How to choose the best bike for kids in 2023?
It’s no longer given that youngsters are enthusiastic about bicycles in today’s always-connected, online gaming, TikTok-centric environment. Fortunately, there are many reasons for parents to feel thrilled on their behalf. Children can gain both physically and socially from cycling.
Young children who learn to ride two wheels get various health benefits and develop superior balance, strength, and eye-hand coordination as well as better cardiorespiratory fitness that last a lifetime. Additionally, because cycling gives children greater mobility and promotes social interaction and friendships, it helps them grow more autonomous and active. It’s a fantastic way to bring a kid out of the control of the screen and into the vast outdoors, where everything is genuine.
Let’s dive into how to choose the children’s bicycle. Read this definitive guide to buying a Kids bike:
- The Right Size of Kids Bike
- The Right Type of Kid’s Bikes
- The Right Material for Kid’s Bikes
- Gears and Gears Shifters
- The Durability of Kids Bikes
- Safety of Kids Bikes
- Longevity of Kids Bike
- Gender-Specific Kids Bike Design
- The Weight of a Kids Bike
- Accessories of Kids Bike
- Components of Kids Bike
- Price of Kids Bike
1. The Right Size of Kids Bike
There is a wide variety of two-wheel options available for child bikers, ranging from balancing bikes for the youngest riders to youth mountain bikes with front suspension. But how can you focus your search when there are so many options? We’ll walk you through selecting the ideal bike for your youngster.
Remember, when struggling with the question of how to choose a kids’ bike, the right size of the bike matters. Kids will find it simpler, safer, and more enjoyable to ride a bike that is the right size for them.
Contrary to the frame size for adult bikes, children’s bicycles normally have the wheel size indicated to meet the various height ranges of children. According to the sizing chart given below, each wheel size is based on your child’s height and the inseam measurement.
Kindly refer to the below chart of Tru Bike for deciding how to choose a Kids’ Bike.
Wheel size | 12″ | 14″ | 16″ | 20″ | 24″ | 26″ |
Approx Age | 2 – 3 | 2 – 4 | 4 – 6 | 5 – 8 | 8 – 11 | 10+ |
Approx inseam | 15″ – 18″ | 15″ – 20″ | 16″ – 22″ | 19″ – 25″ | 23″ – 28″ | 25″+ |
Approx height | 36″ – 39″ | 37″ – 44″ | 41″ – 48″ | 45″ – 54″ | 49″ – 59″ | 56″+ |
Why is choosing the best bike for kids with the right size so crucial?
Cycling is more enjoyable when the child’s bike fits. By securely pedaling, using the brakes and gears, if necessary, touching the ground, your youngster will gain confidence.
A too-hefty or too-small bike may be difficult to handle or uneasy to peddle. Your toddler might have trouble stopping or balancing.
2. The Right Type of Kid’s Bikes
When thinking about how to choose kids bikes, the right type of bikes matters. Although it may seem apparent, the type of cycling your child does will determine the type of bike they need as they become older. This decision becomes extremely crucial starting with 20′′ wheels and up.
If they want to ride their bike primarily on the road, don’t purchase them a mountain bike. If you plan to ride muddy trails or visit the BMX track, don’t get a road bike with skinny road tyres and drop handlebars.
A geared bike like Tru 2.0 Pro Gear Cycle for Kids 6 to 8-year-Old or Tru 2.4 Cycle for 7 to 11-year-Old Kids is your best option if they plan to undertake an adventurous cycling experience.
3. The Right Material for Kid’s Bikes
The more durable, the better because kids’ bikes are certain to be dropped to the ground when supper is ready, not to mention occasional crashes. As was previously said, sturdy does not equate to heavy. It denotes high quality.
Steel will rust if it is not protected, so steel seat posts, frames, nuts, and bolts will corrode more quickly than their aluminum counterparts.
Tru Bike range of bicycles is ultralight and super duper comfortable enabling kids to handle it like a pro without much force. Light and high-quality aluminum frames, and alloy components make riding effortless.
4. Gears and Gears Shifters
When deciding on how to choose kids’ bikes, don’t forget the gears. The smallest children’s bikes don’t require gears because they only confuse new riders and add weight. To avoid gears, wait until the wheels are at least 20 inches in diameter; even then, ask yourself if you really need them.
Gears become crucial once your youngster is navigating hillier terrain, of course. Start out simple. The ideal gear ratios to bring them up and down the trails and tracks should be considered after they are riding a 26-inch-wheel mountain bike.
Related: Gear bicycles and how to use them?
5. The Durability of Kids Bikes
The best bikes for kids are durable. The bicycle your child rides should be robust enough to withstand all the challenges of riding. Your child will tumble, bump into walls or trees, and the bike needs to be prepared for all of this to ensure years of use. The most popular type of bicycle is one composed of either steel or aluminum.
Tru bike range of bikes is designed in-house and manufactured with the highest quality components. Durability is our promise.
6. Safety of Kids Bikes
The bike’s parts have been created with children in mind to maximize their safety at all times. Before buying a bicycle, always inspect it. Verify that every component is securely fastened. Always check your tyres’ pressure, and have them serviced every two to three months.
Before purchasing any bicycle, everyone should take into account a few factors. Tru bike range of bicycle comes with a long wheelbase and steering geometry providing a good balance and making riding more enjoyable.
7. Longevity of Kids Bike
When will my child outgrow this bike? How long can they ride it? You need to feel confident as a parent that the bike will survive for a long time. On that note, the lack of space for the knees between the seat and handlebars is the most frequent reason children need to upgrade their bike size.
Since the center of gravity is so high as a result of this, you are forced to raise the seat, which causes your youngster to lose interest or confidence in riding. The extended wheelbase is a distinguishing design element of Tru Bike; it is more ergonomically sound for a child’s developing body.
8. Gender-Specific Kids Bike Design
Does the design of a boy or girl child’s bicycle matter? From a specific riding perspective, the functional differences between the girls’ and boys’ form designs are insignificant. In fact, the majority of young riders benefit from a lower step through, as it makes getting on and off easier. There isn’t much of a difference in the design in terms of strength either.
There is a demand in the market for 2 alternative styles, therefore it has more to do with the social element. In order to provide adequate options for every boy or girl, Tru Bike attempts to offer as many gender-neutral colors as we can in our selection. Tru Bike range of bicycles comes in vibrant colors and uber cool designs keeping in mind the children’s preferences. Tru bicycles are gender-neutral and designed in a way suitable for both girls & boys.
9. The Weight of a Kids Bike
Would you ride a bike that was heavier than you were? Could you imagine how difficult it would be to maneuver the bike around corners or up and down a curb in addition to launching it from a stationary position?
So why would you anticipate your kid to behave similarly, especially if they’re just learning to ride?
One of the main design considerations when we first launched Tru Bike was weight. Simply put, there was no selection of lightweight children’s bikes anywhere in the globe.
10. Accessories of Kids Bike
You really need to make sure your child rides safely and a helmet is a must. Tru Bike range of bicycles comes with a helmet & Tru bike is giving helmets free of cost with every purchase for kids safety. Knee and shoulder pads can significantly limit a cyclist’s range of motion and their ability to feel the bike naturally.
Make sure the helmet fits well before buying it. Going to your local bike store with your child to get the ideal fit is absolutely worthwhile. The helmet should not protrude excessively from the forehead or sit so low that it resembles a baseball cap because this will obstruct the wearer’s field of vision. There should be some movement, but it shouldn’t rock too much.
11. Components of Kids Bike
Keep things straightforward; the less complicated the bike is, the fewer things may go wrong, and the lighter the bike will be. In most cases, the suspension is unnecessary because children are light and have springy limbs and legs.
Children find it difficult to change the front gears, so choose an alloy chainset with just one ring when it comes to gears. Do not bother with gears if your youngster is under five years old.
12. Price of Kids Bike
You must consider the cost of the bike you choose. The more expensive types of children’s bikes don’t necessarily cost a lot of money. The good news is that there are several internet retailers where you should be able to get a high-quality children’s bike for a reasonable price and within your spending limit.
Tru Bike range of bicycles is a value-for-money option. Simply take your time, look about, and compare the costs of other models.
Now you know “how to choose kids bike”, so check out the gearless and geared range of Tru Bike bicycles. In case of any doubts, you can contact us and our representative will reach out to you asap.