Balance Bike

NannyMom

Well-known member

• Mar 20, 2010

• #1

http://www.walmart.com/ip/WeeRide-10-Balance-Bike/13070207
Is that a good one? Sofi has a trike at work and at Grandma's (Radio Flyer fold n go). But she uses her feet, not the petals. I want to get her a balance bike. Is this a good one? Will it last her long enough? She's 3.5, but wears pants size 2t-3t (she's currently in between sizes). But she's also been growing alot in the torso, and is due for a leg growth.

 

elle7715

Member

• Mar 20, 2010

• #2

Wow, that's a great price. But according to a review it's only a little over 14 inches tall with the seat at it's highest.

 

crunchierthanthou

New member

• Mar 20, 2010

• #3

I think JGM posted pictures of her dd on it. Pretty sure she returned it for being too small, but it will probably work for 3 yo in 2t-3t pants.

 

veggiegirl228

New member

• Mar 20, 2010

• #4

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=110831

Here is the thread about the bike in question. HTH

 

Last edited: Mar 21, 2010

christineka

New member

• Mar 20, 2010

• #5

I'm considering it for my ds2. He's got a 12 inch inseam.

 

NannyMom

Well-known member

• Mar 27, 2010

• #6

We went to a bike shop this week, and they had a Strider. It was too small. Sofi sat on it, and her knees were totally bent. I asked him to raise the seat all the way so I could see how high it went. Her knees were still too bent (and, uh, he said it wasn't all the way up, like I'd asked ). So a 14 inch Strider is too small. They told me they could order a 16" Trek that comes with chain and pedal (to put on later) for $200

Anyone have a Boot Scoot Zoomer?
http://www.balancebikeshop.com/Boot_Scoot_p/bszm-pink.htm

Or a Hobby? THis comes with chains and pedals too, but costs less
http://www.balancebikeshop.com/Hobby_Bike_p/hb-pink.htm

The Mini GLider says size 2T-5. Sofi's between 2t and 3t.
http://www.balancebikeshop.com/PV_Mini_Glider_p/pvm-red.htm

I just measured and she has a 16 inch inseam

ETA: Ah ha! I just found a nifty sizing chart http://www.balancebikeshop.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=67

 

keri1292

Well-known member

• Mar 27, 2010

• #7

Are you sure it was too small? Hayden is 6y8m and still fits on his. Sophie is tiny, right? Here's Hayden on his last year...



In action...


I'm going to order him the longer seat post if he still can't reach the pedals on his birthday bike from two years ago. Poor kid.

 

natysr

New member

• Mar 27, 2010

• #8

What size pants does she wear? Their knees are supposed to be bent on a balance bike. Jordan is outgrowing 4T in length and 5T are still a bit long, but he fits on a Strider. The Strider is one of the smaller balance bikes out there, but both the seat and the handlebars are adjustable.

There is no way that a 16" trek could be used as a balance bike for a 3 year old, unless she had extremely long legs. Jordan has a 16" Trek and he can just toe the ground on both sides with the seat all the way down.

 

NannyMom

Well-known member

• Mar 27, 2010

• #9

What's his inseem? Sofi is small. And has a longer torso than legs (4t shirts, 2t-3t pants). But she sure looked too small, based on discussions here of how the legs should bend. Maybe we'll go back and take pics. The bike shop is really close to our house.

According to the chart, the Strider has 11-16 inch seat height. And there should be 1-2 inch clearance between the seat and the child (according to the website I've been looking at). Sofi's inseem is 16 (measured from her crotch, to the floor).

 

natysr

New member

• Mar 27, 2010

• #10

An inseam measurement neither touches the crotch, nor the floor.

This was Jordan at 3 1/2 years, wearing about the same size pants as Sophie.

Here you can see the seat post. There was still room to move it up, and like Keri said, they do sell a longer seat post too.

 

NannyMom

Well-known member

• Mar 27, 2010

• #11

Ok, we're going back to the bike shop tomorrow or Mon (they seem to be closed now) to try out the strider again. I'll take pics and post.

 

keri1292

Well-known member

• Mar 27, 2010

• #12

Not sure what his inseam was last year. Those pants were a 4t. He now wears a Gymboree 5t or is about to outgrow Childrens Place big boy 4 and is about to max out the seat height.

Also, the bigger seat posts gives you another 3" and is just $10.
http://www.stridersports.com/strider-305mm-extra-long-seatpost-with-saddle.html

 

natysr

New member

• Mar 27, 2010

• #13

This is a blurry pic, but it is Jordan on the 16" Trek just after his 4th birthday. You can see his left leg is extended, but is not able to touch the ground at the time. The seat is all the way down. No way for him to use this as a balance bike.

This was him a couple of days earlier on a standard 12" bike.

 

NannyMom

Well-known member

• Apr 4, 2010

• #14

So here is Sofi with the seat raised all the way up. Based on the other pics in this thread, it looks like she has plenty of room to grow. Right? You can kinda see the bulge at the front of her leg where her knee is bending slightly.

View attachment 6858

View attachment 6859

 

Last edited: Aug 27, 2012

mhmom

New member

• Apr 6, 2010

• #15

The Stryder is the perfect size for her. The Trek Float is probably too big for her...maybe as a bike for next year...on average a traditional 12" bike will fit 2-3year olds, a 16" will fit 3-5 (maybe 6) Kids will never have "proper" leg extension..the bikes are not designed for it. Make sure your child can comfortably reach the handlebars..without stretching too far forward and not in so close their elbows bend in all the way. Seat height should be high enough so that the child's foot is flat on the ground or if the are comfortable enough raised up a little, they should touch with more than tiptoes. The Stryder is a great way to learn to ride...kids become way too dependent on training wheels...and tricycles teach them how to pedals forward not like on a regular bike. Hope this helps!

P.S. I have worked at a bike shop for 15 years..if you have more questions let me know!!!

 

keri1292

Well-known member

• Apr 6, 2010

• #16

I think she looks great and if she isn't ready to ride a 12" bike next year and has a huge growth spurt, I'd just grab the taller seat post. I LOVE the orange and lime color, but my boys picked blue and red.