How to choose a children's bike
The outdoors have dried up and many of you have surely decided to introduce your child to the secrets of cycling. The most important thing is to choose the right bike so that you don't get sick of it right from the start. Amuletbikes product manager Jakub Šulc will advise you on what to focus on.
When is the best time to start teaching a child to ride a bike?
It is generally stated that the ideal age for learning to ride a bike is around 3 years of age, but of course this needs to be approached individually. Some children get it at the age of two, others don't even want to hear about a bicycle at the age of four.
What sizes of children's bikes do we have and how is this determined? How are the sizes different?
Bikes are divided according to the size of the wheel circumference. Which is stated in inches. We offer bikes with wheel circumferences from 12, through 16, 20, 24 to junior bikes of 27.5 and 29 inches. The larger the wheel circumference, the larger the wheel frame. We offer different frame sizes for 27.5 and 29-inch junior bikes. The bikes differ mainly in the dimensions of the seat tube and the upper frame tube.
What should a parent focus on when choosing the first bike?
The choice of the first bike is very important, because the child is already building a relationship with riding a bike. If you choose the wrong bike for them, they will not enjoy it and it may discourage them from riding a bike later. Kids grow fast, but avoid buying them bikes that are too big for them to grow into. When they are not in control of the bike, its controllability is also more difficult for them. So the key is above all the correct bike size.
Another factor should be the weight of the bike, which is often really high in relation to the weight of the child. That is why the weight of children's bikes in Amulet is one of the most important parameters for us.
So how to choose the right size of children's bike?
The most important thing is the height of the child and also the length of the legs from the crotch to the ground (inner length). According to these two aspects, the correct size can be determined. Come to us and our willing and trained salespeople will advise you. It is ideal if you come with your child, who will try everything right away and we will set up the bike just for them. However, we understand that the bike is often meant to be a surprise, so if you know the child's age, height, weight and leg length, we can do it without them. However, as the child gets older, the choice variety increases and it becomes more complicated.
For your better orientation in basic bike sizes, we have an orientation table of Amulet wheel sizes, but you really need to choose a bike for the child individually (the data in cm correspond to the height of the figure).
What is the minimum height a child should be before we can start training with them to ride a bike?
Bikes with wheel sizes of 12 and 16 inches are especially suitable for beginners. Amulet Mini Lite bikes with 12" wheels are intended for children from a height of about 75 cm. However, it is really very individual and some children need more time to start riding a bike.
What else should we pay attention to when choosing a bike for a child?
Let the child straddle the bike. The frame tube of the bike should be about 5 cm below the child's crotch. The handlebars should be approximately at the height of the child's waist. Only then will the child have a natural posture. When sitting on the bike, the child should comfortably reach the brake levers, which can be adjusted if necessary.
And don't forget to look at the weight of the bike. A lighter bike will be easier for a child to control. They won't like riding a heavy bike because they won't be able to control it and might develop an aversion to cycling, and we don't want that.
Is handbrake or footbrake better to start with?
That depends on the child. Some children have more strength and longer fingers and have no problem using rim brakes with brake levers. But especially for smaller children, the torpedo brake (foot) is better, when the child just pedals back and brakes.
What equipment should the first children's bike have? What is useless?
Bicycles should definitely not lack mandatory reflective lights. For bikes of the smaller sizes, gear shifting and a front suspension fork are certainly useless. These things do not help the child in any way, rather they make the ride more unpleasant. For the smallest children's bikes, I would also avoid additional baskets and carriers, which increase the weight of the bike.
The first bikes usually have only one speed and are equipped with chain covers. Bikes in smaller sizes can also be fitted with additional wheels. From size 24", bikes can be purchased for various purposes - mountain, road, gravel or even electric bikes.
What does a child have to master in order to have a bike with a derailleur?
The child should be able to ride a bicycle without additional wheels and should not have a problem with maintaining balance. Shifting is another "convenience" that is supposed to improve a child's cycling, but if they are not able to ride a bicycle without shifting, it is definitely too soon. Otherwise, the derailleur will be more of a nuisance.
Do you recommend any tricks to start teaching a child to ride a bike?
It is certainly important to find a suitable place to practice cycling. This means quiet and less frequented places. We don't even have to worry about a slight slope of the terrain. It will be easier for the child to keep their balance at higher speeds. The current trend is to teach children without balance wheels, because they mostly already experience balance from small kickback bikes. However, for more timid and less able children, you can add them. They will get used to riding a bike better.
For the greater comfort of parents, the Amulet bikes are equipped with saddles with handles, by which you can hold the child and help them in the beginning. So you don't need to buy an additional rod.
Definitely don't forget the safety equipment for the bike either. Give your child a helmet from the very first rides on the kickback bike, so that they learn that they can't get on a bike without a helmet. For the first kilometers, feel free to get them elbow pads and don't forget gloves that will protect their palms from chafing during a fall. Set an example for the children and you too - always wear a helmet on your bike.
