When we were on the look out for a bike for Penguin I had already decided I would like him to have a balance bike so he could master the art of balancing. He hasn’t really had any experience of peddling, so that will have to be mastered at a later stage. I’d read alot about bikes and researched which would be the best balance bike to get. As Penguin was going to be 5 when he got his first bike I needed to make sure he wouldn’t out grow it within a few weeks. Most of the balance bikes on the market are quite small, I measured his inside leg and looked at which bikes would allow him space to grow. You can buy some really light balance bikes, which are great for younger children. As Penguin was on the older side I wasn’t too worried about having a heavier bike.
We settled on a Stompee Balance Bike, which is 4.2kg. Penguin got the hang of it really quickly. I love the fact that he is so in control of it so when he is cycling, the risk of him falling into the road/water is mimimal!
Penguin has been riding this bike for a year (soon to progress to a pedal bike- which will come with a new set of challenges) and it has been a brilliant choice. I wanted him to have a bike that he enjoyed to ride and wanted ride. I don’t think I can remember a time when he didn’t want to go out on his bike.
This bike is fun and easy to ride. It has a back break which has been really useful when going fast downhill and a good skill to master early on. Though the Stompees I’ve seen recently for sale don’t have this feature, I’m not sure why. Penguins confidence has grown and I am hoping the tranistion to a pedal bike will be smooth. Though I am a little nervous!
Penguin asked me the other day, ‘After I get a bike with gears will I get a motorbike?’ I’m not quite sure what I think about that!
Penguin’s favorite colour for the past year has been red, so he was very pleased with the colour. The Stompee also comes in black, blue and pink. It has a strong steel frame with lovely fat tyres that have a clever bent valve, making them easy to pump up. The Stompee reminds me of a BMX bike.
The Stompee sells for about £50, which I think is quite reasonable. It’s a very durable bike, it’s been used for a year and still in great condition, ready to be handed down to a very excited Little Missy!
Have your little ones had a balance bike? What was the transition to a regular pedal bike like?
The Real Lara Shoe 
Wends H has moved from balance bike to pedals! He got it first time so I think that M will be fine 🙂 love your blog beautiful xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks hon. That’s good to know, I’ve heard good things from others about the transition it’s just he’s never really used pedals before! I will find out in a week!
LikeLike
Fun! We had very easy transition to pedal bike. Took no more than an hour I would say. 2 half hour outings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s good to hear. Only a week left till the arrival of pedals!!
LikeLike
We do not have a balance bike, but I wish I had gotten her one like a year ago. She tried one out at a playdate and loved it. She’s not quite four, so we may still get one. We got both a tricycle and a regular bike with training wheels from family friends. She’s too big for one and too little for the other! lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s still young enough for one. I was really glad we got my son one and he was 5. I really wanted cycling not to be a chore and for mine to enjoy it!
LikeLike
My son had a balance bike, it’s a bit lower to the ground and wider. He preferred to turn it upside down and spin the wheels but his younger brother loves it and still plays on it occasionally.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oops sorry #fabfridaypost
LikeLike
Spinning the wheels sounds like fun! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
My littles are 8.5 and a stones throw from 6. I wish they would want to ride a bike! Bike riding defines childhood for me and made my adult life pre-kids incredible (Bike tour through Tuscany!). I will show these beautiful happy kids to my kids and cross my fingers. Thanks Lara! #FabFridayPost
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bike tour through Tuscany sounds amazing. I just get to do a slow jog these days while kiddies on wheels. I hope you manage to convince yours to get on their bikes, it’s so freeing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He looks so happy on that bike, in no time he will be whizzing about on pedal bike and there will be no stopping him! #FabFridayPost
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’ll probably be too quick!
LikeLike
Both my kids had balance bike and the transition was super quick and easy. In fact, my little girl who is now 3 has already learned how to bike without stabilizer on. Balance bike are great as first bikes for kids even as early as age 2, they’re amazing. #FabFridayPost
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s encouraging to hear and your daughter is so young!
LikeLike
Penguin looks like he is having a time of his life on this Stompee bike. It’s really great and great price too! We had a wooden balance bike but it didn’t last long as one of the screw came off only a couple of months. But it did gave Ethan so much confident and he was able to move on to a peddle bike pretty quickly – so I would recommend a balance bike for any kids for sure. I think Stompee is the one to get too for its durability. 🙂 #FabFridayPost
LikeLiked by 1 person
Balance bikes are a fab invention. He certainly looks very at home on his bike! That’s great that Ethan is riding well x
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have this exact same bike but in black! It really is an awesome bike I love it! We bought it for our eldest’s 2nd birthday and he’s now 3 next month but won’t be upgrading him yet even though he can go pretty fast on it he hasn’t mastered the breaks yet.. the one thing I would have changed about it is I wish that it lowered a little bit more because my son didn’t fit it for months and months 😦 great bike though, I always recommend it to people #fabfridaypost
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s worked really well for us as my son wasn’t five till he got it. I can imagine it was a bit annoying having to wait for it to fit your son, he must be getting some great use out of it now 😀
LikeLike