When is my Child Ready to ride a Pedal Bike?

Is your child riding a balance bike and you are wondering when is the right time to progress them to a pedal bike? Our first piece of advice is don’t rush it. Let them love riding their balance bike. Let them explore and really master the balance bike before tackling the new skill of riding a pedal bike.

Kids can have so much fun on their balance bike when they become competent at riding it. You can set up courses, they can ride on pump tracks along trails. Let them enjoy their riding on a balance bike.

There are some skills that they will develop and become competent at on a balance bike. Once they have mastered the following skills then you know they are ready to consider introducing the pedal bike on their learn to ride journey

GLIDING: This is first on our list as this is the most important skill they need to master before you consider progression to a pedal bike. Are they competent at taking their full weight through the bike seat and then glide on a balance bike. That is the bike has momentum and their feet are in the air. Can they glide distance and repetitively glide  Once they are competent at gliding they have effectively mastered the skill of balance on a bike,

STEERING: Can they competently steer  with control, around corners, avoid obstacles,  when riding there balance bike at a reasonable speed.

STOPPING/SPEED:  Are they able to control their speed and come to a stop on their balance bike.

If your balance bike comes with a brake then it is a great idea to introduce using a hand brake while riding their balance bike. Can they use their handbrake and stop on a spot on their balance bike.

If the balance bike doesn’t have a brake then you can introduce this with their pedal bike.

DO THEY WANT TO RIDE A PEDAL BIKE: This is first on our list as this is the most important skill they need to master before you consider progression to a pedal bike. Are they competent at gliding on a balance bike. Can they glide distance and repetitively glide  Once they are competent at gliding they have effectively mastered the skill of balance on a bike,

DECISION MAKING, STEERING: Can they competently steer with control, around corners, avoid obstacles, when riding there balance bike at a reasonable speed.

BRAKING: If your balance bike comes with a brake then it is a great idea to introduce using a hand brake while riding their balance bike. Can they use their handbrake and stop on a spot on their balance bike?

If the balance bike doesn’t have a brake then you can introduce this with their pedal bike.

We highly recommend that you start your child’s learn to ride journey early with riding a balance bike,  If your child is over the age of 5 and has age appropriate motor development ( such as running, jumping and hopping) then you can start their journey on the beginner pedal bike. If they are struggling with these motor skills we would highly recommend a balance bike for older kids and working through our balance bike beginner and competent levels

Does your competent balance bike rider have a younger sibling that is keen and ready to start using a balance bike? Sometimes managing the whole family through their learn to ride journey may mean that it would be best for the family if your child progresses to a pedal bike so you can free up the balance bike for a younger sibling.

This is only an option if they meet the criteria above, If they are not ready then we suggest that it is best to purchase an additional balance bike. They need to be ready for the progression to a pedal bike.

If able to, it can be a great idea to have both the option of the balance bike and a pedal bike to ride as they go through the transition to being competent on the pedal bike. While they are being challenged learning something new it can be great for your child to choose at times to ride the balance bike… the bike they are good at and really enjoy.