How to choose the right bike for your child?

Contributing greatly to the child's psychomotor development, cycling is an activity that is as healthy as it is fun and recreational, accessible from a very young age, generally from 2 or 3 years old depending on the child's abilities and temperament.
But when the time comes to take the plunge, you are sure to have many questions: which bike will allow your child to learn quickly and well? What size children's bike should you choose? Which bike will suit them best? What should be taken into consideration when purchasing a children's bike? Probikeshop gives you the keys to help you make your choice!

Which bike for your child?

The first stage in learning to ride a bike, besides mastering balance, is pedalling. This will require your child's full attention.

Therefore opt for a simple model, with a single speed and no external braking system. Most models designed for younger children only feature a coaster brake system, operating on the same principle as adult Dutch bicycles. Depending on whether your child has already become familiar with balance using a balance bike, you may opt for a bike fitted with stabilisers. However, do not focus too much on this point, as universal stabilisers are available separately for around twenty pounds, compatible with almost all bikes. Once the child has mastered this stage, they can try out braking, with more or less complex systems (see below) on a 12 to 14" children's bike and much more on a 16 to 18" bike.
From the age of 5 or 6, on a 20-inch bike (see a 24-inch bike) fitted with a drivetrain, you can introduce them to all the possibilities offered by gear changes. This will allow your child to consider both longer outings and more varied routes. This change of bike involves taking into account new criteria, such as the type of journey, safety, included accessories and wheel size. We give you the keys to help you find the bike that will suit them best.

 

How to choose the right bike size for your child?

Choosing the size of a children's bike and an adult bike are two different things. For bikes designed for children, it is the wheel size that matters most: it must suit both the seat height and the arm length of the child. Consult our children's bike size chart below to find the ideal measurement!

The following size correspondences are given as a guide only.
Certain dimensions may vary depending on the specific geometry of the frame and the child's build.

 

Above all, do not buy a bike that is too big in terms of arm or leg length for your child thinking they will be able to use it for longer! They will not be comfortable and will not control their trajectory well enough. Prefer a bike in perfect harmony with their size, whose saddle and handlebars can be adjusted as they grow. Just like adults, children will enjoy pedalling much more on a bike perfectly adapted to their size!

What are the selection criteria?

The type of bike

The type of use your child will make of their bike (short outings, family rides, journeys to school) will largely determine the choice of bike.

In the case of frequent use over fairly long distances, opt for a dynamic, or even sporty bike. Conversely, short and occasional trips in the city centre can be handled by bikes with a strong urban character.

If the route consists solely of paved roads, road bikes, which provide a certain dynamism, are to be favoured. Conversely, if the journey uses asphalted roads and some off-road tracks, versatile, hybrid bikes, such as hybrid bikes (VTC), which are comfortable on all terrains, are well suited for family rides, countryside hikes, during holidays or weekends. Moreover, if the route consists entirely of off-road tracks, mountain bikes (MTB) with one or two suspensions, which provide real comfort, are to be preferred.

Finally, more exceptionally, some brands offer electric-assist bikes, with disc brakes or even carbon frames, thus adapting to the physical fitness and riding level of your little one.

Braking and safety

Braking is an essential factor in allowing your young champion to ride safely. However, as mentioned above, this represents a stage that is not always easy for young cyclists to grasp.

Models designed for beginners often only have a coaster brake system, which is both simple to use and reassuring. Moreover, it has the advantage of requiring virtually no maintenance compared to rim brake systems.
However, it limits the use of the bike to rides on relatively flat terrain, as it is more suited to stopping the bike than braking on a descent, for example.
This is why models from 20'' onwards most often offer rim brakes, with levers adapted for younger children, both easy to handle and providing progressive modulation, particularly at the front, to avoid completely locking the wheel and an almost certain fall.

Some models sometimes combine a rim brake at the front with a coaster brake at the rear, or even a front/rear rim brake system complemented by a coaster brake.

Furthermore, if your child is going to ride daily alongside other road users, in town or in the open countryside, it is essential to equip their bike with powerful and reliable safety accessories to help signal their presence to others.
Lights, reflectors, bell, danger deflector… These elements should allow your child to ride as safely as possible!

The drivetrain

It is an important element to take into account, which must be chosen according to your child's stage of learning and the difficulty of the terrain. Start with a drivetrain with only a few gears (between 3 and 8 gears at most), with a single chainring at the front, so that the child gradually gets to grips with gear changing without being overwhelmed.

Then, as their learning progresses, you can opt for a more complex system with several chainrings at the front, allowing up to 27 gears.

It should be noted that bikes fitted with internally geared hubs are now available on the market, whose use is well suited for flat to slightly hilly routes typically encountered in towns. They require little maintenance compared to derailleur systems, which remain preferable for tackling steep hills, and also offer the advantage of allowing gear changes without pedalling, and therefore while stationary.

The frame material (aluminium or steel)

A steel frame offers great flexibility and unmatched strength, at an affordable price. Its greater elasticity compared to other metallic materials makes it physically accessible. However, it is heavier and less rigid, even though it is now possible to find high-end steel frames that are almost as rigid and light as aluminium frames.

Just like steel, the aluminium frames have greatly evolved. Once known for being very stiff but not very comfortable, frames made from this alloy have made great progress thanks to the reduction in tube wall thickness, also offering a weight saving.
Two types of aluminium are mainly used: 6061 and 7005, the former being known as lighter while the latter is more resistant.

 

Accessories

Aimed at practicality and fun above all, the children's bike can be fitted with basic accessories, such as a rear rack, a basket, mudguards, a kickstand, chain guards or even removable stabilisers (or training wheels). Their usefulness is obvious: they allow the child, with pleasure, to easily carry a backpack or small items, to protect them from water splashes, and also to prevent trousers from getting caught in the chain.