Here we go round the Mulberry bush! (ELC Supertrike)

Member Name: grogling

Product:	ELC Supertrike
Date:	08/05/02 (230 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well made., Lots of extras

Disadvantages: Price

It was my daughters second birthday. Grandma and Grandad came in with this big box and she tore off the wrapping paper with great exitement. Then she looked inside, saw a load of pieces and it was given to daddy to make up.

Oh goody, another toy to assemble! At least it didn't need batteries or make a loud noise. And the colours matched the ELC swing, sand pit and paddling pool we already had.

In all honesty, it didn't take too long before the trike was ready to go. So out into the garden we went and strapped her in. I began by slowly pushing her up and down the garden. When the demands for more speed became annoying I started to push her around a large bush in the garden. On about the twentieth lap I fell over with dizzyness and exhaustion. I'm sure grandparents by these things just to make their children suffer!

So what is it? Obviously a tricicle. It is designed for children from 18 months upwards. The upper limit depends on the size of your child. It is adjustable which helps to increase it's potential lifespan. But is it any good and if so, why?

Like most Early Learning Centre toys, it is very well constructed (apart from the bit where I was involved). Made of strong metal and durable plastic, this trike will easily last longer than you need it. The wheels are big and tough which makes them easy to push over uneven ground and it is quite stable so accidents are kept to a minimum.
To my mind, the best selling points are the extras. Think of it as a GTI model in trikes. Firstly there is the adjustable pushing bar for the parents. This is a huge blessing which will save your back from untold suffering. Next is the safety feature of a good lap belt to keep your little hell's angel secure. It also has a lockable steering column. This is meant to prevent the child from turning too sharply and creating a pile of parent, offspring and trike on the lawn. Unfortunately this doesn't stop a determined thug li
ke mine from forcing the handlebars to one side so beware!

What else does it offer? There is a brake lever on the right hand side. Personally I find this a pain but my daughter loves it. There I am charging full speed up the garden when she yanks the lever, the wheels stop and I get a nicely designed push handle lodged into my groin. It also has big mup flaps. Ideal for the modern two year old with a need for an all-terrain tricycle.

Finally it has a large bucket-like section behind the seat which is ideal for carrying all essentials such as freshly dug earthworms, interesting stones and mummy's prize flowers that we happened to accidently run over. Oops!

So, to sum up. It's a good product but it ain't cheap. Your best bet is to try and get a second hand one or else have lots of children so you get your money's worth.

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