Balance bike or bike with stabilisers?

[MelissaVF]

So what is the deal and what would you recommend - balance bikes or stabilisers? Or try both and see which they (twins shortly to be 3) prefer? I learned with stabilisers and i can't remember any problems... And whilst I am debating either ors - arm bands or no arm bands for swimming? All helpful comments appreciated!

[KatDew]

Balance bikes are brilliant. My only word of warning is they are heavy to carry if your twins refuse to go the whole way on their bikes.

My eldest went everywhere on his balance bike from 3 till about 4.5. It was amazing as he could suddenly go everywhere at adult pace. I can't decide whether to get them for my twins though as they can be bulky

[Cora]

I think stabilisers just slow them down.....definitely balance bike but make sure you get one that can adjust seat on.

[etta166]

Another vote for balance bike, but I agree about the comments that they can be heavy. I have one called Zooom, which is steel and really heavy, but on the plus side it is bigger than most so it should last until my son is almost 5. I wouldn't be able to carry 2 of them. My neighbours have a much lighter one made of aluminium (brand beginning with K, but I can't remember exactly) but it is also smaller. Their son grew out of it around 3.5.

On the plus side for stabilizers, they do slow them down which can be a good thing at times. My 4 year old can easily go faster than I can run (OK, I am 6 months pregnant...) on his balance bike.

[Carbonara]

Balance Bike. With stabilisers they need to ride in a way which is actually counter-productive to learning to ride a bike and steer using balance. With a balance bike they will learn to ride a bike without stabilisers extremely quickly.

If you might need to carry it, I would opt for a scooter on those journeys, anyway. And carrying a bike with stabilisers is v awkward.

[MelissaVF]

So balance bike looks like the winner. Luckily a friend has one we can borrow to try. And luckily the twin-carrying + the third-child-carrying life has provided strong arms which sound like are very needed!...Thanks for the help!

[Otta]

I have an early rider balance bike you could have for ?10 (they're 100 odd new). It has wear and tear but perfectly good working order.

[MelissaVF]

Ooh that sounds great - thanks. I'll PM you my details.

melissa

[nunheadmum]

Decathlon do great cheap balance bikes and the one we got was pretty light compared to some of the others on the market.

[savage]

I have a decathalon balance bike that I'm selling on ebay at the mo if you are interested? It,s suitable from aged 3 not too heavy and has breaks (which comes in handy!

Here's my link

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Btwin-Balance-Bike-/271163338022?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item3f22982d26

[Saffron]

Well-meaning MiL gave Little Saff a bicycle with stabilisers for xmas. Little Saff (3 yo) really liked it, but still doesn't have good enough coordiantion to ride it without adult help (even with the stabilisers!). Plus whenever she fell, she got tangled in the pedals and stabilisers, and badly bruised and scuffed by them.

So we had to put the pedal bike away :( and get her a balance bike :). She still sometimes has a fall, but at least she's not getting tangled up when she does. She can usually right herself without (too much) help. Luckily the pedal bike is adjustable for an older child, so we'll save it till she's learned how to balance on her little balance bike first.

[onefifty]

Balance Bike! After 18 months with the balance bike my son hopped on a pedal bike and was confidently riding in less than 30 minutes never even needed stabilisers.