Teaching children to ride a bike is essential in the development of their motor skills, muscle, and coordination. But before you can teach your children to ride a bike you need to buy them one of those kids bikes.
Parents who want to buy a bike for their child need to do a bit of research before making a purchase for many important reasons.
Everyone knows the feeling of freedom and fun when when riding a bike as a kid. It has filled emotional memory banks of the happy times. To ensure that your kid will have the same experience you must get them the best bicycle for kids in the market.
The biggest question is, how do you know if it is the perfect bike for your kid? Read the rest of this post to get some tips in buying a children’s bike.
1. Learn the Different Bike Sizes
Kids bike sizes go by its wheel or tire size. It is completely different from adult bicycles, which are measured by their frame size.
The usual wheel size for kid bicycles is measured in inches. The most common wheel sizes are:
- 12″
- 14″
- 16″
- 18″
- 20″
- 24″
The taller the child is the bigger the wheel size is needed. The age of the child correlates with the bike size as well. The cleverest way to determine the proper bike size for the child is to measure their inseam.
2. Measure the Child’s Inseam
Parents should measure their child’s inseam to ensure they choose the proper bike size. A bike for a five-year-old child can also fit children one year younger or older than five. However, each child is different, and each one of them needs a bike that fits their individual built.
To measure the child’s, let them stand against a wall barefoot and let them hold a book between their legs close to their crotch area. Use a tape measure to find the length from their foot to their inseam.
3. Always Choose a Reputable Bike Brand
Many parents do not give much thought about the bike brand. However, it is good to always choose a reputable bike brand to ensure the quality and durability of the bike.
There are bike brands out there that specialize in designing and developing bikes for children. It means that their bikes shape and size are design specifically for children. It is also lighter.
Reputable bike brands offer a longer warranty. It is very important to have a warranty considering that kids are prone to accidentally damage their bikes. Unfortunately, bikes sold at malls or shopping centers do not often have a warranty.
4. Always Choose a Lightweight Bicycle
Picking a lightweight kids bikes is important for kids to properly drive and maneuver it to prevent accidents. The heavier the bike, the more difficult it is for a kid to properly control it. Also, driving a heavy bike can be very exhausting.
When choosing a lightweight bike, always choose an aluminum or titanium frame, which are the lightest materials out there. It does not mean that you have to avoid steel frames. You can still buy a steel frame, but make sure that components such as the wheels, fork, saddle, etc., are made from lighter materials to compensate for the entire weight.
5. Always Check the Brakes
Bikes for kids usually have inferior hand brakes, especially if the bike was not bought from a legitimate bike shop. To prevent accidents, parents must ensure that their child’s bike has properly functioning brakes. They must test the brakes themselves to determine if it has good grip. Also, they must make sure that the brake’s lever is not hard to squeeze with their pinky finger.
Final Thoughts
With all the tips listed above, parents can breeze through their bike shopping. These tips are going to help them choose the bike that perfectly fits their child’s specific requirements. Buying a bike requires a set of considerations to ensure the safety of the child.
