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"Daddeeeee, dat one...."

Some reasons why cycling is important for kids...

Health - With the decline of school sports, cycling may be the only regular exercise that your child gets.

Independence - In an age of cosseted, chauffeured upbringing, riding a bike is a child's first taste of independence.

Mobility - A bike may be your child's only form of personal transport.

Togetherness - Cycling is one of the few active pursuits that you do as a family.

Their Future - How we move around is one area where individuals we can have a huge impact on the environment. Everyone stands to gain from an increase in cycling, so why not get your kids off to a good start. What kind of world will they inherit?

Kid's Bikes

Not Just for Xmas
At Cycle Heaven we believe that you should give as much consideration to the purchase of a child's bike as you would to one for yourself. As we believe bikes to be objects of great intrinsic utility and value, we like to stock bikes that most embody these characteristics - high quality bikes. If we don't compromise on the quality of the adult bikes that we stock why should our kids have second best? By contrast, many suppliers seem to offer bikes built down to a price. The sad result is usually a product of poor quality that weighs more than most adult bikes. Perhaps it's because they don't have to ride them.

Why buy a quality kid's bike?

High quality kid's bikes are worth every penny. Obviously it's your choice how much you spend and we are happy to acknowledge that by some reckonings what we offer is not cheap. But when considered alongside the cost of computers and video game consoles? As with adult bikes you get what you pay for. Experience has taught us that kids are far more likely to use a bike that works well and is a pleasure to ride. Our best kid's bikes will deliver objectively better performance than the competition, due to their lighter weight and better quality components. They will also be less prone to breakdown.

Right fit.

Components, such as the brake levers, on kid's bikes should be proportional to the child's size. Because we only sell quality bikes, you can be sure that attention is paid to these kinds of important details with all our models. We will take the time to make sure that your child is correctly fitted to their bike. Their comfort and confidence is important to us. Also, where practicable, we test ride all the bikes that we sell for safety, including junior bikes.

Back pedal brakes?

Some of the kids' bikes that we sell come equipped with back pedal rear brakes. Coaster brakes, as they are called, are unusual in the UK but very common on the continent, even on adult bikes. Their advantages are that they are easy and intuitive to use, powerful, durable and zero maintenance. They are particularly good for kids' bikes, as many of the youngest kids don't have the strength to pull a lever brake (even when they are correctly proportioned). They are also easy to use and as rear brakes they don't involve the risk of flying over the handlebars, you will find them on some of our starter bikes as well as many Gazelle kid's bikes. We would recommend them over other types of brake.

Trainer bikes: ditch the stabilisers!

The most exciting development in kid's cycling in recent years has been the rise of the pedal-less training bike (see the Scoots and Pukys below). We have all used these products with our own children and would strongly recommend them as a a first bike. Trainer bikes teach toddlers the fundamentals - how to balance, before they get distracted by pedalling. They are also much more versatile machines than small bikes with stabilisers as they can be ridden off road with ease and are much easier for parents to carry if the child gets tired. This author is a great example: brought up on a tricycle and a bike with and stabilisers (back in the 70s), I didn't learn to ride until I was six. My daughter using, a Puky LRM was already balancing weeks after her second birthday and riding a real bike without stabilisers on her third birthday - seen here (top right) on the special day!

3 today and she rides away!
This child learnt to balance first on a Puky LRM.

Suspension or Not?

Your kids will inevitably pester you for suspension - as much of it as possible. Suspension exists for three reasons: to increase comfort, to increase performance and to look cool. On most kids bikes, the only real benefit is the latter - for the sake of your children's street cred with their pals.

The suspension on cheap bikes will definitely not enhance its performance - more likely, it will detract from it. Low quality suspension adds extra weight and can be sticky and unresponsive, making the machine harder to pedal and control, with only small gains in comfort. This could be a significant disadvantage if you like to go out on longish rides as a family, as it is likely that your child will be riding a bike that weighs more than yours!

However, suspension is a feature even on quality brands these days as apparently, "this is what the market wants." On the other hand, if your child's street cred does play on your conscience (and your peace and quiet), suspension might well be a benefit worth paying for. So to strike a balance, go for front suspension but avoid at all costs - cheap 'full sussers.'

Gazelle Freestyler 2012 Girls' 24" / 26"
Gazelle
Kids' Bikes
£349.99

The Freestyler is a cool looking bike with practical carrier and battery lights and like most Gazelle kids' bikes, equipped with a coaster brake and 2 V-brakes....

Bike sections (eg brand/ type etc) - Cycle Heaven