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Kids Bike Buyers Guide
Everyone remembers their first new bike and that special first taste of freedom their first bike gave them  presents don’t come any better than that! But as a parent it can be bewildering knowing which kids bike to buy. What is the difference between the various types? How do you know it’s the right size? How long will it last? What about safety? If these are some of the questions buzzing around your head then fear not! – Here at Wiggle we’ve got it all covered in our special kids bike buyers guide:
Sizing
Firstly all kids bikes are measured by differences in wheel size:
12″ for ages 2-4
16″ for ages 4-6
20″ for ages 6-8
24″ for ages 8-11
-at Wiggle we carry a full range of these sizes so you’re sure to find one that fits. There are also several different types so here is the inside track on the benefits of each so you can confidently choose which bike is right for your child.
Balance bikes
Pedal-free balance bikes are a terrific introduction to cycling for youngsters and pretty much as soon as they’re able to walk they’re old enough to use one. The beauty of these bikes is they remove the early reliance on stabilisers and make the transition to a regular bike faster and easier. Kids start by standing over the bike and quickly get the hang of scooting about on it and steering (mainly by leaning) – once this is mastered going to a bike with pedals becomes much less challenging.
Balance bikes from Early Rider are expertly made, durable and look fantastic too! As they’re made from wood they’re not heavy and require very little effort which means your child can get around on it easily and quickly and there’s no painfully slow trips back from the park lugging a heavy bike once junior decides they no longer want to pedal! The Early Rider Classic, the Early Rider Evolution and the Early Rider Lite are all well worth checking out.
For smaller children ready to ride a 20″ wheel bike, the Mongoose Micron is an absolute winner with its shorter top tube and mini frame. It’ll suit children aged about eight upwards and is perfect if your child is begging for a BMX but just isn’t quite big enough for a regular sized one.
From Mongoose, we also highly recommend the Fireball, the Blaze (for girls), the Logo and the Subject. These bikes combine brilliant performance with great value and exciting colours and designs which appeal to all ages.
GT is another well established brand whose bikes offer a lot of bang for their buck. The GT Air and Fly are worth checking out, as are the Slammer and the Zone. With features such as pivotal seatposts, nylon pedals and 25×9 micro gearing, put one of these in your son or daughter’s Santa sack and they’ll love you forever!
Helmets and accessories
Bike helmets are a must-have item for kids tearing about on bikes. Fortunately there are now so many cool and funky designs from such a wide range of manufacturers that persuading your little ones to wear a helmet is no longer the arduous task it once might have been. Check out our Kiddimoto children’s helmets, aimed at two to six year olds, as well as the Giro Rascal, which comes in a universal child size. If in doubt about sizing, measure around the head just above the ears for accurate measurement.
Don’t go forgetting gloves  Kiddimoto’s Cycling Gloves are extremely popular with kids and parents alike and help protect little hands from the inevitable bumps and scrapes. -As with many things falling off is normal – but helmets and gloves helps keep damage to a minimum!
