With the warmer weather coming, we thought we'd point out the Strider Running Bike. One of the moms in our local parenting group has been raving about it, so we decided to check it out. It's not a tricycle, not a bicycle with training wheels...more like part bike, part scooter, and part Flintstone car.
There are a bunch of videos on their website that will give you the idea. It's kind of cute watching the kids running on the bikes.
Here's the concept/reasoning from the maker of the bike:
"Remember your first training-wheeled bicycle? The bike wobbled from side to side and you were so high up that you couldn't touch the ground. It was terrifying. With the Strider™, run and balance bike the need for tricycles or training wheels is completely eliminated, along with the accompanying fear factor. The Strider™ is the only vehicle you will ever need to teach your child or grandchild how to ride a bike and to instill in him or her a deep love of biking."
What do you think? Anyone tried it out?
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Comments (13)
We just bought the Skoot for our son, Miles. He's only 20 months, but we'll give it to him for his birthday. It has the same idea, but it's made from wood. I hope he skoots right along!
I worked as a nanny for a boy who had one of these. The family LOVED it- he was 3, and it took him about 30 seconds to figure out the bike. He was obsessed.
We have a Likeabike, and it is a lot like this, only wooden. We love it. My son got it for his third birthday and took off on it right away. Now almost a year later, he can ride the 2 miles to school on it in the morning. Its much faster for us than a stroller, and he enjoys it more.
we have the likeabike. our daughter learned to ride without training wheels when she was barely 3. we loan it out to neighbor kids who are trying to learn. it only takes a few days. the likeabike is very well made and even older kids love to play around on it.
We got one of our boys one of these on a whim about a year ago and he drives it everywhere, it even goes in the car so that he can drive it at our destination as well!
we love our like-a-bike. our son has progressed to walking slowly on it to riding to mostly coasting now, with his feet up. he really speeds along. it's taught him how to balance, and i think he'll be ready for a 2-wheeler with pedals soon. such a great idea.
Yup, we have one. I even rode it myself. It took about 10 minutes to assemble with the included wrench. If you look at the Amazon reviews of the Strider, you'll see a common complaint is the materials used. Well, so far, I don't have a problem with any of the paint, wheels, or rubbery parts, and I don't mind getting this unit scruffed up at all.
The only thing that makes a balance bike harder to learn initially is the full motion of the steering unless you have a b-bike with a steering limiter. Once you turn that learning curve, though, a steering limiter is not needed -- and you just need patience as a teacher to get to that point.
I bought a very similar bike, the Prince Lionheart Balance Bike, for my niece, which she LOVES (http://www.twilitemoon.com/prince-lionheartbrbalance-bike-P1337C71.aspx). It goes everywhere with her and has greatly increased her coordination and balancing skills. I chose Prince Lionheart's Balance Bike over the Strider Run Bike because it was a bit cheaper and I also liked the fact the body was constructed of wood.
Re: wood bikes, I looked at Skuut, too, and the website had a warning about not leaving the bike out in harsh weather, etc., due to wood warping and so on. I'm sure it's not a big deal, but I hand down almost everything to a nephew and didn't want any possibility of warped wood.
We have a Skuut and we love it. I'd never go back to tricycles again.
We are also looking for such a bike for our son and I came across the "wishbone-bike" at http://www.wishbonedesign.com. I like the idea that it grows with the child.
Likeabike is amazing.
I always wondered whether it really helps with two wheels. It does. Son started using bicycle without training wheels at 4. No problem.
Plus, they are beautiful.
The Stirder bike is wonderful! I bought one for my daughter who struggled to get off training wheels, and she learned to ride on 2 wheels in 3 days. I loved it so much I got them for my 2 boys, and now I sell them.