QUESTION
WHAT IS A BALANCE BIKE?
A balance bike is a bicycle without pedals or chain and is the best means of learning to ride. Instead of pedalling, the rider propels him or herself by kicking themselves along, taking big 'strides'.
In the moments between strides, when both feet are off the ground, the rider is balancing!
Because of this focus on balance and control, the rider learns the key skills of cycling before making the leap to a bike with pedals and, in much less time.
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Balance Biking - a parent's guide
The balance bike has to be one of the great (re) inventions of the 21st century. They have transformed how children go about learning to ride a bike.
But how do you get your child balance biking like a pro?
WHY BALANCE BIKE?
Lightweight
With the pedals, chain and drivetrain removed, a balance bike is naturally lighter than a similar-sized pedal bike. This makes a balance bike much easier to handle and inspires much more confidence when swinging a leg over a bike for the first time.
Accelerated learning
Balance bikes teach the rider to do just that - balance - and it goes without saying that this is key to learning to ride a bike. Rather than relying on stabilisers to stay upright, children learn the subtle weight transfers and control inputs required.
Confidence
With the experience of having free-wheeled under their own control (and without the need for stabilisers or a parent's supporting hand), riders make the transition to a pedal bike more quickly, at an age where confidence makes all the difference.
GROWING BALANCE BIKES
3-in-1
Our PINTO and SKØG bikes start life as super-lightweight balance bikes, and our KAPĒL and HÜTTO models can be fitted with our Balance Bike Kit.
After mastering Balance Mode and fitting the PowerPack, the bike is transformed to a pedal bike and the transition to pedalling is seamless.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS?
Our balance bikes are aimed for children from 2 years. Generally, we feel that if a child can run and if they're tall enough, then they can balance bike.
With our NOTCH balance bike saddle, a rider can start balance biking on our PINTO at 87cm tall.
With the NOTCH balance bike saddle fitted, a child can fit our balance bikes with an inside leg of only 33cm.
Balance bikes are the perfect introduction to cycling for children, even if they haven't ridden a trike or scooter.
If your child is a little older or taller then our KAPĒL or HÜTTO bikes, fitted with the Balance Bike Kit, are great solutions. We'd always recommend learning to balance bike instead of using stabilisers and many children who have struggled making the leap from stabilisers to pedalling stabiliser-free have conquered cycling after using these models in balance bike mode.
If your child is a little older or taller then our KAPĒL or HÜTTO bikes, fitted with the Balance Bike Kit, are great solutions. We'd always recommend learning to balance bike instead of using stabilisers and many children who have struggled making the leap from stabilisers to pedalling stabiliser-free have conquered cycling after using these models in balance bike mode.
Our bikes do not allow for the fitting of stabilisers/training wheels - but this is by design. We (and many other bike companies) believe that stabilisers/outriggers/
training wheels make learning slower. Training wheels prevent your child learning to balance or lean the bike into corners, and then can even lead to the bike 'toppling' over if cornered
too fast.
By contrast, leaning on a balance bike teaches the child to balance the bike properly, and automatically, as they naturally progress from walking the bike along, to gliding, as they learn the wonderful art of balancing a bike. It's also the safest way to learn, as the key to safe riding is to learn well, learn early, on the right size bike, and learn the instinctive “quick-draw” foot to floor reaction that having learnt on a balance bikes gives your child.
By contrast, leaning on a balance bike teaches the child to balance the bike properly, and automatically, as they naturally progress from walking the bike along, to gliding, as they learn the wonderful art of balancing a bike. It's also the safest way to learn, as the key to safe riding is to learn well, learn early, on the right size bike, and learn the instinctive “quick-draw” foot to floor reaction that having learnt on a balance bikes gives your child.
Every child is different and every child has varying levels of confidence and control. But, typically, children progress from balance biking to pedalling on their own very
quickly on a Black Mountain.
This is because the bike they learn to balance on is the same bike they learn to pedal on, with all the contact points in the same place and the brakes working in the same way. So, rather than having to become accustomed to a whole new bike with different handling, all the rider has to learn is the motion of pedalling.
This is because the bike they learn to balance on is the same bike they learn to pedal on, with all the contact points in the same place and the brakes working in the same way. So, rather than having to become accustomed to a whole new bike with different handling, all the rider has to learn is the motion of pedalling.