Childrens Bicycles FAQs
How do I know what size bike to buy my child?
How long before my child outgrows his/her bike?
Can I buy a larger bike to allow for some growing room?
Will my child be able to work gears?
How do I know what size bike to buy my child?
You determine what size bike to buy your child by having him or her stand over it. He or she should clear the top bar by at least an inch. However, with childrens bikes, you can pretty much go by your child's age to determine what size bike they need. In general, and depending on how tall they are for their age,
- a 2 to 3 yr. old children will ride a 12" bike
- 4 to 5 yr. old 16"
- 6 to 7 yr. old 20"
- 8 to 9 yr. old 24"
*bikes are measured by the wheel diameter.
How long before my child outgrows his/her bike?
Kids out grow their bikes anywhere from one to two and a half years, depending on how fast they grow and at what point they get into a particular size bike.
Can I buy a larger bike to allow for some growing room?
We don't recommend it. You want to be careful not to compromise your child's safety (nor their confidence) by putting them on a bike too big for them. Big bikes are hard to manage for little people. Plus, it's easier to learn how to ride on a smaller bike than it is on a larger one.
Will my child be able to work gears?
Yes. We find that children have little problem with them. The shifter is part of the grip so that the gears are changed by a simple twist of the grip. That's a neat design because the rider doesn't have to take their hands of the bars to shift.
The main benefit of the gears is that they make the bike easier to pedal up hills, easier to ride longer distances, and easier to keep up with Mom or Dad.
Will my child be able to use hand brakes?
Yes. We've found that children take to them quite naturally. Stopping with your hands seems to be fairly intuitive.
Not really. Hand brakes stop better since there's a brake for each wheel. Plus with hand brakes, you don't have to have your feet in just the right position to use them as with a foot brakes, aka coaster brake.
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