

 

I was going to buy a Commencal Ramones 16" (via chain reaction) but they no longer stock it.

[AllAboutRides]

Ok so balance bike it is then.....but from what age?

[l4y3rcake]

Ok so balance bike it is then.....but from what age?

It depends how tall the little one is and which brand of balance bike. I got my son a Strider and he started on it at 17 months. The Strider has the lowest standover height of all the popular balance bikes at 11 inches. The Muna is just slightly higher than that and then most kids can only stand over a JD bug at around 2 1/2 yr old. The JD Bug standover is just over 12 inches.

 

Have to add that little brother only started now at 23 months due to a lack in vertical stature. He was born 2 months prem though.

[AllAboutRides]

It depends how tall the little one is and which brand of balance bike. I got my son a Strider and he started on it at 17 months. The Strider has the lowest standover height of all the popular balance bikes at 11 inches. The Muna is just slightly higher than that and then most kids can only stand over a JD bug at around 2 1/2 yr old. The JD Bug standover is just over 12 inches.

 

Have to add that little brother only started now at 23 months due to a lack in vertical stature. He was born 2 months prem though.

 

My little one is 17months old, but she haven't even start walking yet, only standing by her own and moving around holding on funiture :-)

 

Was thinking to get her FIRSTBIKE brand, that when she start walking LOL!!!!

[Breezer]

My boy went from a 12inch muna to a 16 titan. He is 3 and a half years old. He really struggled to pedal. I then put the bike on a old indoor trainer and let him pedal. It was not long before he got it right and went outside.

[VDV]

Interesting thread. I have been trying to get a Specialized Girls 16 Coaster for months and months (no stock, ever). What a poor business model! My 6 year old son is on the 20 Coaster, and took to it instantly.

 

4 year old on the balance bike (JD Bug) but more than ready to move up to pedals (bit of jealousy working there too). Delayed while waiting to get the 16 Coaster but gave up today and started hunting alternatives. The Muna 16 is cheaper, available immediately, and seems to have some support here.

 

Thanks for the advice.