Tips to remember while buying children’s bike

Oct 16
08:41

2009

kathleenchester

kathleenchester

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Buying bikes for children requires some amount of awareness. Small children soon outgrow tri-cycles and it is time to hit the road for a proper bike. So,Tips to remember while buying children’s bike Articles what should you keep in mind to buy a children’s bike that is not just a pleasure to ride but is also great value for your money? Read on.

Children are ready to ride a bike between the ages of 4 and 8. By this time, they have developed sufficient agility, balance and coordination. However, physical skills alone are not enough. The child also needs enough emotional motivation and mental willingness before he or she can master the bike. Some children are just not ready until they are 8 or 10 years old, and even then, they require quite a bit of persuasion before they are ready to ride!

Along with readiness and confidence, the right choice of bike plays an important role. The first decision you will have to take is the size of the bicycle. Unlike bikes for adults where the size of the frame and height of the seat decides size, the size of children’s bike is determined by the diameter of the wheel. Between 5 and 8 years, a wheel size of 16 inches is recommended. Between 6 and 9, the wheel size required is 18 inches and so on. Expert advice is the best way to decide the size of the bike that is suitable for your child.

Equally important is the kind of brakes used. When children are young, they are not adept at handling hand brakes. Coaster brakes are the best. These become redundant as the child grows. Even if your child is tall, do not expect him or her to handle hand brakes if the child is below 6 years.

Regardless of the size of the bike, remember that you ultimately get what you pay for. If you try to buy cheap bikes, you can expect a short life span, which is alright if that is what you want.

Another important tip to keep in mind while buying children’s bike is to avoid fads. This is particularly difficult for parents whose children demand a particular model or make. Fads almost always disappear from the scene in a short span of time. It might help o remember that hot pink colors are fitted with matching dolly seats, baskets or bags so as to distract customers from the poor quality of the bike.

When it comes to brands, there are literally hundreds to choose from. But, it always pays to buy from a reputed dealer. When you buy from dealers you can’t trust, you deal with employees who cannot distinguish between coaster brakes and hand brakes. The bikes may even be assembled by employees who know next to nothing about bikes. Can you leave your child’s safety in the hands of an inexperienced mechanic?

When you buy children’s bikes, keep in mind that there is no point in doling out too much money because children soon outgrow their bikes. Besides, children’s bikes are not meant to last as long as adults’ bikes.