First Bike - Buying and riding your first bicycle

Your First Bike

Choosing a bicycle for your child doesn’t need to be a stressful experience! There are a number of easy steps to follow that should ensure you select the right bike for your child, and which will allow them to learn to ride in a happy and safe manner.

First of all, think about how old your child is and how tall they are. For young children, tricycles are a good option. It allows them to get used to the process of peddling and steering without the danger of riding around on two wheels. Trikes are usually small with thicker wheels, so if your child does take a tumble or gets a bit ambitious with their driving, they’re less likely to injure themselves.

If your child is a bit older (the age of the child is generally up to the parents, but most children learn to ride a two-wheeler bike from the age of four or five), you can consider moving them to the ‘big kids’ bikes – the two-wheelers. The key is to use stabilizers or training-wheels (small wheels that are screwed on to the frame of the bike that give balance and support, allowing the child to get the hang of the larger bicycle and the feeling of being on two wheels), and to ensure you chose the right size. It’s important that your child’s feet are within reach of the ground when they are sitting on the bike, so that if they become unsteady (as they are likely to do!) they can quickly put their feet down and prevent themselves from falling. The other crucial element for this first stage of learning on a bicycle is safety – a helmet is a must, and in most countries is a legal requirement. It is also a good idea to consider knee and elbow pads, as these are the most common areas to get scuffed or bruised. Even if the bicycle you are planning to buy is a surprise present, it is a good idea to let your child test out a few different sorts before you purchase. This way you can be sure of the size of the bike, the positioning of the seat, pedals and handle-bar, and any extra accessories (bicycle bells and spoke and handle-bar decorations, for example). Try not to be tempted into buying a bigger bike for the sake of price or ‘letting the child grow into it,’ as this can have serious safety implications. Although there are many high-tech bicycles on the market with lots of gears and contraptions, simplicity is often the best option for your child’s first bike – your main concern should be with teaching them to balance, steer and brake.

Choosing a good make of bicycle is important for anyone, but even more so for learners who are not yet confident on two wheels. Making the learning experience fun and safe is not hard, however, and with a little bit of research and supervision, your child should be well on their way to BMX, cycling or mountain-biking stardom within no time!