FYI: The links on this page are affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you purchase something after clicking these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Bikes for Kids
When Big E first started learning to ride a bike I bought a $10 garage sale kids bike with training wheels. It was heavy and bulky and he didn’t take the training wheels off for three years.
Now normally I’m all about using whatever gear you can find secondhand but when it comes to kids bikes I think it’s important to invest in something lightweight, easy to maneuver and low to the ground.
I also am a fan of starting kids on a balance bike – something without pedals. Kids sit on the seat and push with their feet, allowing them to glide and practice balance. It makes a world of difference in their ability to control a bike if they know how to balance BEFORE trying to steer and pedal.
We tried training wheels with Big E and it took him three years to learn to ride. We put his sister Little G on a balance bike and it took her three months.
TIP: Balance bikes are typically made for toddlers. If your child is 5 or 6 learning to ride you can have the same benefits of a balance bike by taking off the pedals (usually they just screw on anyway).
Our favorite bikes for kids are Woom bikes (pronounced Voom). They are an Austrian company that designs kids exclusively for children. The low to ground telemetry of the bike make them easy to handle and they are lightweight. Plus the colors are adorable.
The philosophy at Woom is to start kids on bikes as young as possible – even down to 18 months. Every balance bike they offer has a hand brake and is sized to your child moving from the Woom 1 up to the Woom 6 as your child grows. I love their upCYCLE program where you can trade in your kids out-sized bike for the next size up at a steep 40% discount.
Woom sent us a Woom 3 and Woom 4 to demo on our National Park-to-Park Highway trip and I was so impressed with how easy it was to teach four-year-old Little G to ride a bike. She finally got it, pedals and all, on our ride along the rim of the Grand Canyon. Great place to learn to ride a bike.
Read more about Woom in this review. Also, you should know that I was so impressed with Woom bikes after trying them out that I begged them to make me an affiliate. I just knew I would be recommending Woom bikes to anyone looking to teach their kids to ride.
The big draw back for Woom? The price. You can’t get quality cheap, but we have passed our Woom bikes down from our oldest to youngest as well as shared them with cousins and friends for a season or two to help mitigate the cost.
Woom Bikes cost between $199.00 – $499.00.
Mountain Bikes for Kids
When it comes to MOUNTAIN biking the best kids bikes out there are Prevelo. With front shocks, disc brakes, and an in handle gear shifter, these bikes are awesome for first time mountain bikers.
Also built with low-to-ground telemetry and lightweight design, the Prevelo Zulu series are mountain bikes designed specifically for kids. With kid-sized yet powerful components, your eight to twelve-year-old can ride the trails right along with you. Want tips on How to Teach a Kid to Mountain Bike? Don’t miss this post!
We live full-time at Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah, USA which offers lift access mountain biking all summer. The trails can be steep, long and rocky but Big E can cruise, turn and maneuver like a pro on his Prevelo Zulu 3. It’s awesome to see him handle switchbacks, single track and hardpack trails with ease. I can’t say enough good things about the Prevelo Zulu 3.
Prevelo sent us a Zulu Three to demo in 2017. This bike is cooler than my bike for sure (and more expensive – sorry you can’t get quality cheap). You can read my full review here. I love their mountain bikes so much I asked to be an affiliate for them (so these links are affiliate links).
Decathlon Bikes for Families
In 2021 I was introduced to Decathlon, the largest designer, manufacturer and retailer of sporting goods in the world. They’re new to the US, but have over 1600 international retail stores in 54 countries – all focused on sporting goods and the outdoors.
Decathlon’s worldwide mission is to make sports accessible to everyone, which I’m a fan of since my whole purpose is helping families explore outdoors!
What I like about them as a company is that they provide affordable outdoor gear for families. Thanks to their global connections they are able to apply “economies of scale” to keep prices super low.
They are also super committed to sustainability, which to me means making quality goods that last for the long haul. If you’re looking for a less expensive bike, check out Decathlon. Plus they have road bikes, mountain bikes, BMX bikes, kids bikes, hybrid bikes and even ebikes.
Please note: I haven’t ridden Decathlon’s bikes myself, or been compensated by them personally. I just asked for a bike to be awarded to my March 2021 Outdoor Adventure Winner and they said yes.
Bike Trailers
If you’re biking with babies you’re going to want a bike trailer. These lightweight kid carriers on wheels make a world of difference in a young parents’ ability to get out on a bike!
Our favorite is the Burley D’Lite.
The D’Lite connects to the rear wheel hub of your bike with a simple pin and lock. The shocks are adjustable so if you have two children of different weight in the back they won’t get totally bounced around. Five-point harnesses and a rear brake control (for stroller mode) keeps babies and toddlers safe and secure.
What I really like about the Burley D’Lite, however, is that it can hold up to 100 pounds! It’s got lots of room for kids and cargo.
I know because one summer every family bike ride we attempted ended with the one-year-old, four-year-old AND the four-year-old’s bike in the back of the Burley. We made it back to the trail head every time even though we were totally pushing that 100 pound limit.
PLUS a well-designed bike trailer like our Burley D’Lite often does double or triple duty as a jogging stroller or even a cross-country ski trailer.
Burley sent me a D’Lite trailer to review, but even before that we already owned and loved the Burley Bee. The Burley Bee is a less expensive option for a bike trailer, still great quality, but not designed for cross-country skiing or to use as a jogging stroller.
Read my review of the Burley D’Lite We Ski Kit here. Burley kid’s bike trailers cost between $269.00 – $699.00.
Sidenote: I’ve had friends and readers who love bike seats for babies also but I’ve never tried them myself.
Full Face Mountain Bike Helmets
Last year, Mountain Dad decided to invest in a full face helmet. Much of his mountain bike riding is at Sundance Mountain Resort and it is STEEP downhill terrain. After trying the Giro Switchblade, the Bell Super 3R, and Fox Proframe, he ended up keeping the Giro Switchblade – here’s why:
Detachable chin guard
Mountain Dad liked the idea of having a single helmet to use no matter the ride or terrain. The Fox Profame chin guard was NOT removable meaning he would need 2 helmets unless he wanted to wear a full face riding on easy trails with the kids.
The Bell Super 3R chin guard was easy to remove, but felt flimsy compared to the Giro and the position didn’t seem to provide full coverage on his large face, with my lower jawline exposed. No matter how much I adjusted, it just wouldn’t fit right – He said, “I think Bell needs an XL size.”
Ultimate Safety
As mentioned above, the Giro is fully DH (Downhill) safety rated by the certification groups. The Fox Profame is also DH rated, but the Bell Super 3R was NOT and frankly, it felt much flimsier than the Fox and Giro.
In addition, all three helmets had MIPS protection, which is a nice feature that is becoming more standard with new helmets. Here is more info on MIPS.
Even with the chin guard off, you can tell the DH rated Giro provides some serious protection with the full rear head coverage.
Good, Comfortable Fit
The Fox Profame just didn’t fit Mountain Dad’s giant head well, although it was light and well ventilated. Specifically, there is no micro fit adjust dial like on the Giro and the Bell Super 3R and the MIPS liner dug into his cro-magnon sized forehead (his words, not mine), even with the pads fully removed.
The Bell Super 3R was nice and light and has a micro adjust dial, but again the chin guard didn’t seem to provide full coverage and the chin strap was NOT comfortable (choking hazard!).
The Giro is the heaviest of the three, but still much lighter than most dedicated full face helmets (Fox Proframe aside), and it fit me the best. Plus it feels super sturdy. It has a micro fit adjust dial and removable pads.
Some people complain about the venting on the Giro, but with a couple of cheek pads removed, he found that the fit is still great and it rode a lot cooler, both with chin guard on and off.
Giro Switchblade
All in all, going full face gave Mountain Dad more confidence on steeper lines and at higher speeds. I am glad he went with the removable chinbar style for maximum versatility. Check the links below for more info on each of the helmets I tested.
Giro Switchblade – $249
Pros: Removable chinbar, DH safety rated, MIPS, micro-adjust dial
Cons: Price, heavier than others I tested, not as well ventilated as others I tested.
Fox Proframe – $249
Pros: DH safety rated, MIPS, Light, well ventilated
Cons: Price, no removable chinbar, no micro adjust fit, not for large heads
Bell Super 3R
Pros: Removable chinbar, MIPS, light weight, well ventilated
Cons: Price, NOT DH safety rated, feels flimsy compared to others, not for large heads.
These links are all affiliate links. We purchased the helmets ourselves to try out and returned the ones we didn’t love. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.