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About Kids Bike

Kids Bikes

A Present they will never forget…

I’ve been given a lot of Birthday and Christmas Presents over the years, but the years I got a new bike, are the times I won’t forget. Have a look out your window on Christmas morning, and I guarantee you, you will see at least one child riding a bike down the street at 6am! Some of my fondest memories are of riding my bike in the backyard with my brother and cousins, and then when we got older, all of us kids hopping on our bikes and going for adventures around the Peninsula.

Buying a Kids Bike will bring them countless hours of fun and adventure outside in the fresh air, instead of being cooped up in front of the computer or TV. Kids bikes help your child maintain a balanced, active lifestyle. And what’s best, is cycling is for all ages! There’s nothing better than getting the whole family together and going for a ride around the local park.

When it comes to buying a bike for your child, there are a few important things you need to consider before making a purchase, Safety, being the number one, followed by quality. All of the kid’s bikes at Bums on Bikes are tested to ensure that they fulfil Australian Safety Standards. You won’t find any supermarket or toy store specials here, and no bikes are sold in boxes. Every bicycle we sell is fully built by one of our fully qualified bicycle mechanics so you know it is safe and ready to ride as soon as you give it to your son or daughter.

As a parent or grandparent, safety is definitely the most important thing, but for a child, it must look cool!! Bright colors, a loud bell, streamers and dolls seats for girls… this is what a new bicycle is all about. And don’t forget the helmet…that has to look awesome too!

Training Wheels:

All of the 12 and 16-inch models we stock at Bums on Bikes come equipped with training wheels. Training wheels help make cycling easier for your child. The idea of training wheels is to give children the chance to get to learn how to make the bike move and stop without the added pressure of learning how to balance too! The hardest part of training wheels, is knowing when is best to take them off. The general idea is when your child is racing around on their bicycle and has good control it is time to remove them. Don’t leave them on too long as your child may become too reliant on them. Yes, they might have a few spills at first, but this will happen sooner or later, and the closer they are to the ground the less distance there is to fall. This being said, it is a good idea to have the seat at the lowest position so they can reach the ground with their feet comfortably.

Sizing:

Ensuring the kids bike you have chosen for your child fits correctly is obviously important. As children grow so fast, you naturally need to allow room for this, but don’t get too carried away. Safety should always come first. The maximum amount of time you can expect to get from a kids bike is approx 3 years.

Sometimes it is not always possible to take your child with you when buying them a bike, but it is the best idea. This will make buying the right size bike for them much easier as you can see them sitting on it and our staff can make sure the bike is the right size for them to ensure their safety. If this is just not possible, bring in an inside leg measurement and their height, and one of our staff can recommend you from there.

For correct sizing, your child should be capable of placing the balls of both feet on the ground and reach the handlebars comfortably while sitting down. All children should be able to have their feet flat on the ground and have about 25-50mm clearance between the bar and the crotch while straddling the centre bar.

12 inch Bicycle

12 inch bicycles are the smallest bicycle available. This size is generally suitable for children between the ages of 2 and 4 years. These bikes come with training wheels, and have a back-pedal brake as at this age a child’s hands are far too small to safely operate a hand brake. It is very important to remember, children under the age of five, should not ever ride on roads or near traffic. In the garden and parks under adult supervision are the best places for a child of this age to ride.

16 inch Bicycle

Most children between the ages of 4 and 7 years old need a kids bike with 16 inch wheels. These kids bikes are usually single speed with the back-pedal brakes and training wheels. Children in this age group still lack traffic skills but it is a suitable time for parents to start developing the child’s skills in an off road environment. This age is also a good time to start taking your child on bike paths.

20 inch Bicycle
20 inch bikes are the kids bike for most 6 to 10 year old children. These kid’s bikes come with a wider selection of styles and models with varying features. Coaster brakes, hand brakes only and models with gears…this is when cycling becomes more serious. Remember your child’s ability at riding a bike when it comes to deciding which model to purchase. For a child with less confidence might need a bike with back-pedal brakes, whereas a more confident child would do well on a bicycle with hand brakes and gears.

24 inch Bicycle

Most of the children in the age group 10+ will fit on a kid’s bike with 24-inch wheels. The choices in this size group is pretty similar to what you would find on an adult bike. At this age, you would want to start looking at what type of cycling your child will be doing, and how rough they are with their bike.

It can be daunting buying a bike for your child for the first time, but do your research, find a knowledgeable, friendly bike store, and it will be an enjoyable experience for you and your child.

Kids Bikes we stock: