You want to get out and enjoy summer biking with the family. You don’t want to waste time returning a bike that either broke down or that doesn’t fit your child’s needs. Here are some of the pointers I learned while looking for a bike for my son. Considering how quickly kids grow at younger ages, an adjustable seat post can help tailor the fit of the bike to your child and extend its usage. Dewey noted that the child’s toes should be touching the ground when they’re seated, but they shouldn’t be flat-footed since that indicates the seat is too low. Typically, you can raise the seat post about 4 to 5 inches before hitting that line.
These tips can help you find the right bicycle for your child’s summer biking pleasure. I learned all of these as I looked for a bike for my son, and they all lead me to the Dynacraft 12″ Boys’ Tonka Bike. When shopping around for a bike, Dewey and Song recommended going to a local bike shop rather than a big-box retailer if you can. “Bike shops have better quality bikes that are going to be assembled better, and they have staff that can help with the fit of the bike,” Dewey said. She added that a lot of bike shops will also allow you to trade in a bike and go up a size at a lower cost or at the same price point as the bike, which can be beneficial for kids who are growing quickly. With a rear brake, if your child throws on the brakes too hard, he or she won’t end up flipping head over heels the way they would if they braked using a front brake.
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Song recommended Cannondale as a good high-end brand to consider that offers a variety of kids options. The Cannondale Quick bike has 24-inch wheels and seven gears, which can be great for older kids and more advanced riders. The brand says the frame is made of aluminum and is extremely lightweight, weighing in at only 20 pounds.
The first thing to remember when looking for a bike for your child is that it’s for a child. Summer energy means maybe riding too fast or trying to do too much too soon. Make sure you opt for a bike constructed of steel, NOT aluminum, so that it can survive the spill as well as your child can. He’s so happy to be riding with the rest of the family, and I love to see that look of pride on his face when he hops on his bike to go for a ride with mom, dad, and his big sister. It took us a while to find a really great bike for him, and since I already did the footwork, I thought I’d share what to look for in a bike with my readers. Of course, since children vary widely in sizes and body types, the numbers above will also likely vary.
The Huffy saddle is longer and more narrow, which bothered our 8-year-old tester. Size is the most important feature to get right when choosing a bike for your child. Unfortunately, one of the primary difficulties with bikes under $100 is that they aren’t built in the right proportions for a child. The positioning of the handlebars can also make quite a difference. When the handlebars are too high, it limits overall control and maneuverability. Both Huffy and Dynacraft are a little cramped but aren’t the worst offenders we’ve seen by far.
The worst offender here is the Kent Chaos, which is a beast in the weight department. Dynacraft sent us a bike to test out which is perfect timing. It’s an 18″ Next Surge Boys’ BMX Bike in Black and Green. The helmet is not included and some assembly is required. I think my husband assembled it within 30 minutes or so, but he’s usually handy and he makes it look easy. It also comes with training wheels which my son still needs.
Bikes under $100 are easy on the pocket book, but not always the easiest and safest to ride. The Kent Chaos is your best bet for a boy’s bike in this price range. If you’re interested in checking out mid and high-end bikes, read our Kids’ Bikes Comparison Charts and Recommendations page.
This bike is designed less like a mountain bike and more like a road bike, with thinner tires and a lighter frame, according to Cannondale. Dewey and Song noted there are several different types of kids bikes to consider depending on your child’s age and size. Whether you are looking for a bicycle to meet your fitness dynacraft klds bike goals or to surprise your little one, having the right bike will make a lot of difference. However, choosing the perfect one is challenging as there are a lot of options out there in the market. This is where we come in to help you get the perfect ride. Adult bicycles come in a wide range of options for you to pick.