Knowing how to ride a bike is often one of the major stages in a child's life. However, it is important to take into account certain criteria to buy the bike that will correspond to your child so that he or she can fully enjoy it. Here are a few tips that we hope will help you make your choice.

The age of the child
   
The bike should be adapted to the child's age and abilities.
   
For a 2 year old child, the draisienne will allow him to learn to balance, to work on motor coordination, to understand the functioning of the bike easily and to move forward with his feet. There are even 3-wheeled draisiennes that provide more stability and can be used from the age of one and a half. From the age of 3, the child can start to pedal with stabilizers with a bike that will be adapted to his morphology to then get rid of it around 4-5 years. Thereafter, depending on the size and age of the child, you will find a bike adapted to his needs and use.

The height of the child 

Sometimes parents buy a bike that is a little big for their child because they are growing and want it to last as long as possible to maximize their purchase. Be careful though; on a bike that is too big and therefore unsuitable, the child will not have control of the bike and will not necessarily feel safe, so learning will be more complicated and less pleasant to use. It is however interesting to opt for a bike with an adjustable saddle and handlebars. The child will need to ride several bikes before he or she has an adult bike anyway. On the other hand, if the bike is too small, the child will be discouraged because he or she will not have the impression of moving forward.
   
In any case, buying a bike is an investment, but it can be sold second-hand very easily !
 

The size of the bike should be determined according to the size of the child. The latter is calculated according to the size of the wheels in inches and corresponds in reality to their diameter.

Generally the sizes of the bikes vary from 10 to 24 inches:

This chart will give you some guidance on what size bike to choose. Ideally, you should have your child try the bike and make sure that he or she can sit on the seat with both feet flat on the ground. Being able to put both feet on the ground easily will help prevent falls and reassure the child.

If your child cannot be present at the time of purchase, measure the inside of the child's leg from the foot to the upper thigh and use these measurements to determine the size of bike you will need.

The weight and material of the bike

The weight of the bike is also one of the criteria to take into account: the lighter the bike, the better the child will be able to handle and control it. Choose a bike that is both strong and light with materials such as aluminum or steel.
  

The shape of the bike frame

As previously mentioned, it is important that the child, once seated on the bike, can put both feet on the ground. For this, the frame should not interfere with the child's position. Choose a "gooseneck" type frame that will allow the child to sit on and get off the bike by straddling the frame easily without falling.
 

Brakes
 

Make sure the child can reach the brakes easily and has the strength to apply them. This is absolutely essential for their safety.
 

Most children's bikes have brake pads for easy and effective braking. There are also back-pedal brakes that allow the bike to be braked by pedaling backwards. However, it is not necessarily intuitive and can lead to confusion.
 

You will find colored brakes on the market that will allow you to differentiate between them and understand which brake allows you to have an action on which wheel and thus avoid braking leading to a fall.

Gears
 

You will find different systems for shifting gears on the bike.
 
Indexed shifters allow you to change gears and downshift with two triggers and are easy to handle and do not require force.
 

The twist grips are installed on most children's bikes. They are easier to use since you only have to turn up or down to change gears and are more intuitive. However, make sure your child has the strength to turn the handlebars easily with one hand.
 

Regarding accessories, don't forget the helmet, it is mandatory until 12 years old! Choose a helmet they will enjoy wearing. Then, feel free to add different accessories on the bike like a basket or a luggage rack for example.

Stay tuned for more adventures with Paulette!

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