why no pedals?why no pedals?
We learn to crawl before we can walk, and run before we can bike. So why do children have to leap from tricycles to bicycles without learning how to balance? Bicycles with stabilisers are one way, but these can give a child a false confidence when stabilisers are removed.
Balance Bikes do not have stabilisers and are designed specifically for young children to sit comfortably on the bike whilst their feet are in contact with the ground. This is the key to building confidence and control over ‘gliding’ and stopping.
Without stabilisers, children are able to develop a strong ‘sense of balance’ through gliding, turning and manoeuvring the bikes at all times under their complete control.
Balance Bikes are lightweight, do not have chains and have very few mechanical parts which mean they are easy to use, safe and clean for young children!
balanceability
Balanceability is an innovative, new activity programme which has been developed in conjunction with Professional Cycling Trainers and Children's Activity Specialists to encourage all children between the ages of 2½ and 6 years old to develop the confidence, ability and skills to enjoy riding a bicycle - without stabilisers!
The emphasis of Balanceability is on learning and having fun. Each Balanceability Programme has been developed by professionally qualified instructors and is delivered in safe environments by trainers who have received specific course training. Each session is constructed around games, challenges and new experiences that are proven to achieve desired objectives. Children who have never previously riden a bicycle (either with or without stabilisers) will successfully progress step-by-step and experience a variety of developmental exercises, skills and confidence-building situations.
- Balanceability Pre-School
- Balanceability Reception and Year 1
- Balanceability Special Needs
See how you can get more from your balance bikes with our balanceability activities...
Here's what you say about Balanceability
Our training day for Balanceability was extremely useful and well organised. As a staff we are very keen to write the bikes into our PE scheme of work. The children that were used on the day were still talking in fact 'buzzing' about the bike session. Many thanks
Neil Cole - Deputy Head at Trelai Primary School
Trelai Primary School gets set up with Balanceability
I was delighted with the Balanceability course – it is a great fun way for the children to get their confidence and balance and to learn how to ride a bike. It was also very well run, had excellent instructors and was good value for money. My (just) 3 year daughter thoroughly enjoyed herself and by the end of the course she was riding the balance bike with complete confidence. Because of that – she came home and was raring to have a go on her pedal bike – she never had the confidence before she did the course!
Mrs AC - Gloucestershire
faqs
Our Balance Bikes have 24-month warranty (excluding some more perishable items such as inner tubes etc), under the terms of normal wear and tear. Please contact our technical Team to discuss any potential warranty issues.
Our Balance Bikes are extremely lightweight (approximately half the weight of a normal bicycle with pedals). They are easy for young children to manoeuvre and also for parents to carry (if necessary)!
No. Balance Bikes are designed specifically so that children can have their feet in direct contact with the ground at any time. Children will develop a great sense of balance whilst gliding and turning on their Balance Bike without the restriction of stabilisers.
They just sit on, feet on the ground and start walking, progressing to running along and then lifting their feet off the ground as they propel forward or downhill.
The Balance Bikes are ridden using a running motion so all the control is in the hands and legs of the rider. Some of the bikes have a rear brake to assist stopping. On the bikes with no brakes the children will naturally put their feet down to slow themselves. The child is never really going that fast so it’s easy for them to learn the slowing and stopping by putting their feet down and/or using the brake.
Yes of course (they are children after all!) but the fact that their feet are in contact with the ground at all times reduces the possibility of them falling, it also gives them a sense of confidence knowing they are controlling what they do.
They help develop their gross motor skills, these being balance and co-ordination and help them learn to ride bikes – without stabilisers – at a much earlier age.
The idea is that children learn to balance and then, when they do progress to a bike with pedals, they can ride it pretty much straightaway.
It is now recognised by Cycling organisations that bikes with pedals are not the best way for children to learn as learning to balance and use pedals is a lot for a child to take on at once.
It’s great for the children because it’s so much fun! Its gets them outdoors, with their parents and they love it! It’s also teaches them new skills, rather than them just being pushed along. This is such a great age for them to do something on their own and get their first taste of independence!
Balance Bikes have been hugely popular all over the continent for years and are accepted as being the best way for children to start riding bikes, very few bikes on the continent are even sold with stabilisers. Europe is a long way ahead of the UK when it comes to Cycling, but they’re here now so lets get started!
In my experience our son started at two and a half and continued using it for over 2 years, even after he could ride a normal bike - the reason being it was so light and easy to take on a walk and when I was out with my younger son the older one was a lot more manageable on his Balance Bike not able to speed off too fast making it easier to handle the pair of them!
Yes, as long as there’s enough space.
The range of Balance Bikes through our German supplier have been tested to extremely high standards through all of the recognised association; TUV, GS,CE & EN71