Buying Your Little One’s First Bike

Learning to ride a bike is a great way of helping children gain confidence and independence and can be lots of fun too! It can also be a good way of teaching them responsibility and increase their awareness of road safety. But with so many to choose from, how do you pick the right one for your first kid’s bike?

One of the most important factors you need to consider first is to pick the right sized bike. Kid’s bikes are sized by their wheels, rather than by the frame as with adult bikes, and your child should be able to mount and dismount comfortably, be able to reach the pedals and be able to ride without their knees hitting the handlebars. Always make sure you go to a reputable dealer and this will help ensure that you get the right advice and that you choose a bike that is a good fit for your child. Your child should also play a part in choosing their first bike so they feel involved!

Another thing that you should always bear in mind is that when they your child first learns to ride, they are very likely to fall off! With this in mind, one accessory to be definitely considered when buying a kid’s bike is adequate safety protection- a bike is a children's toy that is worth buying but you should always remember safety first! Make sure whatever brand of helmet that you buy has had an approved safety check and that, just like the bike, it is a good fit. The helmet should fit snug without being tight and should be comfortable to wear. If it is loose and slips around, it cannot do its job and therefore will be no use as protection!

The health benefits of riding a bike have long been proven. Children who ride their bicycles to school are much more active and, on average, live much healthier lifestyles. Also, cycling is much better for the environment and for your child as well!