It can be hard to find a bike to fit your kid. It can be hard to even know where to start, with the range of styles and sizes available.
Kids’ bikes are sized, unlike adult bikes, by wheel size.
For the very young ones, the choice is generally between a run-bike and a tricycle. Tricycles introduce toddlers to the concept of pedaling to get around. Run-bikes are two-wheeled, and introduce toddlers to the balance and coordination of a larger bike. Children who graduate from run-bikes often don’t need training wheels.
12″ Bikes are perfect for three-year-olds graduating from run-bikes or tricycles. They’ll feature pedal-back brakes and a single speed.
16″ bikes generally fit four to six-year-olds. They’ll also feature pedal-back brakes and a single speed.
20″ Bikes generally fit seven to nine-year-olds, though some tall six year olds will also fit. In a 20″ bike, there is a wider variety of options: there are the cruisers, which feature a single speed and pedal-back brakes, there are kids’ mountain bikes which feature gears and hand brakes, and there are BMX bikes which are single speed with hand brakes. If any family riding is planned, kids’ mountain bikes are often the way to go as the gearing makes it much easier to keep up with adults.
14″ and 18″ bikes are also available, but quality 12″, 16″, and 20″ bicycles such as we carry have enough adjustability that you can almost always skip the 14″ and 18″ sizes.
24″ bicycles fit some 9- to 12-year-olds, though many at that age can also fit an extra-small adult bicycle, which is preferred since it gives a great deal more growth room.
Individual children may be tall or short for their age, or unusually tentative. We will be happy to assist you in ensuring the best and safest fit for your child.
