Bikes for very little people

[Arch]

Ok, so at 16 months, my nephew is a bit young for a bike. He's just got his first trike (one of those with a handle for Mum or Dad to push him along, and he's not quite got steering yet, and apparently like to sit on it with one foot on the pedal and one hand on the handlebars, very relaxed...

I know a few people on here with kids have gone down the scooter bike route, which I'd like to do once he's old enough. When is that, roughly? I know it'll depend to some extent on his size, and coordination. He was walking pretty quickly, once his legs were strong enough to hold him up, didn't go through much of a crawling phase. I was thinking of his 2nd birthday... I see the Islabike is for 2 years plus.

Any recommendations on models? Bear in mind I'm very limited as to funds, so that will have to be a consideration. I love the Like-a-bike wooden sort, and I know my sister likes them too, but I like the fact that the metal ones could have a brake for him to get used to....

Encouragingly, we went out for a walk over Christmas and he was very excited at the sight of a small boy on his new Christmas bike. I think anything with wheels is going to be a winner.

 

[swee'pea99]

Harley-Davidson. One of the smaller ones would probably be best.

 

[Arch]

[quote name='swee'pea99']Harley-Davidson. One of the smaller ones would probably be best.[/QUOTE]

We need a 'sticking tongue out' smiley...

I expect it'll happen sooner or later, his Dad went through a motorbike phase...

 

[Shaun]

We need a 'sticking tongue out' smiley...

You mean like this one ...

 

[Globalti]

When our son was very small his Grandparents bought him a red plastic sit-on truck. My wife and I groaned at the naffness of it but he rode around on that truck every day until he outgrew it and it broke under his weight. I'd be willing to bet your nephew would love something like that to fill the gap before the Islabike sit-on jobbie.

 

[ChrisKH]

Like-a-bike looks really good. I learned too late for my two.

On a budget, Aldi/Lidl did a copy of this which wasn't much different from the original. But as with all things bikey (!), spend up to what you can afford to pay.

I can't fault Islabike for anything. Would always be my first choice with unlimited funds.

 

[wafflycat]

Keep an eye out for the Lidl like-a-bike-lookalikes... at under £30 (last two times they've been up for sale) they are *excellent value*

 

[ChrisKH]

When our son was very small his Grandparents bought him a red plastic sit-on truck. My wife and I groaned at the naffness of it but he rode around on that truck every day until he outgrew it and it broke under his weight. I'd be willing to bet your nephew would love something like that to fill the gap before the Islabike sit-on jobbie.

Agreed. Both my two had one of those which graduated from a rocker with full harness, to push truck with outboard runners and handle for M & D to push, to a sit on DIY truck.

On a budget, get the phone number for the local NCT people (National Childbirth Trust) and get along early to one of their spring sales for a bargain. This is where we have got a lot of the kids early stuff. They're usually held in local church halls.

 

[another_dave_b]

Decathlon are selling a B-bip @ £36, which looks like the same sort of thing.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

We need a 'sticking tongue out' smiley...

: ? ?

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

I have a Daughter who is a month younger than Arch's Nephew... and we're going through similar thoughts too... so you should be able to get a sale, Mr P.

 

[bikie]

My 3 boys all had one of these at age 2, they are a great way to learn to get thier balance before going onto pedals, more natural than a bike with stablisers. I prefere metal frames than the wooden ones and the low step through is easy to get on and off.

http://www.puky.net/homepage/produkte/laufraeder/4006.htm

 

[summerdays]

When our son was very small his Grandparents bought him a red plastic sit-on truck. My wife and I groaned at the naffness of it but he rode around on that truck every day until he outgrew it and it broke under his weight. I'd be willing to bet your nephew would love something like that to fill the gap before the Islabike sit-on jobbie.

My son loved the plastic ride on toy - ours was a red fire engine, and was used from when he could sit on until about the age of 5 (and even older too down a slope in our garden straight towards our back garden). Even when he could ride a bike he saw it as a different toy to play on.

 

[Willow]

When our son was very small his Grandparents bought him a red plastic sit-on truck. My wife and I groaned at the naffness of it but he rode around on that truck every day until he outgrew it and it broke under his weight. I'd be willing to bet your nephew would love something like that to fill the gap before the Islabike sit-on jobbie.

It was the best £10 we ever spent too, used to scare the living daylights out of me charging towards the garage door but somehow he always managed a screeching stop!

 

[Arch]

Having owned a wooden one and the Rothan, I'd go for metal. It'll last forever. We might even be selling ours this year if you're interested. Watch this space.

Oh! Oh! Please keep me posted! <great big winning smile>

I do worry about the lack of a brake, since they live in a pretty hilly area (their back garden up terraced upwards) - there is a flatish park, but even that has a bit of a slope, and some of the roads and pavements down into town are very hilly (My sister likes it when I visit, because I tend to take the pushchair and she doesn't have to push it back uphill!).

And the size - I'd hate to present him with something that was too big for him for ages. Nearer the time, I'll get my sister to measure his legs for me. He doesn't have to get it for a birthday, of course, but it would be nice.. Of course, he'll be nearly 2 and a half next Christmas, so that's an alternative.

I haven't seen a pic of him on his trike yet, I must ask sis to send me one. I do miss seeing him all the time, being so far away - I miss out on great chunks of development, and next time I see him, he's all grown up!