by John Brown,
Knowing the differences between kids’ bikes will make it easier when it’s time to get your child on a bicycle. Whether it’s the first bike or an upgrade to a bigger size. Here are some tips to help you decide what’s best for your young rider.
Types of kids’ bikes to consider
BMX
In the early 1970’s, kids began racing their bicycles on Southern California’s dirt tracks. This racing led to a national explosion in BMX bikes. Over the last few years, the “Bikelife” movement has sparked renewed interest in BMX worldwide and ushered in a range of frame and wheel sizes into the category. These bikes all share the same features: one rear brake, single speed, high bars, and a low saddle, even though the wheel sizes differ.
MTB
The Mountain Bike boom of the 90’s spread across the globe and included options for every size of rider. Today, kids’ mountain bikes live in two categories: “Off road” and On road”. The “Off road” mountain bikes have lower gearing to traverse loose trails, suspension designed for control, and lightweight components. “On-road” mountain bikes are built for riding around the neighborhood rather than off-road. They have higher gearing for smooth paths, suspension designed for aesthetics rather than function, and they typically weigh a lot more than the “off-road” versions. Both come in 20”, 24”, and 26” wheel sizes.
Balance
Balance bikes are sweeping the world as the best way to teach children to ride bikes. What is a balance bike, and how does it work? These bikes look a lot like a normal bike with two wheels, a frame, a seat, and handlebars. What you won’t see on a balance bike is a crank, chain, and pedals. Balance bikes are designed to teach kids the most difficult portion of riding, balance, before incorporating pedals.
Road
This category is a bit newer to kids’ bikes, but has existed in cycling for over 100 years. More recently, parents who enjoy riding their road bikes wanted to share that experience with their young kids. Thanks to a few perceptive companies, kids’ road bikes were well received. To find the size that fits your child best, try different brands until you find one that works well.
Now that you have selected the type of kids’ bike for your child, let’s look at:
Sizes of Kid’s Bikes
Most kids’ bikes are sized by wheel size. For example, a child 32”-42” tall would ride a 16”- wheeled kids’ bike. That does not mean that all 16”- wheeled kids’ bikes are the same size. Where they differ is the overall height of the frame and the distance from the seat to the handlebars. When getting a new bike, try a few brands to find the one with the best frame.
Brakes
Smaller kids’ bikes (16” wheels) usually use a pedal brake. Therefore, to have the child stop, they pedal backward. Once you grow into kids’ bikes with 20” wheels, most manufacturers use a hand brake and a pedal brake so that kids can get comfortable with hand brakes. At 24” wheels and above, bikes are almost exclusively built with hand brakes only.
Materials
Thanks to increased aluminum production and lower material costs, many kids’ bikes are now made of aluminum. This is great news for kids around the world because aluminum frames are lighter than steel. Steel frames are not always a detriment to kids bike though. In the case of BMX bikes, Steel’s durability and strength are a huge benefit for riders, making more aggressive moves.
What about attributes
-Weight
Kids’ bikes typically weigh a lot in relation to the child. But that does not mean these bikes are heavy. For example, a 25-pound bike is proportionally heavier for a 40-pound child than for a 150-pound adult. Getting your child the lightest bicycle available will go a long way to make it easier for them to ride.
-Durability
Durability is a difficult metric to qualify when buying a bike for a child. Something that will be durable enough for path riding might not hold up to the rigors of off-road use. Durable features to look for include metal rather than plastic braking and shifting components, and aluminum rims rather than steel. Beyond everything else, consider the child who will be riding the bike when determining how durable it needs to be. Some kids are gentle with their equipment while others are far more kinetic.
-Gears
Gears are great for neighborhoods that have hills or for riding off-road. Multiple gears give kids a mechanical advantage, allowing them to ride steep grades or high speeds with relative ease. On the other hand, if your typical riding locations are completely flat and paved, gears will probably just add undue complexity to your child’s bike.
How to buy
Now that you know all about what makes a kid’s bike, let’s talk about how to buy one. I cannot recommend your local bike shop highly enough. A child’s enjoyment of riding a bike is hugely affected by the quality of the bike, the fit of the bike, and the function of the bike. For those reasons, no entity does a better job of getting your kid on the right bike than the local bike shop. It is not a secret that there are less expensive places to buy a bike than a bike shop. Even though others may sell bikes for less money, they are not the same product in terms of fit, function, or service.
Additional materials
When getting your child a new bike, remember to look for a few other products as well. First and foremost is a Helmet. Helmets have limited lifespans and should be replaced frequently. Also consider what will go on your kid’s new bike, like a bell or a bottle. Round out the purchase with gloves or a jersey, and your kid will be looking forward to mile after mile of great riding.