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Winter is the time when the clocks go back, the days get shorter and the sunny days of summer and autumn are a distant memory. Despite the less favourable conditions, hopefully the colder weather will not stop you and your family getting out on your balance bike!

Children love to get outdoors whatever the weather, and we have already looked at the major health benefits of balance bikes which include regular exercise and social bonding. This means that you need to wrap up warm and get out on your bike even if it is cold and wet outside!

If you think the pavement and the playground has the all clear from ice, then there should be nothing to stop you from enjoying your family outing to the park as normal. However, there are some extra precautions that you should take as you should make your child and the bike as visible as possible during the gloomy winter days. This means wearing reflective clothing and adding lights and reflectors to the bike.

It is also worth giving your bike some routine safety checks before the winter really kicks in. This can include making sure that the wheels and handlebars are tightly in place and that all of the various nuts and bolts are secure. If your bike has pneumatic air tyres, you should also make sure these are fully pumped up.

It goes without saying that you should also make sure that everybody wraps up well to stay as warm as possible during the winter months. Children riding balance bikes should wear safety gear such as helmets and knee pads as normal – they will of course need to wear a coat although some people find that very bulky coats can get in the way of a good bike ride. A good quality fleece may be the best option.

If there is a heavy snowfall or you are somewhere with a severe winter, then the Strider Snow Skis are an amazing way to keep riding in the snow!

These skis can be attached to the wheels of a balance bike, so that it glides over the snow and children learn to ride the bike by controlling the descent. They can be fitted to any Strider Classic, Sport or Pro balance bike.

Whatever the weather, come rain or shine, balance bikes are a great way to have fun so we hope that you enjoy yours over the forthcoming winter weeks and months!

There are many benefits of balance bikes that we have already outlined here on this website. These include a safe way to learn to steer and balance to get a child ready for a normal pedal bike. A balance bike will also provide a great deal of independence for children, the extra confidence that comes with riding a balance bike and not to mention the sheer enjoyment of racing away from Mum & Dad!

If you go out on the family walk with a balance bike then your child will be able to travel much further than if they were walking and it is a lot more fun for them than being pushed in the buggy or riding on a buggy board.

There are also numerous health benefits to balance bikes, as riding will provide a great work out. Children love balance bikes so much that they will want to explore as far as possible, so this will include running up hills and exploring parks, towns and villages. They can be out for hours on their bikes which means they will be burning off lots of calories!

Get outdoors

Balance bikes will get children in to the great outdoors and away from computer games, tablets and the television, thus reducing the amount of time they are sitting around so there will be a lower likelihood of them becoming overweight and decreasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Exercise

It goes without saying that activity and exercise is beneficial for children, and some of the major benefits include a leaner and fitter body and the development of stronger muscles and bones. Regular exercise will also help children to sleep better (which is also good news for parents), and should help to improve their general outlook on life.

Social bonds

Balance bikes can also help to develop social and family bonds, as slightly older children will want to get out on their bikes with their friends and longer walks as a family are a lot more fun than sitting around watching TV.

We all know that it is no fun being trapped inside on a rainy day – so balance bikes provide the perfect opportunity to get out and run off all of that excess energy that children always seem to have! Happy cycling!

Once your child has been riding a balance bike for a while and mastered the arts of steering and balance, they will eventually grow out of their balance bike and be ready to move on to a ‘normal’ pedal bike.

There is such a huge range of pedal bikes for younger children in the market that we won’t try to review or recommend all of them, but there are some general tips and advice that it may be worth bearing mind when you are looking for the next bike for your child.

No stabilisers or training wheels!

The first rule is – Don’t worry about stabilisers or training wheels! These were all the vogue in the 1980’s (before balance bikes were invented), but after mastering a balance bike the last thing that your child needs is help to keep their balance.

The main differences they will find between the balance bike and the ‘normal bike’ is the action of pedalling and the fact that pedal bikes will probably be heavier than a balance bike.

This means that you should probably be looking for a bike that is light enough for them to handle, and of course the same rules regarding saddle height will also apply to balance bikes. Check out our guide to balance bike saddle heights here, so make sure that their feet can be flat on the floor and it is a comfortable ride.

It can be tempting to buy a much larger model as a first pedal bike in the hope they will grow into it, but if the bike is too heavy and cumbersome and the rider can’t operate the pedals this could result in a backwards step. There are plenty of bikes to suit all sizes and children’s pedal bikes will usually start from as small as 12 inch wheels – which is a similar size to many balance bikes.

Get ready for pedals

It may take some time for your child to get used to pedalling, so be prepared for a couple of falls and it may be worth practising on grass to start with. A smaller child may struggle with the extra leg strength required for pedalling, but it shouldn’t be long before a good balance bike rider masters the pedals and then there will be no stopping them!

One other thing about balance bikes is that they keep their value very well, so as long as the bike is not too battered after a couple of years of riding then you should be able to sell on your model – especially if it is one of the higher value brands.

While you are searching through all of the options and looking for the best balance bike, one of the major factors to consider when you are choosing the best model is the weight of your balance bike.

An obvious point to note is that smaller balance bikes aimed at 2-3 year olds will generally be lighter than balance bikes for older children or those aged 6 and over.

It is important to make sure that you buy a balance bike that your child finds easy to handle, otherwise they will struggle with the bike and it might well put them off riding it.

A useful guideline is that your bike should be less than a third of your child’s weight in order to achieve this.

The lightest balance bikes for 2 year olds will start at around 3kg, so this will be perfect for smaller children.

Balance bikes for children in the core balance bike market of between 3 and 5 will vary in weight between from around 4.5kg such as the Kiddimoto Kurve and Prince Lionheart up to the Weeride Deluxe, which is one of the larger balance bikes with 14 inch wheels and weight in at 6.5kg.

There is a huge range of balance bikes available in this part of the market, all of which vary in frame composition, style and features.

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Balance bikes come in all shapes and sizes and cater for children from as young as 18 months up to children as old as 11 or 12. Bikes can be made from wood, steel or aluminium – and although they come in a range of styles most models are in the shape of a traditional bicycle.

We have already looked at a range of motorbike balance bikes if you are looking for a bike in a exciting racing style, and another style of balance bike available is a scooter balance bike.

These bikes have a fun and funky design, they will really help your child to stand out from the crowd and are a great introduction to cycling.

Kiddimoto Scooter Wooden Balance Bike

There are currently a limited number of scooter balance bikes available and our favourite is the Kiddimoto Scooter Wooden Balance Bike.

Kiddimoto specialise in balance bikes and have range of other bikes such as the iconic Kiddimoto Kurve, one of our recommended balance bikes for 3 year olds.

All of the Kiddimoto Balance bikes are made from natural birch plywood, and we love the Kiddimoto Scooter Balance Bike!

This bike is based on the style of the iconic Mod Scooters of the 1960’s, so the rider will really look the part as the design takes influence from the original 60’s Lambretta Scooter.

The Kiddimoto Scooter Balance bike is available in a range of colours including orange, red and Union Jack – or you could really go for it with the Mod Target Design!

Other features include a footboard for free wheeling and pneumatic air tyres.

Although the seat on this bike is not adjustable, it is a great scooter balance bike and will provide hours of fun.

We will keep you updated when more scooter balance bikes become available!

We try to feature all types of balance bikes on this website, ranging from the most basic and economical bikes through to the most expensive and deluxe bikes which will offer a much wider range of features.

Although you can get an excellent balance bike for as little as £30 - £35, most bikes will retail between £50 - £100. This will buy you a good quality bike with extra features such as padded seats, safety handlebars and a stylish design. There is a huge range of models to choose from in this price bracket including Puky, Weeride and Bike Star.

However, we realise that some people will be only be looking for the very best and most expensive bikes, and so there are a handful of models that we can focus on!

Carbon Fibre Balance Bikes

The most expensive balance bikes available are made from carbon fibre, which makes the bikes extremely light and very strong along with a smooth and comfortable ride.

There are now carbon fibre balance bikes available from several manufacturers, so if you have in excess of £500 to spend on your balance bike then read on!

YSH Carbon Fibre Balance Bike

This sleek and stylish balance bike is a top of the range model with a carbon fibre frame, aluminium alloy stem and anti-wear, shock absorber pneumatic tyres to provide a smooth and jolt free ride.

This balance bike is ideal for all ages, as the low saddle height makes the bike accessible for riders as young as 2 years old.

It is extremely important to make sure that the bike you are choosing fits your child, and most 2 year olds should be able to handle this bike. The seat extends up to 40cm, so if they take to riding then this should last them most of the way to a pedal bike.

This bike has high quality features, as along with the carbon fibre frame it also includes a high quality leather seat and rubber pneumatic tyres. The ergonomic design makes the bike easy to ride and the safety grips on the handlebars protect from scrapes.

An amazing balance bike that is a fantastic introduction to cycling!

Balance bikes over £100

If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to a carbon fibre balance bike, but you are happy to spend in excess of £100 then there are excellent bikes available from manufacturers such as Specialized and Early Rider.

The Specialized Hotwalk balance bike has a lightweight aluminium frame, a lower seat height for 2019 and a step through frame which makes it ideal for younger children.

If you would prefer a wooden balance bike, then you could consider the Early Rider Lite or the Early Rider Classic, which are both high quality balance bikes around this price point. We have outlined the differences between these bikes in another post.

There is certain to be a balance bike out there to suit you whether your budget is £30 or £500!

Does your balance bike need to have a footrest? You will probably find that most balance bikes out there these days don’t have a footrest, and it is not really an essential feature to consider when you are looking for the best balance bike.

However, footrests on balance bikes can be useful, especially if the rider is coasting along or going down a long hill. It gives them somewhere to tuck their feet out of the way and stops them getting tangled up in the rest of the bike! If your child is using the footrest for a reasonable period of time, then they must be well on their well to learning to balance!

Other bikes feature a low platform, and you will find this on models such as the Puky LRM Learner Bike and the Bike Star Classic. The low platform or footboard often comes combined with a step through frame – so this feature makes the bikes easy to mount and the footboard gives the rider somewhere to rest their feet as they scoot along.

These bikes are particularly good options for younger riders and we have recommended them in our feature on best balance bikes for 2 year olds.

Going back to footrests, although they can be useful we think there are more important things to consider when you are choosing the best balance bike for you. The make, model, type of tyres, frame composition (wooden, steel or aluminium), saddle height and many other factors are probably all much more important!

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A motorbike balance bike is something completely different from traditional balance bikes, as while a normal balance bike will resemble a pedal bike – a motorbike balance bike will offer an exciting motorbike style along with racing designs so they are perfect for young motorsport enthusiasts!

Several different manufacturers offer balance bikes in a motorbike style, and we have come up with some of our preferred models below:

Yammy Wooden Motorbike Balance Bike

The Yammy Wooden Motorbike balance bike is made by Kidzmotion, who also offer the Jiggy Wooden Balance bike and the Oowee Pink Balance Bike.

This bike will really catch the eye with a blue and white colour scheme including the frame, tyres and handlebars. It comes with a birch plywood frame, a soft padded seat and a saddle that is adjustable to 3 different heights between 38cm and 42cm. 

Check out our guide to balance bike seat heights here. Just watch out for the handlebars as you are not able to adjust the height of these!

An extra feature that we really love are the stickers which are available as a 2, 3, 4 or 5 so they can be personalised with your child’s age.

This bike will probably be a bit too big for an average 2 year old with a 38cm saddle height, and it is also quite heavy. However, it will suit older children who are getting into racing perfectly. 

There are several alternatives to the Yammy Wooden Motorbike which are also offered by Kidzmotion. They offer the same style and features of the Yammy bike, but in different colours. The Hondee bike is available in striking orange, the Kwaka bike in green and the Duke bike in red. 

Molto Premium Motorbike Balance Bike

Another bike to consider is the Molto Premium Motorbike.

Young riders will love this bike which has all terrain wheels and a bright red, motorcycle design.

The Molto Premium Motorbike has a saddle height of 32cm, so it would be suitable for 2 or 3 year olds (although make sure you check their inseam first). The sturdy build and wider wheels also make it much easier to initially balance and propel than a traditional balance bike.

This bike doesn’t require any assembly so it is ready straight out of the box.

Another option from Molto is the Molto “Cross Superman” Motorcycle. As the name suggests, this motorbike balance bike has a fantastic Superman design so it is ideal for children that love superheroes!

Balance bike turning limiters are another factor to consider when you are looking for the best balance bike, so are they really necessary?

The main function of a turning limiter is to restrict the angle that the front wheel and handlebars can turn and prevent them from performing a full revolution.

If a turning limiter is fitted to your bike, then the child will probably not be able to turn much beyond 30 degrees in each direction. This provides a safety aspect to the bike, as it prevents the handlebars being turned fully to the right or left by an inexperienced rider, which would probably result in the rider taking a tumble over the handlebars.

Turning limiters are supposed to minimise injuries if a fall does occur and they prevent the brake cables becoming twisted (if your balance bike has brakes – don’t miss our guide to balance bike brakes).

However, the main purpose of your child learning to ride on a balance bike is to get them ready for a proper pedal bike once they have mastered steering and balance. If the bike is fitted with a turning limiter, then they are not going to be used to the full steering range when they grow out of their balance bike.

Some balance bike experts have also claimed that the presence of a turning limiter will prevent the handlebars from lying flat to the ground in the event of a fall – which could make injuries more likely.

So although some bikes do come equipped with a turning limiter, this can restrict the child’s ability to steer and there are probably more important factors to consider when you are deciding upon the best balance bike.

These include the frame component (wooden or metal), tyres, colour and of course the price. Good luck in choosing the best balance bike!

Another important feature to consider when you are looking for the best balance bike is the type of tyre that you would prefer. There are several types of tyres available on balance bikes, so we thought it would be useful to prepare the Ultimate Balance Bike Tyre Guide!

There are a few 'cons' or disadvantages to pneumatic or air tyres, and the main con is that they can be prone to flat tyres, just like standard bikes. You can reduce the risk of this by adding some tyre sealant, but it can be a hassle if your child runs over a sharp object and you need to organise a replacement tube.

Pneumatic tyres can also make balance bikes heavier than those with foam or plastic tyres, so balance bikes with pneumatic tyres are generally recommended for children aged 3 or older . You may want to start off with a smaller bike with foam tyres and progress to air tyres.

Another popular balance bike tyre type is EVA Foam tyres, where the inside of the tyre is filled with a hard, rubber foam. These tyres are preferred by manufacturers such as Strider, who use foam tyres as standard on most of their bikes. EVA foam tyres are lighter than pneumatic tyres, and the main advantage is that the solid foam means there is no risk of punctures and the tyres maintain their shape.

In contrast to the pneumatic tyres, the EVA Foam tyres do not provide much 'give' and flexibility, so this can result in a bumpier ride and the rider has to absorb much more of the impact when riding on bumpy surfaces or going up and down kerbs etc.

EVA Foam tyres are perfect for younger children learning to ride on smooth, paved surfaces and they also require less maintenance. Simply wipe the mud and grass off the tyre and you are ready to go. Strider offer EVA Foam tyres as standard on their bikes, but they do offer an air tyre as an optional extra on some models.

Fat Boy' tyres are preferred by some manufacturers such as Early Rider, who feature them on several of their models. These tyres are larger than the standard pneumatic air tyres, and as the name suggests are fatter and wider.

The larger tyre means the extra air provides more flexibility and cushioning, enhancing the comfort of the ride while providing all of the traction benefits of the pneumatic tyres. These tyres are generally found on more expensive and top end models.

These are the main types of balance bike tyres on the market used by most of the bikes that we have featured on this website. A few manufacturers have started to use rubber honeycomb tyres, which combine the best of both air and foam tyres as they provide the comfort and flexibility of air tyres but are puncture proof. These tyres may become more common in the future. Hard plastic tyres are also sometimes used, but these are only really useful for indoor bikes and toys.

We hope you found our Ultimate Guide to Balance Bike Tyres useful, and good luck in finding the best balance bike for your child.