From children's bikes to bicycle trailers
© Cube
Watching your child ride a bike for the first time is probably one of the best moments parents can experience. The (cycle) path to that point is now fairly well developed - but there are still plenty of junctions where you can get lost. There are simply too many options!
With this overview, we provide a guide to all forms of transport for children on two wheels, from cradle to school age.
Being chauffeured
Child bike seats
You really don't need a special bike to carry a child safely. More than one child seat is not necessary! Most models for mounting directly behind the handlebars are approved from the age of one year, or even from nine months after consultation with your paediatrician. Thanks to their design, your child will have a clear view of the front of the bike and will therefore be well entertained. You can also keep an eye on them at all times. However, the space up front is limited by the frame and handlebars.
There is more space behind the saddle, which means that bigger and heavier children up to just over 20 kilos (depending on the model) can still enjoy a ride. On the other hand, be careful with larger backpacks. Depending on the seating position, they may hang in the child's face and spoil the fun of the ride.
Take a look at our wide range of child seats - there's sure to be one for you and your kids.
Cargo bikes
Cargo bikes with the payload at the front of the bike (called long johns, bakfiets or front loaders) allow you to take your child with you from about three months old. Of course, you can't just put them in the load compartment - you'll still need a baby seat. At best, you can use it in the car - if you still have a car at all. A cargo bike (especially one with electric assistance) has the potential to make a car completely unnecessary, even for young families.
When your child is too big for a car seat, the cargo bike comes in handy. Front loaders can be fitted with a seat and raincover so the little ones can ride in all weathers. If you have a longtail, which means you carry your luggage on an extra long rack behind the saddle, you can fit a child seat and still have plenty of room for bags and shopping!
We are very pleased to be able to offer a wide range of cargo bikes online. They are all delivered pre-assembled to your door.
Child bike trailers
Bicycle trailers are by far the most flexible solution for transporting children by bike. They can be attached to almost any bike, but can also be removed quickly. This means they can easily be used on several bikes at once - a blessing if, for example, it's not always the same person who goes to the nursery. They are also roomy enough to accommodate babies in bucket seats as well as larger children. Of course, two children side by side is also an option - as long as they get along!
Some of these trailers can also be used as a pushchair without a bike. They are often modular and can also be used for jogging or even cross-country skiing with separately available accessories. As you can see: Whether you have a baby or a school-aged child, on a bike or on foot, trailers give you and your children maximum freedom! Take a look at our huge range of children's bike trailers.
Riding a bike alone
Balance bike
It is one thing to be able to comfortably take your children to the nursery or to the shops and still be able to take them along on the bike as well as doing the weekly shopping. But when the little wild ones want to ride a bike themselves, we are on a completely different playing field.
Instead of training wheels, we now use running wheels for their first attempts on two wheels. This way the little ones learn from the very beginning that they have to keep their balance on a bike and the transition to a real bike is not so difficult. Depending on their development, running bikes are an option from around one year. As with all children's bikes, growth spurts can mean that what was a perfect fit six months ago is suddenly too small.
Fortunately, we always have a wide range of balance bikes in stock - there's bound to be one that fits.
Children's bike
A good children's bike has to be designed for children, not just a scaled-down copy of an adult bike. Ideally, it should have many features that make it easier for children to control: The frame needs to have a low standover height, which is important if the child has to dismount abruptly. This also requires adjustments to the components. Light gear ratios help short legs up hills, special brake levers for small hands or coaster brakes and, ideally, a brake force modulator for the front brake ensure safe stopping.
Choosing the right size is incredibly important, especially for a child's bike: even if it seems financially attractive to buy a bike that is too big to "grow into", the child will have difficulty controlling it in the first few months. Our buying guide for children's bikes gives a good overview of whether a 20-inch bike, for example, will already fit at a certain age. And once you have found the right size, we have a huge range of children's bikes available from 12 to 24 inches.
Fine MTBs for kids
When you see a four-figure price tag on a children's bike, you may rub your eyes in disbelief. So much money for a bike with a limited lifespan - and it doesn't even have a motor! It's easy to overlook the fact that you get a lot of features for your money: These bikes are well equipped and therefore comparatively light. The weight of a bike is much more important for children, who are much lighter than adults. Simple children's bikes can be up to five kilos heavier than top-of-the-range models - that's up to 20 percent of a child's body weight at that age! Of course, our children's MTBs are not suitable for commuting to school - but they are just the thing to get them started on a bike at an early age.
Kids' e-bike
Almost one in two bicycles sold today has a motor, so it comes as no surprise that there are now clever ideas about what child-friendly e-bikes can look like. They're often mountain bikes - so the whole family can ride up the hills with ease and the kids don't have to pedal while the parents enjoy turbo mode. But there are also children's e-bikes for everyday use, so long rides to school are no longer a challenge. Browse our range of children's e-bikes here and you're sure to find a great alternative to the parents' taxi.
The range of options when it comes to children and bikes can be confusing at first. Hopefully, this overview will help you see that there is an option for every age, every situation and every budget. Take a look around and don't hesitate to introduce your children to the best form of transport in the world!