Kids' bikes

Kids’ bikes for outdoor adventure

Bikes play a huge role in childhood outdoor experiences, offering more than just a mode of transportation. Your kids can use them to explore places beyond their backyard and help encourage a taste for adventure. Beyond the fun of exploration, kids’ bikes also serve as essential tools in developing road safety awareness, motor skills and giving them a little bit of independence too. If you’re wanting to learn everything there is to know about biking with kids, MEC has all the info as well as a range of bicycles for your kids to try out.

Choosing the right kids’ bike

To choose the right bike for your child, go with them into the store to try some out. Kids grow fast, and you need to know what size frame and wheel fits them best. Wheel sizes generally start at 12in. for toddlers and go to 24in. for older kids and young teens. At 26in. or more, you’re into adult bike sizes.

For kids between the ages of three and five, you could go with a push bike or balance bike instead of training wheels. Training wheels teach kids how to pedal before they learn to balance, but balance bikes are the opposite: they help kids learn how to centre themselves on the seat and ride comfortably, which makes the transition to a pedal bike much smoother.

Kids’ bikes can have hand brakes or coaster brakes. Only buy a bike with coaster brakes if your child is already proficient at pedaling.

With kids’ bikes, lighter is better. Children may be enticed by fancy designs but it’s important to focus on finding a bike that’s easy to handle and fun to ride.

Safety first

The first rule? Wear a helmet. When choosing helmets for you and your children, go to a bike shop with a good reputation and get an expert’s advice. Finding a helmet with the correct fit is critical: it should be snug but not tight, and it should sit squarely centred on the head. It should also stay completely still. Make sure your child’s new helmet doesn’t tilt or wobble as they ride.

Also, be ready for simple bike repairs (it could be a long walk back to the car). Pack a pump, spare tube, tire levers and tools you need to take off your tires. Make sure you’ve got tubes and tools that will work for your bike and your kids’ smaller bike tires. Learn how to fix a flat bike tire to get an idea on how to be your own mechanic.