If you are looking for your child’s first bike, consider a balance bike.
A balance bike is a two-wheel bike with no pedals and can be a replacement for a tricycle or bike with training wheels. Kids are often using a balance bike around the same time they would like a tricycle. And, it can teach them the balancing skills they need to master a ‘big bike’ when they are ready.
In fact, kids are usually able to go right from a balance bike to a pedal bike with no problem.
In our case, our son got his balance bike when he was almost 2 years old. He experimented with it for the first year, and now at 3 years old, he is mastering it and enjoying it.
We asked Tom Smith, of Great Northern Bicycle Company in Fargo, ND, what he thought of pedal vs. a balance for a first bike. “Biking has two components: pedaling and balancing. And, the fun part, is balancing! So, introducing them to the balance first, is introducing to the fun!”
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(Amy Iler is a talk-show host at 790 AM KFGO – and 94.1 FM – in Fargo-Moorhead. She can be heard weekdays 11am-2pm during “It Takes 2 with Amy & JJ”. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKFGO.)
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