Balance bike – this is how it works

The balance bike is considered the optimal preparation for cycling, as children can use it to playfully train their balance and motor skills, which they will need for later cycling. The advantage: It happens without pressure and with little risk of frustration and falling. If you are wondering when your child can start using the balance bike, we have good news for you: The right balance bike age starts very early, because the balance bike principle can be used from 1 year old.

Balance bike – what it brings
Unlike a tricycle, a balance bike is used to train balance because the child has to use their body to hold the balance bike in position. Motor skills and sense of balance are subconsciously trained in a playful way. Experience shows that children who have already gained experience on a balance bike learn to cycle within a very short time. The coordination of steering and steering is trained in combination with pushing off the ground with your feet.

Balance bike – which size for my child?
The balance bike also comes in different inch sizes and designs to suit children across a wide age range. Even if your child's level of development and size should ultimately be decisive for choosing the size of the balance bike, the following information can be used as a rough rule of thumb: A balance bike from 1 year old should ideally be equipped with three or four wheels. See our S'COOL pedeX first. A balance bike from 2 years old should be around 8 to 10 inches, a balance bike from 3 years old should be around 10 to 12 inches. We have a wide range of S'COOL balance bikes.

Which wheel tires are best?

When it comes to tires on wheels, you often have the choice between pneumatic tires and plastic or rubber tires. Here are the differences briefly: With air-filled tires, the resulting light suspension is an advantage when walking along uneven roads and paths. Paving stones and forest paths are also easier to drive on with such tires. The use of pneumatic tires is more flexible and the children can cover comparatively longer distances with them. Solid rubber tires offer more stability and better durability, as punctures are almost impossible. Plastic tires roll best on smooth surfaces. So a few laps around the apartment to practice are no problem and don't leave any scratches. However, routes through forest and field paths are a little more difficult with these tires.

Balance bike – when is it possible to purchase one?
Not all balance bikes are the same. As with its big brother, the bicycle, there are different types of balance bikes that are aimed at children of different ages. When it comes to the question: “When is a balance bike suitable for my child?” criteria such as the size and level of development of the child are crucial. Depending on the version, the balance bike principle is possible from 1 year onwards. We recommend models with three or four wheels, which offer your child a secure footing.

In the classic form with two wheels, we recommend the balance bike for ages 2 and up. At this age, children are already able to keep their balance, so a balance bike is possible from the age of 2. When it comes to balance bikes, care should be taken to have a low entry so that it is easy to get on or off. You can find out why balance bikes enable you to learn to ride a bike faster in our blog article: Learn to ride a bike faster with balance bikes