The bicycle for children is undoubtedly one of the most fun games that will accompany them until adulthood, making them gradually increasingly aware of the road rules.
First, you learn to ride a bike, and the sooner you understand how engaging this activity can be. But how do you choose the right, wheeled bike for children? How tall should the frame be? Here is a useful guide to help you choose the right one for your child’s needs on Black Friday Deals.
Bicycle with wheels: what it is and how it works
If a bicycle without pedals can be given as a gift from the age of 2, a bike with wheels is recommended for ages 3 – 4 and up.
This is because small children have a hard time learning how to operate the pedals: it is usually a movement that they can practice at about 3 years old. Along with movement, the right power to move the bike must also be associated, which not all children develop.
The wheels are positioned on brackets that start from the center of the frame where the rear wheel is located: the wheels are much smaller than the wheels because they must only act as simple support while the child drives the bike.
Better with wheels or without?
A bicycle with wheels is recommended so the child feels confident that he can learn the movement, the right push, and gradually balance. For the child to learn to ride a bicycle, some parents gradually raise the wheel brackets’ angle so that the child is encouraged to keep his balance on the two central wheels instead of leaning on the side ones.
A bike without pedals, evident to all, this procedure: these models are suitable for children aged two and over. Having no pedals and pushing only with the strength of the feet will help them learn to balance first, and only then, the movement of the pedals. Usually, children who have learned to ride a bike without pedals learn much earlier than others to ride a bike without wheels.
So why buy a bicycle with wheels? It all depends on the age of the child. We recommend this model if it is already over 3 years old. Alternatively, the one without pedals is fine.
How to use a bicycle with wheels
A bicycle with wheels works the same as a normal bike: it is usually recommended for children aged 3 – 4 and up. Children must learn the circular motion required by the pedals and the right force to make them turn.
To help children understand how to maintain balance, as we have said, many parents tend to increase the angle of the wheel brackets: the child perceives the increasingly excessive inclination that the bike makes to be supported by the wheels and by hand.
How to choose a bicycle with wheels: What should you evaluate before buying?
What are the characteristics of a bicycle with wheels that are must-haves for a child? And the right measures based on age? Here are the features to evaluate before purchasing to find the right one for your needs.
Frame: materials and height
The frame dimensions of children’s bicycles between 3 and 5 years old are always the same: what varies are the inch dimensions of the wheels, which we will discuss in the next paragraph.
As for the materials of the frame, this is almost always produced in steel; wooden bikes, on the other hand, are almost always associated with models without pedals.
Wheels: Dimensions and measures
Children who learn to ride on wheels are usually between the ages of 3 and 5. For this, the frame’s dimensions should go hand in hand with the height and the wheels.
We talk about a children’s bicycle when the wheel size is between 10 and 24 inches: in this article, we will only consider bicycles with wheels, stopping at a maximum of 16 inches. Bikes larger than 16 inches are suitable for children ages 8 and up who are thought to have already learned to ride without wheels.
So for a child just starting with the bike, aged between 3 and 5 years and a height between 90 cm and 1.05 cm, the wheel size is between 12 and 14 inches at the most. Over the age of 5, if the child is a little taller than average, you can opt for wheels with a size of 16 inches.
Brakes
Most models have two brakes, one front and one rear. We advise you to choose these more complete models and avoid those with only one brake, which is less safe and less powerful.
Total weight
This is a fact to be evaluated before purchasing, even if there is no very pronounced difference in weight between one model and another: being all made of steel, the weight varies between 11 and 18 lbs.
Accessories
Some bicycles are accompanied by fun accessories that are more than useful: girls will be happy to have a bicycle with a basket in front and behind where to place their dolls, while boys can have a bell, perhaps a trumpet, or a fun light to show to their friends.
>>> Where to buy bicycles with wheels for children?
Unlike bicycles for adults, which are usually attributable to well-known brands in the sector, those for children are mostly made by little-known production companies. This fact has little effect on the quality of the bicycle itself since, in the end, it is little more than a game than a means of transport.
