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Strider has made balance bikes since 2007 for young kids to learn how to balance and scoot around before they’re ready for real bicycles, and has just introduced the ST-3 model for toddlers 18-36 months old. It weighs all of 6.4 pounds and has adjustable bars and seat positions, along with smaller bars to fit toddler’s hands. The polymer tires never go flat, and the bike has footrests for when kids get a bit better at riding and can coast for a bit.
Available for about $130 just in time for the holidays.
First time I saw this kinf of bike I thought it was a rip off. “Why buy that when your kid is just going to grow out of it and need a bigger bike with training wheels later?”
I was completely wrong.
I got one of the wooden Skuut bikes for my 3 year old, and on his 4th birthday he learned to ride a pedal bike in 8 minutes. (Seriously: http://youtu.be/1XaPGN7IxB0)
My only comment would be to get one that you can put a hand brake on. My son had issues with fast hills, when the only way to stop was with his feet, which would always cause a wreck. “You may be thinking “well keep him off fast hills” and my answer to you is “You try it. See if you can get him to stop.”
That’s a familiar sight!
I tried three other hobby-horse style bikes for my very diminutive toddler daughter before striking gold with the Strider. It’s a GREAT one. It’s the lowest seat position out there, easy to access for lil’ riders, and looks cool too.
Ours has been SF MASH sticker-bombed, as well:
http://teamlopetyreclubbe.com/2011/09/07/zoes-strider-mash/
These type of bikes work great for teaching kids how to ride. However, I just took the pedals and crank off a bike and used it. Then, when the kid was ready, I put them back on. That worked also and was much cheaper and only took one bike instead of one “push” bike and one pedal bike.
We got our son one of these when he was 18 months old! Now he is 3 and still loves his Stider! He rides around our house, on MTB trails, He has even raced(and has the metals to prove it) a couple of times. Stider is a great product!
I bought my son a Specialized push bike. By three years of age he was riding a two wheeler. Then as soon as my daughter could touch the ground on the push bike, I put her on it. When she was able to balance, I set her on a two wheeler. By 2 years and 4 months, she was riding a bike no training wheels.
My wife got an original strider for my daughter when she was just 2. I thought the whole thing was a waste of money until it arrived. The Strider was awesome and she was riding a bike with pedals by time she was three. Just bought a the new ST-3 for my son because my daughter’s was pink. Picked it up on [some website] for $114.