The Balance Bike, a wooden stroke of genius

Learning to ride

‘It’s as easy as riding a bike’… but as any parent who has watched their little one struggle to balance, steer, pedal and navigate their first bike along the footpath, riding a bike is really not that easy at all. Not only does your excitable toddler have to curb their enthusiasm long enough to concentrate, they also have to deal with the inevitable ‘crash’. You are left wiping down grazed hands and knees, trying to pick up the pieces and convince a rather frightened and much less brave Princess to try again. All too often it results in the bike being carried home by Mummy or Daddy and a tearful toddler trudging behind.

However, if you are a master in the art of manipulation and you’ve managed to coax the little one back on the bike, you are more often than not confronted by uneven paths, and the most dreaded of all – hills! At best, this results in the intrepid Pirate Jack getting off his bike to push it up the hill, only to have his courage rebuffed by those nasty pedals hitting his calves with every other step. All of this is not a brilliant way to promote the pleasures of riding a bike.

Pedaless

So, how do you get around this? The answer is the Early Rider Pedaless bike, or balance bike. The idea is simple; by removing the pedals, balance bikes allow the little ones to concentrate on learning to balance and steer without needing to worry about pedalling. With their feet either firmly on the ground, or when confidence grows, stretched out in front of them for maximum downhill enjoyment, they are perfectly equipped to handle even the most challenging of suburban ‘mountains’.

Balance Bikes

The innovative design is based on ancient principles of balance and motion, taking away the need for stabilisers and really allowing the child to focus on learning to balance. The Early Rider balance bikes have been designed for ages 20 months and up and they come in 3 ranges; Lite, which is a lightweight bike for ages pre 2 – 4 years; Classic, a slightly heavier, more robust bike designed for ages 2 – 5 and the recently launched Evolution, aimed at children 3 and half years to 6 years, still using the same beautiful design and light weight modelling of the other two bikes. It provides the perfect transition bike and the ultimate in street style.

Safety and Control

As the Pedaless bikes are carrying your most treasured possession, safety and control will be uppermost in your mind when considering a bike. The Pedaless bikes allow your child to have instant control by using their feet and a restricted steering setting prevents most over-enthusiastic daredevils from suddenly veering off to the nearest prickly bush. This setting can be easily adjusted once confidence is gained and tight turning circles are needed by the more experienced stunt rider. Every Early Rider Balance Bike passes all relevant US and European safety standards.

Coolest bike on the block

If you are in the market for your little adventurers first bike and want something that is both beautiful in design and will help build confidence and motor skills, the Early Rider balance bike could be the ideal bike for you. If shopping online, try Strawberry Children’s Toys; they stock a range of Early Rider Pedaless bikes, have a full refund money back guarantee and will send the bike directly to your door (UK only), saving you time and money no queues, no petrol or parking expenses and the added benefit of the kids not seeing their Christmas presents early.