Buy a Balance Bike Already!!! – A Letter to Myself

Let’s get real for a second, it’s been over two months since I wrote about waffling between a scooter and a balance bike for CZ’s big debut on wheels. And while we could use the excuse that we went on vacation, launched a new project, or just over indulged on New Girl – I am going to cut the crap and finally take action.

Also, this is a little bit directed at you, the avid cyclist who continually talks about family bike rides, but loves the freedom and speed of the mounted seat. Stop debating whether your child will use a foot rest or if she will scratch herself on covered bolts – make a purchase!

We wrote about how we decided to buy a Micro scooter, and wait until she is a little bit older for the balance bike. But what you don’t know, is that we decided to wait for a used scooter to save money. A few weeks later, someone offered us one, but we headed out on holiday with other things on our mind, and the opportunity passed us by.

Now we’ve been back a few weeks, and CZ is still stuck with her hand-me-down Fisher-Price toy car and plastic pram to push around.

I thought about the perfect weather for bike rides (minus the occasional three-day sprints of downpours) and how awesome it would be to go on true family rides with CZ on her balance bike. And the excuses popped up again: it’s going to complicate things, there are so many options, it’s an expensive purchase, and we could probably find another used scooter. When I brought it up to JZ (who rarely shies away from any purchase), he pointed out that she would use it almost everyday for a couple of years.

I said to myself:

“If you really plan to commit to teaching your child to be comfortable and confident on a bike you need to act now. What are you waiting for, her to turn 3? You are a cyclist, and you want your child to experience the joy of their first ride, so start as early as possible!”

Even if you aren’t a cyclist, there are tons of developmental reasons to encourage your child to start pedaling. Opinions differ on when to start, but worst case, the bike sits around for a few months before CZ really puts it to use.

Why You are Procrastinating Buying a Balance Bike

 1. Too much information. As with any bike related purchase, the options are almost endless. but at a certain point, you need to stop sweating the details and just pick one! I spent about two days and 10 hours on in-depth reading, before I set a research time limit. Check out the extremely comprehensive buying guides on Two Wheeling Tots, and get on with your life.

The biggest challenge I faced was finding brands that shipped to Australia (and at what cost). I finally found “the perfect one,” and shipping was a third a of the bike price… and it was back to square one.

For this purchase in particular, as long as you choose an option in the upper-mid price range, you will likely have no regrets (most reviews of most balance bikes are highly positive). Even if it’s not perfect, your child will definitely grow out of it in two years, anyway! They will either be to big, or they will learn to pedal.

2. Expensive purchase. Balance bikes run in the mid to upper $200 AUD. For someone as cheap as I am, this means lots of waffling and praying for a sale (fun fact: there is never a sale).

Are they an expensive toy for a toddler?

Yes. But they aren’t a toy! If you appreciate the comprehensive benefits a balance bike provides: motor control, independence, physical activity, family fun – it is so much more valuable than that $29 sensory puzzle that resides at the bottom of the toy box. Best case, CZ loves it, and she will live and breathe that bike. Worst case, balance bikes hold a considerable amount of value so you can sell it to recoup most of the expense.

3. Will she even like it?

I finally waded through all the choices, and narrowed the playing field down to a few options. I am ready to make the investment, but now what? I want her to go on some test rides, since she is in the lower limit of inseam length; plus, we need to find a safe place for her to ride the balance bike – which is totally different from the protected cycleways we use for commuting. I plan to start with purchasing the balance bike in-store so she can really experience the options (spoiler alert: Writing this article pushed me off the couch and we bought one this weekend!). JZ and I already have some ideas for great places to teach kids to ride, but will be conducting a thorough review in the coming weeks.

While we shopped, CZ rode several around the store, and she was all smiles when she found the one that fit her short legs (spoiler alert #2: we did not buy that one).

Based on the shopping experience and those photos, I don’t have any doubt about whether CZ will enjoy her balance bike!

Now that the procrastination and rain are over, it’s time for a family ride!

Up next in this series: which balance bike we chose, and Sydney’s best places to teach kids to ride.