WANTED Toddlers aged 18-24m to review Toddlebike 1st Bike

Thanks for everyone that has already offered the services of their Toddler for our Toddlebike Test and Review. Just to clarify though, we're looking for Toddlers and their parents to review the Toddlebike, not safety test it. Toddlebike is already TUV and CE certified and 3 year guaranteed so it's just feedback that we want - not your Toddlers for use as human guinea pigs!

We still have some spaces available so do get in touch if you have or know of an 18-24 month who would like to be involved.

Thanks,

Jo

Hi Phil,

No worries - more feedback the better which is why we're asking for parents to try a Toddlebike with their toddler first hand and let us have their unedited findings.

What I would say that is that every child is different and whilst I'm sure that some Toddlers can 'do' a balance bike at 18 months, the vast majority of parents I speak to, including my own experience, have found that at 18 months they are no way near ready.

And even if physically then could manage it, I wanted a bike that I could use for every journey possible as an alternative to the buggy for my very active Toddler. Being 18 months and a bit fickle, my Toddler was on his Toddlebike one minute, walking the next, in his buggy the next - at less than 1kg I'm pretty relaxed about that as even with 2 Toddlers, the buggy doesn't tip when they're taking a break. Even with the lightest balance bike it's nearly 4 times heavier so the amount of use it gets is so much less - just specific bike trips rather than every time we go out. And however physically competent they may be, at 18 months their road sense is nowhere near good enough to trust them on pavements near busy roads so again, the actual time spent on bike is limited to specific trips to the park rather than it being an every day transport option.

And the other key bonus of his Toddlebike is being able to use it in the house - at over 3 and having fully mastered the Balance Bike now Elliot uses his Toddlebike indoors all the time - which makes them perfect for families who maybe don't have so much access to the great outdoors, or Toddlers who just want to be on their bikes 24/7 like mine.

You are right, the 4 in-line wheel configuration gives the bike some stability - but there is still a big balance element and unlike a trike, a Toddlebike is ridden with exactly the same motion as a balance bike, which is why we call it a 'pre' balance bike. Regardless of what age your child is ready to get on a 'real' bike and ride off in to the sunset, Toddlebike would have been the step before so some get on at closer to 1 (I had a Mum reckon her daughter is riding hers at 11 months - I've yet to see it!) and some closer to 2 - the fact that all of this is done indoors at their own pace means no frustration to parent or child. And the transition from Toddlebike to Balance Bike is as easy as showing them their upgrade - it's all skills and sensations they've developed since just after they can walk.

Give me a shout if you have any other Toddlers under 2 that you want to try it 1st hand with - it's great for us to get feedback from parents who have already seen the whole process once and who then can really give their experience of the Toddlebike some context.

Children develop so very differently - particularly the younger they are. I think it's down to each parent to see when their child is ready for the next step - so ages, months, years are useful as a guide only. As you say, your children seem pretty advanced compared to my experience and I get Emails all the time from frustrated parents of frustrated children who have tried to move on too soon - which is exactly what we did with my first child. I'm all for moving to the next step when they're ready - my daughter Matilda is flat out on her Toddlebike now and it would be really cool if she were ready for a shiny new balance bike for Christmas. But with the Toddlebike to bridge the gap, when she's ready she's ready and there's no hurry because she's got a bike she can take to the park, keep up with her big brother on and generally develop some useful skills on so everyone's a winner. And at £20 if it takes her a month or a year to take the next step it's no bother.

I've amended the website to "Toddlebike is a unique 'pre-balance' bike for Toddlers aged 1-3 who have outgrown their baby ride-ons, but at under 3 years may be too young for balance or pedal bikes or scooters." as I definately don't want to mislead anyone and haven't got the marketing budget to be able to do it on any meaningful scale anyway!

Hence the trial - then Toddlers and their families can make up their own minds, and let us all know what they think.

We're getting a great cross-section of future cyclists from parents who feel that they are a long way off balance bikes, to older children who are closer to the transition. Hopefully we should be able to build a comprehensive picture of where we fit in to it all which I totally agree will be very different from child to child.

Thanks to everyone who has got in touch to offer the services of their Toddler for our Toddlebike Test and Review. We're going to close the door to new Test Riders at the end of the weekend (Sun 18th) as after that we're off to IW and Bristol Cycle Festivals so if you want to join in please get in touch before then.

Thanks, Jo