The bicycle: it’s the ultimate symbol of childhood. And a wonderful way to get fit, earn independence, and gain confidence. Kids who cycle have more freedom, spend more time out of the house, and can generally have a great time in their lives.
Of course, as a parent, it’s often a steep learning curve. You might have a vague idea of how to ride a bicycle from A to B, but you know virtually nothing about children.
Fortunately, this post is here to help. We explore everything you need to know about getting your kids’ first bicycle so everyone is happy. Let’s take a look.
Get A Bicycle Your Child Can Maneuver
The bike you choose for your child depends significantly on their age. If you get a bicycle that’s the wrong size, they will find it hard to move left and right, and turn the cranks.
If your kids are very young, consider getting them a bicycle that they push along with their feet on the ground. Get them to scoot rather than pedal.
If your child is a little older, then a bicycle with pedals is okay, but make sure that the seat isn’t too high. You can adjust the height a little bit, but if it’s as low on the seat tube as it will go and their legs still won’t reach the pedals, then that’s a problem.
Make Sure Your Kids Has Somewhere Safe To Cycle
Legal professionals, such as George Salinas see the results of bicycle accidents every day, and they’re not pleasant. Therefore, parents should carefully consider where their children can cycle.
If you live next to a park, that’s great. Kids can go and enjoy the open space without worrying about traffic. If, however, you reside on a busy urban street, you’ll want to take that into consideration. You don’t want to be in a situation where your child winds up in the hospital with broken bones.
The best place for kids to learn how to cycle safely is on rural tracks that don’t have any traffic. Think trails and public footpaths. These are great places to get them started on their cycling journey and get them hooked for life.
Consider Protection
Even with stabilizers, kids are prone to falling off their bicycles. It’s what they do. That’s why it’s a good idea to prepare them in advance. These days, it’s easy to get wearable protection for bicycles. Consider getting your child both knees and armbands to keep them safe. You’ll also want to invest in a pair of gloves for them so that if they do fall off, they don’t graze their hands painfully.
You’ll also want to ensure that they have a helmet that fits their head. Don’t get them anything too big because “they’ll grow into it.” That’s dangerous and could result in serious injuries in the future.
Choose The Right Type Of Bicycle
When your kids are young, a bike is a bike. Neither you, nor they, have any idea whether they want to be road cyclists, mountain bikers, or something else.
For that reason, it’s a good idea to get them a general-purpose bicycle: something with knobbly tires that will work on all terrains. If they later tell you that they want to get into a specific type of cycling, then you can help them with that.
Get Them Something Lightweight
Naturally, you don’t need to get your kid an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber bicycle. However, giving them something lightweight is important. That’s because the ratio of rider weight to bicycle weight is much lower for kids. For them, hauling a massive steel frame around requires a lot of energy.
Aluminum is a good compromise. It’s light but also cheap and sturdy, making it a better option than both carbon and steel.
Keep The Gears Simple
Kids can struggle to understand gears, so parents should first explain them and, second, keep them simple.
These days, you can get bikes that only have a rear derailleur. So instead of having two shifters on the handlebars, you just have one.
For children, this setup is much easier to get used to and makes riding more of a joy.
You might also want to consider investing in gears that can shift under chain load. This way, your child doesn’t have to learn the complicated task of taking the pressure off the pedals during gear shifts.
Of course, if they’re a very young child, a single speed will do. Please note, though, that they’ll grow out of a small bike quickly, perhaps in just a few months,
Test The Brakes
Brakes are essential for kids’ bikes. They need to work every time.
Unfortunately, they don’t always do their job. And that can be extremely dangerous and worrying for parents.
Mechanical disc brakes are your best bet. These work in all weather conditions and are easy to repair.
You might also want to consider hydraulic disc brakes. These are more expensive but perform even better. However, they require regular maintenance and “bleeding” which can be a complicated operation if you’ve never done it before.
Get Them A Chain Guard
You’ll also want to consider getting your child a chain guard. These protect your child’s legs from crashing into the sprockets, causing painful bleeding.
You Don’t Always Need Stabilizers
Stabilizers are a mainstay of children’s bicycles. But they aren’t strictly necessary. It is possible for a child to get on a bicycle and start riding it immediately. In fact, this is usually what happens when a child first learns to ride a bike. They just commit to riding it, and suddenly everything falls into place.
Accidents Happen
Lastly, it’s worth noting that accidents do happen. Your child will fall off their bicycle at some point. It’s 100 percent guaranteed.
Because of this, you should prepare your child in the ways described above. Make sure that they have plenty of protective gear and keep a first aid kit nearby for any cuts, scrapes, and bruises they might get.