What should you look for when buying a children’s bike?

You should pay attention to the following factors when buying a children's bike to ensure fun, safety and durability:

Does the size fit?

The right bike size is the most important criterion when buying a child's bike. We explain how to determine the right bike size in detail below under "Determining the size of a child's bike".

Low weight

The lighter a bike, the easier it is to move and steer. Children's bikes with a low weight are usually more expensive, but experience shows that this is worth it.

Can the saddle be adjusted easily?

Especially for children who are still growing, it is important that the saddle height can be adjusted and individually adapted at any time. This is much easier with a quick release than with an Allen key - and especially from a certain age, without the help of mom or dad.

Is the saddle soft and comfortable?

The saddle should also be soft for children's bikes and ensure longer use without painful pressure points.

Do the brakes work well?

Well-functioning brakes are essential for safe and enjoyable riding on a children's bike. Most children's bike models are equipped with rim brakes, but there are also models with modern disc brakes. Both systems can brake a bike quickly and safely. The bike brakes should be serviced at regular intervals. In addition to hand brakes, foot brakes (coaster brake) are often installed for the rear wheel.

Is the circuit easy for children to use?

Many children's bikes only have one gear, some have a gearshift with three gears. The advantage of a gearshift is obvious: children can define the resistance themselves, for example on inclines. However, gearshifts are prone to malfunctions and therefore require a lot of maintenance, and only make sense if they are easy for the child to operate.

Isn't the bottom bracket too high?

If the bottom bracket of a child's bike is set too high, the child will not be able to reach the ground with their feet even if the saddle is adjusted to the correct size. This poses a risk of accidents and means that the saddle height has to be set too low to still allow the child to stand on the ground with their feet.

Do the pedals touch the ground easily when cornering?

If the pedals come too close to the ground when cornering, there is a risk of falling.

Balance bike or children’s bike with training wheels?

It is best for your child to be able to ride a balance bike before switching to a bike with training wheels. A balance bike is ideal for training a child's sense of balance at an early age and for learning the most important skills for cycling. Training wheels are ideal for gaining the first experience on a bike. However, you should not miss the moment to switch without the help of training wheels. Experience shows that even small children learn to ride two wheels pretty quickly and the child is soon able to ride a bike independently.

Quality pays off

A good bike has its price, but it is much more fun for a lot longer. At Funwheel, we place a lot of value on sustainability. That is why we also have a lot of spare parts in stock. If you buy a good bike, you can repair it for years without any problems. If you buy a cheap bike, it will soon end up in the scrap metal. So think long-term, invest a little more and have many years of fun with a high-quality children's bike.

Tip: If you focus on quality when buying, you can easily sell the bike or pass it on to a smaller child as soon as it no longer fits your child's size.

Determine children's bike size | The right size is crucial

The size of a child's bike is crucial for a great and safe riding experience. It is a dangerous myth that you should always buy a child's bike a little too big so that the child can "grow into it". Bikes are similar to shoes. If you buy shoes that are too big for the child, they will keep falling over and that will ultimately only increase the risk of injury, but certainly not the fun of riding. The frame and wheel size should therefore always fit the child's body size as closely as possible. It is also important to adjust the saddle height correctly.

1. Determine wheel size based on body size

The wheel size is crucial so that your child can get from A to B with little effort. The bigger the child, the bigger the wheel size should be. Wheels for children's bikes are available in sizes 12'', 16'', 20'', 24'' and 26''.

Height

• 90 to 100cm: 12 inch wheel size
• 100 to 120cm: 16 inch or 18 inch wheel size
• 115 to 135cm: 20 inch wheel size
• 130 to 150cm: 24 inch wheel size
• from 145cm: 26 inch wheel size

2. Saddle height

Determine based on stride length This is how you can measure your child's stride length: The child takes off their shoes and trousers and stands with their back as close to a wall as possible. Then they clamp a book or spirit level between their legs, as if they were sitting on a saddle. The helper now measures from the top edge of the spirit level or book to the floor and the stride length is determined. The saddle height is the measurement between the bottom bracket and the top edge of the saddle. Beginners should be able to put their feet completely on the ground at all times. For advanced riders and children with very good riding skills, the saddle height can be adjusted to suit the stride length. For adults, the saddle height ideally corresponds to 109% of the stride length or inside leg length.

3. Bike size

Determine based on age Age is of course only a partially helpful indicator for determining the bike size. However, if you do not have any information about the child's height and inside leg length, you can use the following guidelines:

• Bicycles for children 3-4 years
  3-4 years: 12 inch wheel size
• Bicycles for children 4-6 years
  4-6 years: 16 inch or 18 inch wheel size
• Bicycles for children 6-9 years
  6-9 years: 20 inch wheel size
• Bicycles for children 9-12 years
  9-12 years: 24 inch wheel size
• Bicycles for children aged 12 and over
  from 12 years: 26 inch wheel size