How to choose a bike for a child?

Each parent seeks to provide his baby with everything necessary from the first second of his life. Every year, the needs of the crumbs are growing, and much more complicated things are replacing the rattles and cubes. For the normal development of the child, it is very important to provide him with motor activity, for which children's transport will become a real helper.

The most universal bike can be considered, which you can start to use from the year. To choose the right transport for the baby, you need to know what to pay special attention to.

The use of bicycles has become very popular among all categories of the population. In any city you can meet older people, young people and children who enjoy riding two- and three-wheeled vehicles with pleasure. Due to its moderate price, ease of use and environmental friendliness, the bike does not lose its relevance, on the contrary, every year it becomes more and more popular. The ability to relax in the fresh air, improve health, spend time at our discretion makes this transport option ideal for many.

Not only adults enjoy cycling, children are also keen on this process from a young age. Children's transport has a huge number of options and modifications designed for different age groups.

There are these types of bicycles:

• for trips in the mountains;
• for highway driving;
• for walks in the city;
• tourist destination;
• inventory that can be folded;
• for freestyle;
• for riding on the track;
• children's options.

Guided by the types of bicycles, it is possible to find a reference point for the search, and then select the diameter of the wheels, which is individual for the type of bicycle and for who will use it. Two-wheeled transport is represented by such dimensions in inches:

• 12;
• 14;
• 16;
• 18;
• 20;
• 24;
• 26.

To find the right bike for your child, It is important to take into account recommendations for which there are certain search rules for each age group and growth indicators. In addition, there are some more nuances, without which it will be difficult to find a suitable product for children. When planning to buy a children's bike, you need to remember that this type of transport is not taken for growth, it must correspond to the height and age of the child, otherwise the risk of injury is great. Based on the indicators of the length of the legs, you can choose the right wheel diameter, do not forget about the frame, the dimensions of which should be comfortable for the rider.

When buying a bike, you should go shopping with your baby, which will help in choosing, as he will personally test the models and be able to determine which option is most comfortable for him. It is important to evaluate the height of the frame, relative to the child’s body, so that when jumping, he does not hit it and is not injured. The most correct will be a margin of up to 10 cm, in the position of the child on a standing ground with a bicycle between the legs. Another significant factor is the placement of the young rider in the seat and checking whether he reaches the pedal with an even foot.

Choosing a bicycle as a parent for your child is an important task, because you need to understand which vehicle option is suitable for the child, and which one should be discarded. To find out the diameter of the wheels and the dimensions of the frame, as well as to correlate these indicators with the selection of the desired product, you need to refer to established standards.

A table of the relationship between the growth of a young cyclist and the criteria for a future bike will significantly help the parent determine the right option.

In the process of selecting a bicycle, first of all, you should be guided specifically on the growth indicators of the child, because peers, these values ​​can be completely different. The smaller the child, the more important it is to choose the right size transport.

The selection of cycling for children is carried out individually, as one-year-olds can significantly differ in height and weight. The first bike needs to be purchased crumbly from 2 years old, when his body is already strong enough and can perform more complex movements than before. It is advisable to purchase three-wheeled products at once in order to prepare the young cyclist for what awaits him in the future. As soon as the child began to confidently pedal and steer, you can think about how to choose a two-wheeled vehicle with safety wheels.

Choosing a bike for boys and girls aged 2 to 7 years, it is worth giving preference to models with two main and two auxiliary wheels of small diameter, which can be removed as needed. Assessing the specific model of such a transport, it is worth looking at the level of location of the side supports, if the wheels are significantly higher than the main wheel, this will cause frequent falls of the baby during the ride. The most correct distance of the wheels from the ground is 0.5-1 cm, which will allow you to ride confidently without falling over and without losing balance.

Choosing a bike for the younger group, it is worth looking for a model where the seat with the steering wheel can be transformed as much as possible, which will allow the use of transport much longer. This product must be equipped with a chain guard that prevents foreign objects from falling during riding. The brake in this case should be pedal, which will allow the baby to brake in a timely and convenient manner, and stop. Representatives of primary school age are encouraged to buy products with two types of brakes - manual and foot, which will allow you to smoothly retrain from one braking system to another.

As soon as the child turns 8 years old, he can choose products from the age category of 5-7 years or 7-10 years, which will depend on the personal wishes of the child and his anthropometric data. When looking for cycling, you need to pay attention to the frame due to the wide variety of its structure and shape. There are options that are suitable for riding either a boy or a girl.

Novice cyclists who first try their hand at cycling and have a height of up to 1 meter, it is recommended to choose a transport of small sizes, where the wheels are 12 inches, which will be most convenient for young children. From 3 to 5 years and with growth rates of not more than 115 cm, it is recommended to choose medium-sized products, where the wheels are 16 inches. Children between the ages of 4 and 6 years old with growth rates not exceeding 125 cm can comfortably ride bicycles where the diameter of the wheels is 18 inches.

Children from 5 years old to 9 years old with a height of not more than 130 cm need to choose bicycles with a wheel diameter of 20 inches. The middle and older age group from 7 to 10 years old with growth rates of at least 130 cm can ride a bicycle with a wheel diameter of 24 inches. When buying a bicycle for your child, you need to take time to check its quality, making sure that all the mechanisms are working, and the parts have no defects. It is better to purchase this type of transport in stores that can provide qualified assistance and escort of the bicycle before and after its purchase.

By purchasing children's cycling, you need to be well-versed in the features of selecting this sports equipment for your child, and also take into account a number of nuances.

• Body material. Bicycles, depending on the country where they are manufactured and their cost, can have a different alloy, which affects the strength indicators of the frame and other structural elements. Due to the different material, the weight of the whole product may vary significantly. If there is a need to transport the bike from the apartment, lowering it along the flights of stairs, then it is better to look for a lighter model. A light option will be more convenient for a baby who can cope with it in any situation. The most practical material is aluminum, which will be easy for both boys and girls. If the child rides in the private sector, and there is no need for transportation, you can opt for heavy models.
• Brake system. For each age, it is recommended to search for a bicycle with a certain brake that meets the needs of children of a certain age. The smallest ones are better off using pedals that scroll back to stop movement. Having mastered the process of pedaling, the child will not have problems in order to stop the bike by using the pedal brake. For older children, you can try combined models, gradually relearning them to stop not with legs, but with hands. As soon as the skill becomes stable and constant, you can safely get the vehicle in which the hand brake is installed.
• The presence of additional elements. Rear-view mirrors, a bell, lighting and sound effects are considered inappropriate on the vehicle of the smallest cyclists, as this will distract them from the main task and increase the risk of losing control of the control and falling off the bicycle. Children of younger and middle age groups can safely buy vehicles with a trunk and a basket in front, a variety of additional functions that will cause only an additional desire to ride a bike, while not distracting the child. Older children are already striving for a minimum set of additional elements, leaving only the necessary and useful gadgets for themselves. For any bikes, you must have wings that protect the rider from dust and dirt rushing from under the wheels.
• Circuit protection. An important element of safe riding and long-term operation of the bicycle is the pad, which is attached to the frame, closing the chain. Such protection can be made of metal or plastic, it is necessary to protect the child from getting laces, toys or other elements into the chain during movement, in some cases it helps to protect children's fingers from especially curious babies. Another important function of this protection is to prevent the bulk of dust and dirt from getting onto the chain, which have negative consequences for ride quality.
• Protective equipment. For a child planning his first bike ride, you should buy a protection kit that consists of elbow pads, knee pads, palm protector, and helmet. Over time, only the helmet will be used, but at first it is worth using the entire kit to protect yourself from injuries and psychologically reassure the child.

When choosing a bike for the youngest cyclists, you should opt for those models where there is a special foam-rubber protection mounted on the steering wheel, which will help protect the child's head from hitting an iron object. If you find a suitable bicycle for a child, then he will quickly be able to learn the basics of riding on it and at the earliest pace will be able to learn to maintain balance and switch to the two-wheeled option, instead of the four-wheeled one.

Good quality of the product will not allow you to worry in case of frequent falls of the baby, and protective equipment will protect the body from abrasions and bruises.

See how to choose a bike for your child in the next video.