Advice on buying a first bike - Safety Issues

Being a super cool Auntie for my youngest little niece I decided to buy her what is in effect her first proper bike for her birthday recently, she has had three wheeler bikes and the sort which you propel with leg power on the floor when she was really small but up until now she has not had a proper bike. The fir priority I had was to ensure that the bike was the right size for her and that when at a stop she is able to place both feet flat on the ground while staying seated, this will help prevent her toppling over even though initially the bike will be fitted with stabilisers while she learns to ride. The second priority was to esnure that the ...  Read the complete review

When I was young buying your first bike was a big thing. These days it usually happens while you are too young to remember anything about it. I like to let my kids try a few bikes before they choose so we usually try halfords or toys r us first. I usually ask for advice on sizes of bike and helmet but anything else is left to the kids. After all they are the ones who will be riding it. If my local bike shop has a suitable bike they like I will buy from there rather than a big store as you get a much more personal service and aftercare. For a young child a trike is best until at least two. Some children are ready for a proper bike by then ...  Read the complete review

My daughter is 3 years old. I had bought here a plastic tricycle for her a while ago for £10 from the local paper. This has a bar to help push her along, but it isn't much good for riding under her own power. She wanted another bicycle and was quite specific about what she wanted. It had to be pink and it had to have a seat on the back to put a doll. I had a look around for a while to see what was available. She needed a bike with 12 inch wheels. All the decent bike shops I tried had basically the same (not very good) quality of bike. I asked the owner of a reasonable bikeshop the features that marked out the £100 bikes that he was selling and he said they ...  Read the complete review

We have now had to buy two “Real” Bikes for our eldest and there are few things that we found out when we were looking for a first bike for our sons fourth Christmas. I looked out some bikes that I liked to look of in the catalogues and was going to get one, when a friend informed me that bikes from catalogues do not always meet Safety Standards as they are in need of some construction!!!!! Well I would never have thought of that. I now wouldn’t think of getting a bike for my child from a catalogue, as their safety is paramount, and even though I have had to put my bike back together again a fair few times I do not feel that I ...  Read the complete review