Decathlon Balance Bike £34.99 - any good?

tailwindhome

Anyone used these balance bikes. Feedback would be greatly appreciated before I hand over the cash (need 2 for twins)

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/b-bip-34963413/

Wappygixer

I've built a few (I work for Decathlon).
These are not Decathlons brand but one we buy in.I've never seen any issues to be honest.Not many youngsters for these really throw them around.
Decathlon will shortly have their own balance bike coming out in the next few weeks.I cant remember the name but it will have a steel construction.

Pipster3

See link Bellelli do one looks the same ...Have a look at the vid ... http://www.bellelli.com/en/formazione.cfm?v=bbip

jeremyrundle

I am amazed by the salesmanship of companies now selling these bikes.

What is wrong with buying a proper bike and removing the peds, then putting them on when they can manage, all three of my sons had this teaching and never had what they called a "babies bike".

Pipster3

jeremyrundle wrote:

I am amazed by the salesmanship of companies now selling these bikes.

What is wrong with buying a proper bike and removing the peds, then putting them on when they can manage, all three of my sons had this teaching and never had what they called a "babies bike".

I started my little boy on a balence bike at 2yrs old he mastered free wheeling with his feet up 6 months later and hes now 3yrs just had a 14" wheel pedal bike for his 3rd birthday and I'm sure he'll pedaling in the next month and we haven't used staberlizers ...
You didn't mention the age of your boys when they first started...my lad at 2yrs would not have handled a bike with no pedals the main reason they are a lot taller than a balence bike and also the added weight ....

Daz555

jeremyrundle wrote:

I am amazed by the salesmanship of companies now selling these bikes.

What is wrong with buying a proper bike and removing the peds, then putting them on when they can manage, all three of my sons had this teaching and never had what they called a "babies bike".

I have never seen a pedal bike that would have fitted my son when he was 2.

Mike Healey

jeremyrundle wrote:

I am amazed by the salesmanship of companies now selling these bikes.

What is wrong with buying a proper bike and removing the peds, then putting them on when they can manage, all three of my sons had this teaching and never had what they called a "babies bike".

a) designed (and usually adjustable for size) for purpose
b) steering arc restricted which avoids the bars turning too far (common early habit) and pitching kid off.
c) as another poster said, they are usually lower than pavement bike for same age.

I'm not saying that using a pavement bike doesn't work, we've taught dozens of kids like that, but we have found that for the occasional 3-yr old who comes with a sibling, they tend to work better

baudman

Mike Healey wrote:

jeremyrundle wrote:

I am amazed by the salesmanship of companies now selling these bikes.

What is wrong with buying a proper bike and removing the peds, then putting them on when they can manage, all three of my sons had this teaching and never had what they called a "babies bike".

a) designed (and usually adjustable for size) for purpose
b) steering arc restricted which avoids the bars turning too far (common early habit) and pitching kid off.
c) as another poster said, they are usually lower than pavement bike for same age.

I'm not saying that using a pavement bike doesn't work, we've taught dozens of kids like that, but we have found that for the occasional 3-yr old who comes with a sibling, they tend to work better

+1 to all of the above, but also add the fact that they are much lower in weight. The child can lift it up steps/rises/gutters all by themselves.

ETA - err... as Pipster said, above