Trikes are for two-year-olds

December 3, 2009 9:37 PM

Where can I buy a wooden balance bike in Toronto?

I want to buy a wooden balance bike for my three-year-old brother (something like this, though not necessarily this brand) and I don't want to order online. Can anyone recommend a shop in Toronto that carries balance bikes for toddlers?

posted by Felicity Rilke to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (9 answers total)

try baby proofing plus. they advertise a balance bike.
posted by Frasermoo at 10:09 PM on December 3, 2009

Search for a Skuut bike (googling Toronto skuut brings up some hits). Does anyone else think it's ridiculous a push bike goes for $300+? A full-sized bike goes for that much.
posted by just.good.enough at 12:28 AM on December 4, 2009

Mastermind has this: http://www.mastermindtoys.com/store/product.asp?product_code=105715&subcat=796&agecat=0&cat=51&brand=0&page=1

Check stores for availablilty?
posted by peagood at 4:29 AM on December 4, 2009

from LIKEaBIKE's dealer list: Cycle Solutions (444 Parliament Street), Ella + Elliot (188 Strachan Avenue), Scooter Girl (187 Roncesvalles Avenue). LIKEaBIKEs, if they're still made like they used to be, will go on forever.
posted by scruss at 4:39 AM on December 4, 2009

I vaguely remember reading that you can just get a regular bike from Walmart and take the pedals off. Then when the child has the balance thing down pat, you put the pedals back on.

Here's a blog with a story just like that. They said a half hour on the no-pedals bike was enough to teach their kid to ride and they put the pedals back on the same day. They don't say how old he is, but he looks 3 (maybe 4). Here's another one.
posted by CathyG at 7:38 AM on December 4, 2009

I seem to recall that Kol Kid at 674 Queen St. W. had a few (but October 2008 was the last time I was anywhere near there). Their website is still just a "Come visit us!", sadly, but the store is pretty cool.
posted by joeycoleman at 12:59 PM on December 4, 2009

I've definitely seen it at Ella + Elliot and, in fact, it's pictured on their homepage.

They're just one door south of Queen on the west side of Strachan (near the Trinity-Bellwoods Park gates and, concidentally, Igor Kenk's shop).
posted by ChuckLeChuck at 6:45 PM on December 5, 2009

We've been looking into this for our daughter. I know that MEC carries one, which I can't seem to find it on their website.

We've decided on getting the Norco Run Bike, which have been recommended and look pretty cool to boot.
posted by sauril at 8:13 PM on December 5, 2009

should have read the question more closely, you were looking for a wooden one, so the Norco is out.
posted by sauril at 8:15 PM on December 5, 2009