How to Choose Your Child’s First Bicycle

When I bought my boy his first bicycle it was a day to remember for him, as well as me too! Looking at that long row of two-wheelers in the department store made me realize that even though he was only four years old, my little boy was growing up. He liked the idea of becoming a “big boy” by owning and learning to ride a bicycle. But even more so, he saw it as a way to get around faster. Afterall, he was a four year old who had places to go and things to do. (Even though his “places to go” were limited to the boundaries of our yard.)

Before I even agreed to purchase his first bike, I knew my boy was ready to ride. I knew he would be physically able to handle it. All he had to learn now was how to control it and balance it upright at the same time. Manufacturers make this easy for youngsters. They make bicycles that are as low as twelve inches high. Plus, if your child needs assistance in learning to balance, you can always buy and install a pair of training wheels to help them get started on their new adventure. (Some of the smaller bikes actually come with training wheels already installed.)

I had one bicycle bought for me during my childhood. My parents wanted it to be a surprise, so they just chose a model and bought it. Unfortunately, the bike was too big for me and I crashed it more than once. One of the crashes sent me to the emergency room at the local hospital. Their reasoning was, that I would “grow into” the bicycle. Before I did, I almost killed myself riding on it. (Those were the days when ‘bicycle helmets” were unheard of.) Don’t make the same mistake. I didn’t. I wanted the purchase to be a surprise for my boy too. But I still took him with me so he could sit on different sizes and models to see which one fit his compact size the best.

There are three rules of thumb to follow when you’re shopping for your child’s first bicycle:

1. When their bottom is fully seated on the seat of the bike, their feet should touch the ground without them straining or stretching to reach.

2. Again, while your child is fully seated on a bicycle, he or she should be able to grab hold of the grips on the handlebars without lifting their bottom from the seat.

3. The final test to make sure your child fits a bike is to have them sit on it. (You may need to hold the bike up while he or she does this test.) Then, have them place one foot on the ground while they place both of their hands on the handlegrips. If this can sit in this position comfortably, then the bike fits their body.

That, and I really wanted him to pick out the color and style of his first bicycle. It used to be that bikes came in colors like red, yellow, blue, gold, et cetera. Nowadays, they come in different styles with all kinds of various graphics on them. Little girls may choose a brightly colored twelve inch HuffyâÂ?¢ “Dora the Explorer” bike, for example. While a little boy may opt for a bike that has Batman or Spiderman graphics all over it.

Another consideration- a very important choice to make- are what kind of brakes your child’s first bicycle will have. Coaster brakes, or “foot brakes”, as they are often called, are the safest type. Because, little feet can stop a bicycle with their feet better than trying to squeeze levers together on the handlebars. It’s a matter of coordination.

And finally, take it from me, don’t buy your child’s first bicycle without also buying him or her a
helmet to wear when they’re riding! Just make sure the helmet has been approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).