Starter bike recommendations for 4.5yr old girl
November 14, 2009 5:24 AM Subscribe
Recommendations pls for a starter bike for 4.5 yr old girl with princess aspirations.
Does she already know how to ride a bike? If not, consider getting a balance bike, or removing the pedals on a bike until she can push/balance/stop comfortably. Training wheels are an obstacle to learning how to ride.
That said, mcstayinschool is right- seems every girls bike has a princess theme. Just go to a local bike shop and see what's appealing. Here's another from Trek.
posted by TDIpod at 7:23 AM on November 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
That said, mcstayinschool is right- seems every girls bike has a princess theme. Just go to a local bike shop and see what's appealing. Here's another from Trek.
posted by TDIpod at 7:23 AM on November 14, 2009 [2 favorites]
jamis makes really decent bikes for kids-- not flimsy. Here's their girls' bike...
posted by BundleOfHers at 7:45 AM on November 14, 2009
posted by BundleOfHers at 7:45 AM on November 14, 2009
Definitely look into the latest thinking about teaching kids to ride. I just learned all this when visiting my brother and my little nephew, who got a bike for his birthday while I was there. He learned to ride in just a couple of sessions with no trouble whatsoever. Basically: forget about training wheels and instead get something that can be configured to let them pick up or put down their feet (low enough seat and top tube). At first you don't want the pedals on either (you just start out on a slight incline).
posted by madmethods at 10:06 AM on November 14, 2009
posted by madmethods at 10:06 AM on November 14, 2009
My daughter had a Schwinn that's similar to the one in mcstayinschool's link. I found the seat and handlebars sort of tricky to adjust comfortably, but the frame is basically indestructible. It came with a stupid little backpack for the front and some streamers, but the backpack zipper broke after a week. I replaced it with a basket, and the next season I had to replace the streamers because they got nasty.
Also, the streamers and a basket are a fun touch, and if you choose a bike that doesn't have them, you might want to pick those up to add on. Because I'm not sure if my daughter could even tell you what color her bike actually is, even though she rides it nearly every day. But if you ask her about it, she'll tell you, "It has a basket. And streamers!"
We liked the Schwinn for the most part. It's sturdy, but it's also a bit heavy, which seems to make it hard to get going if you have a fairly scrawny, small kid like I do. When my daughter outgrew it, we passed it down to another family member who is a bit sturdier and she didn't have the same problem. The bike is still in really good shape after about 4 years, aside from some scrapes and a cut on the seat where it's been crashed a few times. The price was pretty reasonable, too.
Toys R Us has more than a few princess themed choices. I was actually searching for a non-princessy bike and I had more trouble finding one that was any color but pink or purple. I know the local Kmart and Walmart here carry an actual Disney princess bike if that's her thing.
Honestly, as much as I'm normally into buying things that are well-made instead of cheap, I think that at this stage you can probably just go for the bling and sparkles. She won't be riding it very long since they grow so fast, and I've even seen those cheap $40 Huffy bikes last for 10 years being handed down through families and still ride just fine. I'm sure someone with a ton of bike knowledge will come in her in a minute and tell me why I'm wrong, but really- 4 or 5 year olds won't care and won't notice the technical details anyway.
posted by howrobotsaremade at 10:39 AM on November 14, 2009
Also, the streamers and a basket are a fun touch, and if you choose a bike that doesn't have them, you might want to pick those up to add on. Because I'm not sure if my daughter could even tell you what color her bike actually is, even though she rides it nearly every day. But if you ask her about it, she'll tell you, "It has a basket. And streamers!"
We liked the Schwinn for the most part. It's sturdy, but it's also a bit heavy, which seems to make it hard to get going if you have a fairly scrawny, small kid like I do. When my daughter outgrew it, we passed it down to another family member who is a bit sturdier and she didn't have the same problem. The bike is still in really good shape after about 4 years, aside from some scrapes and a cut on the seat where it's been crashed a few times. The price was pretty reasonable, too.
Toys R Us has more than a few princess themed choices. I was actually searching for a non-princessy bike and I had more trouble finding one that was any color but pink or purple. I know the local Kmart and Walmart here carry an actual Disney princess bike if that's her thing.
Honestly, as much as I'm normally into buying things that are well-made instead of cheap, I think that at this stage you can probably just go for the bling and sparkles. She won't be riding it very long since they grow so fast, and I've even seen those cheap $40 Huffy bikes last for 10 years being handed down through families and still ride just fine. I'm sure someone with a ton of bike knowledge will come in her in a minute and tell me why I'm wrong, but really- 4 or 5 year olds won't care and won't notice the technical details anyway.
posted by howrobotsaremade at 10:39 AM on November 14, 2009
She's five and is going to grow. Go to walmart, target, or the nearest superstore that sells bikes and find one that fits her and is pink.
posted by lucy.jakobs at 12:07 PM on November 14, 2009
posted by lucy.jakobs at 12:07 PM on November 14, 2009
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Decent quality bikes with 12" wheels are pretty hard to find. Try this one from Schwinn
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:04 AM on November 14, 2009