Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Learning Balance with a Balance Bike

Balance bikes helps children to learn balance, leading to 2-wheeled cycling skill and helps them to be more aware of their actions and consequences of those actions. It will also give them confidence in their abilities which will develop in other areas of their lives. Children that develop balance at an early age also develop confidence. Confidence allows children to learn faster.

Research and plain old common sense explains the importance of children doing regular gentle exercise. Childrens heart rates need to be raised to 140bpm at least once a day in order to improve both physical and psychological health. Balance Bikes are a fun and effective way of achieving this with your child. Children will enjoy taking their balance bike out for a ride and the exercise they are getting from it will benefit them in many ways. Regular exercise in early life increases the likelihood that they will continue exercising when they become adults. Attitudes towards physical activity are established at an early age; parents therefore have a prime responsibility to encourage their children to engage in active play.  With a balanced and active lifestyle, children can develop a repertoire of motor skills, achieve success at their own levels, and feel confident in trying out new activities.

The best way to insure children can achieve high-level academic performance with less effort is to have them train their motor skills starting in infancy and continuing in childhood. Dr. Jean Piaget, a Swiss child psychologist and biologist, recognized that for children, sensory-motor intelligence represents the foundation for and integration of a child's later ability to abstract, generalize, analyze, and synthesize natural and social phenomenon. In other words, a child's ability to understand the world around him and communicate with others is based on early, adequate sensory and motor-skill development and integration, as well as a stable emotional development.

In early age we begin to learn to develop a sense of verticality, going through stages like turning, sitting, crawling, standing and walking. The final result should be well coordinated walking, and a balanced and vertical posture with smooth, fluid motions. A well controlled vertical posture and well-coordinated movement should be stable and of very good quality by the age of six to seven at the latest, when exams and tests at school begin. An optimally coordinated movement and vertical posture allow us to listen, communicate, act and interact independently. They are known and recognized today as the basis for developing age-appropriate speech, language and behavior. This level of performance (development) represents the foundation for later movement skills, such as drawing or writing when we are in school, and as adults when performing complex and high-precision motor activities like surgeons, airplane pilots, violinists, figure skaters, etc., must do.

A well-trained and developed sense of balance and coordinated movement are also fundamental and very important skills in developing attention, in concentrating, remaining focused for a long time when learning, communicating, or at work.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Brand New 2012 Strider No Pedal Balance Bike Review

The folks at Strider Sports have improved their best selling ST-2 Strider balance bike with the new for 2012, ST-3 strider balance bike. Here is our snapshot balance bike review.


We just love the folks at Strider Sports, because they are constantly finding ways to improve their balance bikes.  Being the #1 brand of balance bikes didn't happen by accident.  it comes from the constant improvement of their products.  For 2012, the Strider bike is seeing a higher quality padded handlebar, improved quick release seat post and handlebar for easy adjusting, smaller diameter hand grips and a smaller seat to accommodate a child's small frame.  We are most impressed with the smaller seat design, which allows for a snugger, more comfortable fit for a child.  The more comfortable a child is on the bikes the safer they are and the quicker they learn balance.  Here are a few pictures of the improvements on the 2012 Strider balance bike.


 Come check out the new ST-3 Strider balance bike at BalanceBikeShop.com

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Hobby-Bike Balance Bike Review: Poor Quality and Value

I seldom post negative reviews for balance bikes because of all the bikes I retail there rarely arises an issue of such consistent poor quality.

When I post this review of the Hobby Bike; I post it as one who has sold hundreds of the balance bikes since they arrived in the US as one of the first retailers of this balance bike. Actually I was probably second or third because REI and LL Bean both carried the bike before dropping it completely due to quality issues.

First off, I think the concept of the Hobby-Bike is great.  A balance bike that allows for the pedals to be added after balance is learned.  My son learned to ride a pedal bike on the first year Hobby-Bike.

I am not sure if the bike was rushed to the marketplace to quickly or a very poor manufacturer in China, but the first year Hobby-Bikes had numerous corrosion, paint and weld issues.  Some bikes appeared to have been painted over existing rust; some had weld splatter at the pedal mechanism which prevented the allen bolts from being inserted into pre-drilled holes.  Some bikes just appeared to be scratched all over or a non-sufficient amount of paint applied.  Things like this you would never expect on a bike that retailed for $129.99!


 I was assured these issues would be resolved with the second year models of the Hobby-Bike.  There was a noticeable improvement in the frame and paint - many of the first year issues were resolved.  The second year brought upon fundamental issues with the chain and pedal mechanism.  Not properly engineered so that the chain ring would be parallel to the frame and discourage the chain from hopping off the crank.  Although not every Hobby-Bike exhibited these issues; 6 out of 10 did! 

Saturday, December 3, 2011

What Are Balance Bikes? Frequently Asked Questions.

What are balance bikes?
A balance bicycle (balance bike, run bike) is a training bicycle that helps the rider learn balance and steering. It has no pedals, no crank set and chain, and no training wheels. It can be a normal bicycle with pedals and related parts removed, or it can be purpose-built (especially for very small children, for whom normal bicycles are generally not available). It can have no brake, or it can have one or two hand-activated rim brakes.
Children as young as 18 months can learn to cruise a balance bicycle within a few hours' practice.

Balance bikes are also referred to as; prebikes, kid bikes, toddler bikes, glide bikes, push bikes, training bikes and run bikes.  What makes a balance bike so unique and in demand is the developmental benefits that it provides to children.  The one skill that is needed to effectively learn to ride a two-wheel pedal bike is balance.   Children who use a balance bike for 20-30 minutes twice a week showed the following improvements:

        -Substantial improvements in both static and dynamic balance.
        -Substantial improvements in bilateral coordination.
        -Observable improvements in physical self-confidence.

Should I buy a metal or wooden balance bike?
I receive this question a lot from people looking to buy a balance bike or toddler bike. My answer is simply: it's your preference.

The big dilemma.  You are at a park and see a toddler riding a balance bike; that evening you go on to your computer and Google "balance bike".  At this point you find out how popular these bikes are getting and along with that comes several different brands, sizes, designs and materials that the bikes are made out of.  Like most people, you ask yourself, "Which balance bike is better?"

Here's a little background on the various materials that balance bikes are made out of:

Wooden Balance Bikes

Wooden balance bikes
in almost all cases are made out of baltic birch plywood of various numbers of layers that are glued together.  This method of using a plywood for the bike is far better that say using a solid piece of wood that is susceptible to warpage and cracking. Birch is used due to its lightness yet very strong, durable and is a renewable resource.  Common balance bikes that are made out of wood are Smart Gear bikes, ZUM balance bike, Wishbone Designs Bike and Kiddimoto balance bikes. Wood balance bikes weigh anywhere from 9-12 lbs. There are many people that believe these wooden balance bikes will warp easy.  This is not necessarily true -  the 10-12 ply baltic birch plywood construction and clear sealer protects from the affects of mild exposure to water - although bikes should not be left out in the rain.

Metal Balance Bikes

Metal balance bikes
are typically either made out of lightweight steel or aluminum. These metal balance bikes are made using tube steel or aluminum and welded together to from a frame. You can gauge the quality of the manufacturer by examining the welds on the bike. Depending on the thickness of the steel used both aluminum and steel frames often weigh the same.  Strider balance bikes are made of a thin-wall steel and weighs approx. 6.9 lbs while the aluminum frame Kinderbike Laufrad E Series weighs in at about 8.1 lbs. Other metal balance bikes usually weigh between 8 and 12 lbs.  AS you are aware, steel bikes should not be left out in the rain for extended periods of time due to risk of corrosion which will affect the performance of the bike.  The handlebars and seat posts attach to the frames in the same way a regular bike does.

Composite Bikes and Plastic Balance Bikes

Composite bikes are injection molded bikes made up of plastic resins and in some cases mesh material for strength.  These should not be confused with a some injection molded plastic toys whereas the materials are composed differently and are not of the same strength and durability as injection molded composite bikes.  Bikes made of this material will resist warping, cracking and corrosion and will be of  weight a little less than a wood or metal bike but not that significant.

One of the only injection molded composite balance bikes available in the USA is the
FirstBike.

Summary

It is our belief that the 3 materials mentioned above create a product that will truly benefit your child and teach he/she to transition to a pedal bike while gaining confidence, coordination of happiness.  The most important feature to look for when buying your child a balance bike is the fit.  You want to make sure you measure your child's inseam and compare that to the bikes seat range.  Your child shod 1" of clearance below their crotch area and the seat.

Why are balance bikes so awesome?
With a balance bicycle, the rider learns balance first, pedal last. In contrast, with a normal bicycle fitted with training wheels, the rider learns pedal first, balance last. Although opinions differ regarding which learning sequence is easier for most riders, it is generally agreed that a bicycle with pedals is too difficult for most very young children and that training wheels may encourage the rider to learn some behaviors which later must be unlearned.

Are the bikes heavy?
No. Balance bikes sold on this website weigh between 8 and 10 pounds. This is to ensure that the child is always able to control the bike and not be over powered by it

What age will my child transition to a pedal bike?
When your child has mastered the balance bike at about age 4 to 6, you can introduce a bike with pedals. Balance bikes usually continue to be a favorite toy for long after they can ride a pedal bike.
How long does it take to learn?
Our children were able to walk/ride the first time they sat down. That of course was after the bike lay on the garage floor for about 2 - 3 weeks. They were able to coast with their feet up after a week or two. Learning curves are different for different children.
Why are there no pedals on balance bikes?
The primary design focuses of balance bikes are to allow children to develop their gross motor skills. Learning to balance and steer the bike is much easier without pedals. The up and down movement of pedaling causes the child to shift their body weight from side to side throwing them off balance making them lose direction and riding stability. Balance bikes allow the child to drop their feet to the ground when they feel they are losing balance, quickly steadying themselves and preventing a fall.

Are spare parts available?
Spare parts are available for all bikes sold and most parts are covered by product warranty.

New Limited Edition "Apple A Day" bike by Wishbone Designs

One thing they have down to a science at Wishbone Designs is the execution of limited edition balance bikes with unique designs from artists around the world.

Isn't this one just gorgeous?  Check out our brand new Apple-a-Day Limited Edition design.  
This is THE gift for a baby's first birthday.
 
Available for a limited time so don't wait to order.

Our Apple Bike was designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith of the UK.  We think Coralie's done a 
gorgeous job illustrating our bike to communicate about the importance of healthy eating for happy 
kids.

Check out our bike photos to read more about all the healthy stuff in an apple.   Wishbone Bike is 
the perfect toy to encourage exercise and physical activity in young children.  Now we've coupled 
our bike with an age-old message about daily healthy eating habits.

Get an Apple Bike and be inspired to feed your kids fantastic, fresh food every day.

Wishbone Bike - a TIME Magazine Design 100  product.  Its pure joy to ride.
Start at 12  months on three wheels, learn  to balance on two wheels, then flip the wishbone frame 
to fit your  growing 5 year-old for offroad rides. 
Recommended for walkers from age 1 to 5 years.
 
 
 Get your Wishbone Designs Apple a Day Bike at BalanceBikeShop.com.


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