Key Questions to Ask When Ordering children's bicycles

Is it time to buy your child their first bicycle? Or, is your "little one," not so little anymore and ready for a bigger bike, or one without training wheels?

If you want to learn more, please visit our website ChiSure.

If it's been a while since you've bike shopped, you're in for a pleasant surprise.

Today, there are more types of children's two-wheelers available than ever before. While this means you have a better selection, it also increases the possibility of purchasing the wrong bike or one that is lesser quality or poorly designed.

To help, here are some fun tips to ensure that you get a bike your tyke, kindergartner, pre-teen and young adult &#; and every juvenile in-between, will love. And remember that we're always happy to help answer questions, show you and your child which bikes fit and how they differ, and handle any other issues that crop up as you get your whole family pedaling together. We can keep a secret, too, in case that new tot rod is a surprise!

Size matters
While adult bicycles are selected according to frame size, kids' bikes are sized (and referred to) according to wheel size (see our photos and chart below).

Also, fitting a bike to children is more than determining their age and height. We also (and you should) evaluate coordination and riding ability. For example, taller children lacking cycling confidence do much better on smaller bikes because they feel more comfortable and in control. And a coordinated 10-year old with long legs who has ridden smaller bicycles growing up might be ready for a full-size bike.

The most important deciding factor is safety. You want a bicycle that lets them ride easily in complete control. All our children's and young-adult bicycles are adjustable to fit as your child grows.

So, don't make the common mistake of believing you should get a bike that's a little big in order to have growing room for your child. Oversize bikes like this can be dangerous and can cause crashes. They're also harder to ride. These things can have the opposite effect of what you want, and instead of being fun for them, actually turn your kid off to cycling. And don't worry, once they've outgrown any bicycle, you can easily sell it online, in the newspaper or at a yard sale.

Proper fit
When you're checking a bike's fit, make sure that the child can sit on the seat and place both feet firmly on the ground, which means they'll be able to hold themself upright and get on and off without difficulty. If the bicycle is equipped with training wheels, it's okay if the child reaches the ground with their toes only, because the training wheels provide the support.

As they develop their balance, gradually raise the training wheels so they get used to leaning the bike to turn. This is easy to do on our quality training wheels.

It's also important that children can comfortably reach the handlebars and steer. If the bars are out of reach, steering will pull them forward causing a loss of control. Plus, if the bicycle has hand brakes, it's crucial that the child can reach and operate the controls. If the child doesn't have the hand strength to operate the levers, it's usually possible to adjust the systems to make it easier for them, which we can help you with.

Running bikes
For children who cannot ride yet, and the youngest and least coordinated kids, are a great way to start. These compact, uncomplicated and totally fun learning machines are also referred to as balance or push bikes. They are very intuitive for most children and inspire confidence because their feet are on the ground so much of the time and the bikes are small, light and easy for them to handle.

These ingenious bikes have a sturdy frame, nice wheels and tires and a seat and handlebars, but they have no pedals, cranks, drivetrain or brakes. They are powered by the child pushing along with their feet, a natural motion they've already mastered. And, as they propel themselves along Fred Flintstone style, they quickly learn how to steer a bicycle and soon also get the feeling of balancing a two-wheeler. Once that happens they're well on their way to a pedal bike.

It's important to note that even new riders can scoot along quite quickly on running bikes. So be ready to keep an eye on your little ones and make sure they only ride where it's safe. Also, these bikes can handle pavement and dirt, so they're great for learning off-road skills, too.

Pedal bikes
Today, kids' pedal bikes vary as much as adult models. For tots, there are tiny brakeless "sidewalk" bikes not intended for street use. Once they turn about eight, many kids want BMX (Bicycle Moto Cross) models, which are ideal for everything from cruising to school and around town to trick riding, racing and dirt jumping. Also popular are cruisers, and even mini mountain bikes with suspension, and full-on performance road bicycles.

If your child is very small, you might be able to pick out a bike for them. Once they get a little older, though, this gets tricky. Remember, that it's their bike and keep in mind that they're more likely to want to ride and to get excited about biking if they've got the two-wheeler they like best.

To find out what they want, just ask them. Or bring home some catalogs or visit us online with them and have them point out models they like. Or, make a day of it and bring them in shopping so they can show you the models they think are cool.

If the new bike is a surprise gift, check what your child's friends ride. That should ensure that you pick a winner. Also, we're happy to exchange new bicycles if it turns out that your child had their heart set on a different type.

Our professional bike shop is the best place to buy
We hope that this basic information on choosing, sizing and buying a children's bicycle is helpful and that you'll come see us when it's time to share your cycling love with that eager little one. We carefully select the kid's models we carry and assemble every one by hand plus stand behind every bicycle with a full guarantee, too, should you ever have a problem. We also properly fit the bike to your child and can show you the adjustments you can make as your child grows.

We've got a full selection of accessories, too. You'll want to get them a helmet and we'll make sure that it fits right. And, if they're old enough to bike to school, you'll want them to have a quality lock and know how to use it. You might want them to have a light and bell or a rack for carrying books and clothing. We've got it all and are happy to show you.

This article was prepared in conjunction with our friends at People For Bikes who are working hard to make America more bicycle friendly.

Thanks for reading!

With plenty of children&#;s bicycles on the market, we take a look at how to find the correct size for your child and what else is worth considering before you purchase.

Learning to ride a bike is a priceless skill to gain as a child. All of us who still ride today can attest to that and any kid with a bike probably more so! The freedom to explore and the feeling of the wind on your face is what makes a childhood worth looking back on.

Now there are plenty of kids&#; bicycles to choose from on the market from budget friendly bikes to baller rides with all the bells and whistles. In this article we&#;re going to first take a look at the most important consideration, size, and then discuss some of the other factors that are worth considering when purchasing a bike for your little one. 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website children's bicycles.

Finding The Right Size Bike For Your Child

Inseam vs Age vs Height

There can be a tendency to just go by age or height when selecting a bike for your child but as we know there is a big variance in body proportions across both age and height for human beings of all ages. It is widely accepted that sizing the bike according to your child&#;s inseam measurement will provide the best fit for a safe and comfortable ride.

How To Measure Inseam Accurately

To accurately measure your child&#;s inseam, place a book between their legs (spine facing up) and slide it up until it meets their crotch. Make sure that the spine is level with the ground and then measure from the top of the book down to the ground. This is your child&#;s inseam measurement.

Correct Sizing For Balance Bikes

When it comes to balance bikes, you ideally want your child to be able to get their foot flat on the ground with a slight bend in their knee while seated on the bike. This allows for a comfortable and efficient running position. To size this accurately, compare the measurement from the seat to the ground with your child&#;s inseam. The saddle-to-ground measurement should be about 3cm or an inch shorter than the inseam.

Correct Sizing For Pedal Bikes

For pedal bikes, you still want your child to be able to reach the ground with their feet as this is how they will instinctively want to slow down. It will also help them feel safe and confident.

For an inexperienced child you shouldn&#;t have a saddle higher than their inseam so that they can get a flat foot on the ground.

As your child becomes more experienced, you can raise their saddle height to 1-3 inches higher than their inseam for a better leg extension while pedaling. They should still be able to get a foot to the ground in an emergency.

Standover Height

This leads onto the topic of standover height. This is the distance from the ground to the middle of the top tube. It is more important on pedal bikes as balance bikes always have a child sitting on the saddle. The standover height of the bicycle should not be higher than your child&#;s inseam so that if they want to stand over the bike off the saddle they can do so safely and comfortably.

Choosing The Right Wheel Size

When purchasing a bike for your child you may notice that wheel sizes are generally linked to age groups. Generally something like 14&#; for Ages 3 to 5, 16&#; for ages 4 to 6, 20&#; for ages 6 to 8,  24&#; for ages 8 to 11. These are of course just guidelines. They should get you in the right ballpark. So long as the inseam measurements discussed above work out, the wheel size shouldn&#;t be an issue.

It is a good idea to go for a bigger wheel size if it will fit your child as this will allow the most room for growth, helping the bike last longer. The bigger wheels should also offer a more stable ride!

To Gears Or Not To Gears

While the smallest childrens&#; bikes will seldom come with gears, as sizes go up so often does complexity. Single speed bikes are more robust and easier to maintain. Brands such as Early Rider even make use of a belt drive for extra longevity and ease of use.

Gears are only necessary when riding in areas with hills or if your child is becoming quite advanced / competitive and wanting to ride further and faster. If in doubt, gears will make the bike more versatile but keep in mind that they must be maintained to get a long life out of them.

Other Important Considerations

With that groundwork laid, we asked CEO of WILD AIR Sports and developer of the LITTLE WING children&#;s bicycle seat, Doug Bird, to comment on some of the more nuanced considerations you&#;ll face when buying a bike for your child. Doug is a certified dad with two awesome daughters that love spending time on their bikes riding with mom and dad!

Question: Is it worth spending more on expensive kids&#; bikes rather than the cheaper options?

Doug: How much one spends on a bike is subjective. That being said, what I have learned over the years is that (sometimes) you need to spend more to spend less, within reason. If one spends a little more on a kids bike, you are likely to get a better product with better components that last longer and remain smooth and functional over time.

What is key here is that the components don&#;t deteriorate to the point where it affects your child&#;s ability to ride &#; gears, brakes, bearings. If they are having fun and feel in control, they will continue to ride.

In line with that, maintenance is key. We are all guilty of neglecting our kids&#; bikes but performing simple maintenance checks regularly will dramatically improve the lifespan of the bike and its components and ultimately, save you money.

Question: Are there different braking systems for kids&#; bikes? Which should be avoided and which are best?

Doug: To me, choosing a bike that has a braking system that your child can actually use is one of the most important considerations when buying a kids bike. The more in control they feel, the more they are going to thrive. Nowadays, most kids bikes come with discs or &#;v&#; brakes. Both work well.

For me, it comes down to the ergonomics of the brake levers themselves. It is vital that you consider the size of your child&#;s hands in relation to the bike&#;s brake levers and whether they can, not only reach the levers, but have the strength to pull them.

Generally speaking, the more entry level kids bikes tend to have larger almost &#;adult&#; like levers while the mid to upper end of the kids bike range tend to have more child friendly options.

Question: When should you look at getting your child a full-sus bike (if at all)?

Doug: There is a lot to be said about the value of learning to ride on a fully rigid bike. It automatically teaches you to feel the bike under you and how it responds to the surface that you are riding on which results in a smoother riding style being developed over time.

That being said, it really depends on the terrain being ridden and if your child is starting to take things more seriously. My take is to start fully rigid and let your child&#;s relationship with riding bikes determine how far down the rabbit hole you want to go.

In Summary

Your first port of call on sizing is your child&#;s inseam measurement. Once you&#;ve got that down, along with an appropriate wheel size that will ensure the best longevity of the bike.

When it comes to how fancy to go with brakes and gears etc, the middle-of-the-road options will most likely get you the best value. Make sure the brake levers suit your child&#;s hand size and that they have the gearing required for the terrain that they enjoy riding. Then it&#;s just up to them to run wild and have the time of their lives!

Are you interested in learning more about custom kids tricycle? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!