Is your child ready to roll? When looking at balancing bikes, I winced at the thought of spending 100 bucks for something as transitional as a balancing bike. Lyons Cub can already ride his tricycle and will soon get a real bicycle with training wheels, so the balancing bike will be a very short-term activity toy. Then, we went to ALDI South for some groceries and found one for a mere EUR 24.99! He wanted it immediately and is very satisfied with his Playland Laufrad, which he managed to control after only two days of practice. Setting it up was very easy, and the two tools needed are included in the package.
I will set the saddle higher soon; for the beginning, I let him have both feet firmly on the ground, but now that he is more secure on it, I will set it so high that his toes are touching the ground, to make him sit rather than try to walk. The wheels are about 28 cm diagonally. The height of the handlebar can be changed from approximately 55-58 cm, and the height of the seat can be changed from 32-37.5 cm. The bicycle can carry up to 50 kg. My dude is more like 15.
It doesn’t come with brakes, and it doesn’t have a board to stand on, but then, I didn’t want a scooter. It has no frills; just the basics. It’s enough to make my little guy feel happy and independent. And for mommy, it comes with a practicable handle on the seat, so she can carry it along on walks.
The instructions say it’s from 18 months onward. I can easily imagine that, because it is so small. Lyons Cub is on the shorter side, and it is too small for him at the lowest setting and too high at the highest setting. It is very light, and I don’t mind carrying it along on our way to the playgrounds when he wants to walk. For comparison, here are some similar balancing bikes with and without standing option. When picking a balancing bike, think of your child’s height. And unless you have more than one child and want to hand it down, maybe a short trip to ALDI South is justified, even if kiddo is still a bit too young and small – you can store the balancing bike away for the next big occasion. For that price, you can’t go wrong. Remember, it’s probably just for a season.