It's essential when selecting a bike that you don't choose a size the child will 'grow into'. As the size of a bike increases, so does it's weight, making it more challenging to manoeuvre. An increase in height raises the centre of gravity and makes it harder to balance. As a result, if you choose a bike that is too large, your child may have difficulty riding it and not enjoy the experience. Use the age and height recommendations below as a guide. Be mindful that the best way to know if the bike is the right size is to see if the child can comfortably stand over the bike with both feet flat on the ground, comfortably reach the pedals from the seat, and comfortably reach the handlebars when sitting.
It's also important to note that unlike adult bikes that are measured via the frame, kids bikes are measured by wheel size, and so the size is not indicative of the frame size or seat height of the bike. As well as looking at the bikes tyre size, be aware of the minimum and maximum seat height to make sure the child can fit the bike.
Age 18 months + / Balance bikes
Balance bikes are designed to suit children from as young as 18 months and teach balance, fine motor skills and good habits right from the get-go. These bikes have no pedals and rely on the child to push themselves along with their feet. They are a great introduction to cycling and will make the progression to balancing a pedal bike much easier when compared to progressing from using training wheels.
Age 2 - 4 / Wheel size 12in
12inch children's bike are often a child's first pedal bike and are designed for two to four-year-olds or those between 85cm - 110cm. As this is often the first foray into cycling, you want to look for simplistic designs without things that could complicate their riding experiences like multiple gears, lever-operated rear hand brake or front suspension.
Feeling comfortable and developing confidence is crucial at this point so ensure the fit is correct and the child is happy with the look and feel of the bike. The frame is likely to be made out of either steel or aluminium, the latter being the preferred (but more expensive) option as it will be lighter and resistant to rust.
14in kids bikes share virtually the same form and features as 12in bikes but with slightly larger tyre size. Much of the industry work with wheel sizes of 12in, 16in, 20in and 24in to simplify the progression but some brands,skip the industry's more common 12in size in favour of a larger 14in wheel. Larger wheels provide better stability, a smoother ride and increased speed.
The age and height recommendations are very similar for 12in and 14in bikes. So the choice is likely to be decided by your budget, brand preferences and availability as 12in bikes are far more common.
Age 4 - 6 / Wheel size 16in
Much like a 14in bike is to a 12in bike, an 18in bikes is an alternative to a 16in children's bicycle, as some brands skip the industry's more common 16in size in favour for a larger 18in wheel.
An 18in bike is suitable for those aged four to six-year-olds or those between 100cm - 120cm. Choosing an 18in bike over a 16in bike is likely to come down to budget, brand preference or availability as 16in bikes are far more common.
Age 7 - 9 / Wheel size 20in
20in kids bicycles are the most popular size, and it's at this stage that children start to develop a sense of adventure and freedom through their cycling. 20in bikes are suitable for those aged between seven and nine-year-olds or those 115cm - 135cm.
Bikes from here and up, start to split into specific cycling disciplines like mountain biking, BMX and road riding.
20in mountain bikes typically feature much of the same technology as adult mountain bikes including multiple gears and suspension, albeit abridged versions of both. Gears will likely feature a single cog at the front and numerous gears at the back, operated by a simple shifting mechanism on the handlebars. The suspension will likely feature at the front of the bike providing shock absorption and control if children go off-road. Some bikes may also feature suspension at the rear, but this does add significant weight to the bike and decreases durability so perhaps should be saved for larger bikes with more advanced riders.
20in BMX bikes are a popular option as they are highly durable, feature a simple design and are lots of fun. These bikes will typically feature a coaster rear brake, lever-operated front handbrake and a single-speed gear. The good news is adult BMX bikes also usually feature 20in wheels, and so these bikes may be a suitable option for several years.
20in road bikes to become more specialised with multiple gears, hand-operated brakes (front and rear), drop handlebars and lightweight frames designed for speed.
Age 9 - 11 / Wheel size 24in
h24in road bikes increase their gear range up to 21 and 24-speed, feature slick tyres for faster speeds and lightweight frames if your child has road racing ambitions.
Age 11+ / Wheel size 26in
20in kids bikes are the most popular size on wodecy, and it's at this stage that children start to develop a sense of adventure and freedom through their cycling. 20in bikes are suitable for those aged between seven and nine-year-olds or those 115cm - 135cm.
Bikes from here and up, start to split into specific cycling disciplines like mountain biking, BMX and road riding.
20in mountain bikes typically feature much of the same technology as adult mountain bikes including multiple gears and suspension, albeit abridged versions of both. Gears will likely feature a single cog at the front and numerous gears at the back, operated by a simple shifting mechanism on the handlebars. The suspension will likely feature at the front of the bike providing shock absorption and control if children go off-road. Some bikes may also feature suspension at the rear, but this does add significant weight to the bike and decreases durability so perhaps should be saved for larger bikes with more advanced riders.
20in BMX bikes are a popular option as they are highly durable, feature a simple design and are lots of fun. These bikes will typically feature a coaster rear brake, lever-operated front handbrake and a single-speed gear. The good news is adult BMX bikes also usually feature 20in wheels, and so these bikes may be a suitable option for several years.
20in road bikes to become more specialised with multiple gears, hand-operated brakes (front and rear), drop handlebars and lightweight frames designed for speed.
Materials
The material used for kids bikes can vary according to price and will affect the durability, weight and look of the bike. Most commonly, kids bikes will be made from either steel or aluminium.
Steel bikes are the most cost-effective option and highly durable with the ability to withstand plenty of punishment. The downside of steel bikes is they're significantly heavier than aluminium and can rust if left out or ridden in all weather conditions.
Aluminium bikes are light, highly durable and near rust-proof, but come at an additional cost to steel.
Gears
Kids bikes will typically begin with a single gear to not over complicate the cycling experience, but as the child gets more experienced and skilled, more speeds are available.
A single-speed gear typically features an easy pedalling ratio, so children have no problems turning the pedals over. If there is a still a single-speed gear present as the size of the bike increases, this ratio is likely to be larger, making it harder to pedal initially but capable of faster overall speeds.
When multiple gears become available, it usually involves a single cog on the front and numerous cogs on the rear with a shifting mechanism on the handlebar to control them. Often children will have access to seven or eight gears, to begin with, but some 20in bikes can have 21 or 24 gears with three cogs on the front and seven or eight cogs on the rear.
Kids bikes will often feature a chain guard which covers the chain wheel and the upper run of the chain to protect the child from rubbing their leg against it or getting their clothes or shoelaces snagged. It can easily be removed if you wish but provides some peace of mind during the early riding days.
Tyres
Tyres come in many different forms; solid foam, pneumatic (a tyre inflated with air), honeycomb rubber, solid rubber and hard plastic. Balance bikes, 12in and 14in kids bikes could come with all of these, but as the size of the bike increases your likely to find the tyres are pneumatic.
Pneumatic tyres are most common thanks to the all-round benefits they provide, including a cushioned ride and good grip. They come in multiple tread patterns, which are typically either knobby tyres, similar to mountain bike tyres, or a standard tread pattern or 'slick' (no tread pattern), which is similar to road bike tyres.
Depending on the area you live in and the type of terrain the child will be riding, the tread pattern can make a big difference. Choose the relevant tread type to your area to provide the best possible platform for the child to enjoy their riding. A more pronounced tread pattern can provide grip on rough terrain and help shed mud when riding on off-road trails. Slick tyres are best suited to smooth surfaces giving excellent levels of grip and less rolling resistance resulting in faster speeds.
Weight
The weight of the bike will depend mainly on the size, what material it is made out of and the type of tyres used. Be mindful of the total weight as the more a bike weighs, the harder it is going to be for a child to maneuver and the less likely a child is going to enjoy the riding experience. Steel bikes are heavier than aluminium ones, greater tyre size equals more weight, so do more gears and additions like suspension, kickstands, and hand-operated lever brakes.
Kids bikes are typically 25-40% of the child's weight, but that figure will be highly variable depending upon the bike you choose, the child's weight to height ratio and age. If possible, try to limit the weight of the bike to under 50% of the child's weight. For some perspective, an adult's mountain bike typically weighs between 15-20% of a 75kg rider.
Brakes
There are two main types of brakes; coaster and lever-operated.
· Coaster: This type of brake is activated by pedalling backward and is primarily found on smaller bikes as younger children lack the arm and hand strength to operate the hand lever.
· Hand: Lever-operated hand brakes may be present on balance bikes and the smallest of other bikes, but often this is a case of learning good habits as opposed to using them for a practical purpose. As stated above, children between the ages of two and five often lack the strength to rely on this handbrake solely, so use a coaster brake as well. When the child is prepared to use a handbrake, this will vary depending on their physical ability, confidence and strength. As the size of the bike increases, it's more likely the brakes will be operated by hand, both front and rear.
Seat height
As mentioned, selecting a tyre size is not indicative of the seat height of the bike, so this is worth checking before making your purchase. Check the bikes minimum and maximum seat height and the standover height.
The seat height of kids bikes will typically begin at 25cm (10in) and can go right up to adult-sized bikes over 100cm (40in). The best way to know if a child will fit the bike is to get them to stand over it. Failing that, measure their inseam and allow 3.5-5cm (1.5in - 2in) leeway to the seat.
Note: When standing over the bike (not on the seat) there should be an inch or two of clearance. The gap helps prevent injury if the child slips forward off the seat during a fall. Most frame designs feature a sloping top tube for this reason.
Training wheels
There are positives and negatives when it comes to using training wheels or stabilisers. On the plus side, they provide stability, inspire confidence and can be valuable in the early stages of riding if children lack the strength to turn the pedals, and the weight of the bike is too much. And for children that have never used a balance bike or scooter, going straight onto a pedal bike with no support is a bridge too far.
On the negative side, it's said using training wheels teaches children bad habits and can make the progression to riding without support more difficult. They can also influence braking effectiveness when turning as the weight is on the training wheel and not on the rear wheel.
If you do use training wheels, start them level with the ground and gradually raise them as your child becomes more confident, to the point that they can almost do without them. When the child is confident enough, they can then be removed.
