Child Bike advice please

[Smatt]

Our older son is just coming upto 3yrs old. He is confidently whizzing around on an Early Rider balance bike & now needs a proper bike with pedals (but not stabilisers (which I do realise are easily removable).
I am a keen cyclist, so do not want any old tat for him!
I am struggling to find any group reviews of child bikes- does anyone know of any good sites?

Is it worth paying the premium for an Isla bike, or are there others which are better?

Many thanks for help/advice

 

[Sp!ke]

He's 3... as long as it fits he's not going to know any different so why spend too much?

 

[PXW]

I'd agree with that - the isla bikes look great but junior won't know or appreciate the difference (may even prefer Fireman Sam or whatever) and will be in that size of bike for about 15 minutes.

 

[verytalldave]

Agreed. Just because you COULD spend well over £100 on a bike for him doesnt mean you HAVE to. Although I would say it is worth buying something well made and from a reliable name. Not a cheapy from a market.
Most little boys would LOVE this I am sure............

http://www.a1bikes.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s15p645

 

[gbjeppm]

I would go for a kids bike in the Specialized range, a bit more expensive, but built to last, and you will get a good price for it on Ebay if you sell it on when junior grows out of it.

They also have the back brake on back pedalling, which is good when the little one can struggle to reach the brake lever.

See here

http://www.cycleworks.co.uk/bikes/content/2009/specialized/hotrock-12.asp

or this

http://www.cycleworks.co.uk/bikes/content/2009/specialized/hotrock-16.asp

 

[Smatt]

http://www.a1bikes.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s15p645

That is a perfect example of what I do not want!
It has stabilisers- unnecessary as he can already balance
It has look-a-like suspension fork- pointless & just looks-a-like its heavy!
Looks generally cheap & nasty (the raleigh name does not count for anything)
Whilst he may like the look of it, if it is clunky & heavy then he is unlikely to like the feel of it!
He is a tall 3 & I was thinking of slightly older bikes for a 3-4yrs old with 14-16" wheels(similar to the early rider bike he has) which will be better at dealing with uneven terrain.
He may only use it for approx a year, but then my other son will use it when he is bigger too, so I don't mind paying for some quality.

The specialised ones look promising. Thanks all for comments so far

 

[Dieselman]

Whilst he may like the look of it, if it is clunky & heavy then he is unlikely to like the feel of it!

I'd agree with that. When visiting the Inlaws I picked up one of the Grandchildrens bikes, it weighed a ton.
As others have said though his abilities and duration of use may be very limited and short, so don't spend too much, just get a small road/hybrid bike. (assuming it's for general use)

 

[gbjeppm]

That is a perfect example of what I do not want!
It has stabilisers- unnecessary as he can already balance
It has look-a-like suspension fork- pointless & just looks-a-like its heavy!
Looks generally cheap & nasty (the raleigh name does not count for anything)
Whilst he may like the look of it, if it is clunky & heavy then he is unlikely to like the feel of it!
He is a tall 3 & I was thinking of slightly older bikes for a 3-4yrs old with 14-16" wheels(similar to the early rider bike he has) which will be better at dealing with uneven terrain.
He may only use it for approx a year, but then my other son will use it when he is bigger too, so I don't mind paying for some quality.

The specialised ones look promising. Thanks all for comments so far

I agree completely, I made the mistake of buying a bike similar to this for my youngest, it was very heavy, it had a very strange geometry, and poorly made.

We upgraded him to the Specialized, and it is a different animal. Mind you the ISLA bikes look very good too.

 

[clk_greg]

If you goto Howes cycles on Regent Street in Cambridge they are fantastic for bikes, im on my 4th from them now, great service and have all the gear to do your bike exactly how you want it!

 

[ShinyF1]

I would take care to find one of the correct weight for the child - that's what has caught my children out before, Nice cheap bikes [Raleigh/Apollo etc], just too heavy. Mine are on Specialized 20" & 24" 'Hotrocks' now - great bikes.

 

[Smatt]

We upgraded him to the Specialized, and it is a different animal. Mind you the ISLA bikes look very good too.

Did the bike you got for young one have a rear coaster brake like the specialised hotrock 16? If so how did he get on?
Thanks for advice

 

[bluevenetian]

Hi, I take it the Early Rider is the one without pedals --- if so, I would'nt automatically assume that because your boy can balance and ride one of these he will necessarily be able to do the same straight away on a bike with pedals. My two are 6 and 4 and I found they needed to have a bit of muscle power to pedal the bike fast enough to keep them upright without stabalizers.
Also my eldest still struggles with reach...in terms of being able to reach the brakes.....

 

[Smatt]

Hi, I take it the Early Rider is the one without pedals ---

Yes it is

if so, I would'nt automatically assume that because your boy can balance and ride one of these he will necessarily be able to do the same straight away on a bike with pedals. My two are 6 and 4 and I found they needed to have a bit of muscle power to pedal the bike fast enough to keep them upright without stabalizers.
Also my eldest still struggles with reach...in terms of being able to reach the brakes.....

No, I have contacted early rider for some feedback/advice from them, although I still want to sort out the next bike so that it is ready....

 

[gbjeppm]

Did the bike you got for young one have a rear coaster brake like the specialised hotrock 16? If so how did he get on?
Thanks for advice

Yes worked well between 3 and 5, he became very proficient at the big skid/slide by back pedalling, did not use the front brake at all, at the beginning.

Hotrock 24 now lined up for his next birthday.