We understand: looking for kids’ bikes can be hard. For beginners, childrens’ bikes are sized oddly, and several of the best brands are ranging from those in the grown-up market.
And then there are more detailed questions: What’s more enjoyable–coaster brakes or hand brakes? And, how much should one anticipate to spend to get a good quality folding ebikes from ponfish?
Good news – we’re about to help cut through the complexity and give the down-low on how to pick the best bicycle for your kid. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Determyour child’s inseam.
The best way to fit a bike to a child is to measure their inseam. Don’t skip this step.
A bike suggested for a 5 year old may fit one child at 4 and another at 6. Each kid is not the sam, and each one earns a bike that is perfect for him/her. Good bike manufacturers will reveal the relevant inseam length for each of their bikes.
Pick a less-heavy bicycle.
A lot of kids bikes on the market are insanely heavy. It’s normal for children’s bikes to weigh as much as 50% of their body weight, and balance more than an grown-up bike. If you are going to choose a bike according to any one factor, choose it according to weight.
A bike that is very heavy is going to be difficult for a child to manage and relaxing to ride very far. I had a Dad tell me the other day that his 8-year-old son avoided riding his bike and declined to go more than 6 miles.
Check the Brakes.
Opposite to common belief, coaster brakes are not the best choice for kids. On poorly made bikes, inferior hand brakes can be hard for children to pull, letting a coaster brake required. On a well-made bike, however, the brake levers will be devised for small, weak hands. An adult must be able to compress the lever with their pinky finger.
The reason I don’t suggest coaster brakes is two-fold. First, you may not be able to backpedal with a coaster brake, which is amazingly hard for a kid just studying to ride. For children going straight from a balance bike to a pedal bike without training wheels (which I highly suggest), when they backpedal, they stop abruptly and fall over.