Congratulations to Ellie Wright!
Learning to ride a bike is a long process for kids. Toddlers normally start learning the skills they need to ride a bike with simple ride on toys, then move up to tricycles, then a bike with training wheels, until they are finally able to remove the training wheels and ride a bike on their own. Strider Balance Bikes change the process up a bit by teaching young toddlers (as young as 18 months old) how to balance by using a two wheeled bike rather than a ride on toy or tricycle and then move kids straight to a 2 wheeled bike without training wheels. Since kids who are used to riding a balance bike already know how to balance, they only need to learn how to pedal a bike rather than starting the process from scratch.
Balance Bike for Toddlers
Photo (c) Strider Sports
We received a Strider Balance Bike several months ago. It was interesting to see the different reactions that my kids had. I had originally planned on having my then 3 ½ year old use the bike since he had been riding a tricycle for some time already and needed to learn how to balance before moving up to a big boy bike. He’s a stubborn little guy though and isn’t fond of change. He took one look at the Strider Balance Bike and said “That is not a bike. It has no pedals”.
My 20 month old, who I had previously thought was too young to use the balance bike, fell in love with the bike at first sight. It looked just like a big boy bike and for a little boy who was desperate to be big like his brothers and wanted nothing to do with a tricycle, it was heaven. I was shocked that my 20 month old was able to begin using the bike immediately. While my son didn’t start sitting on the seat and riding it the way it was intended right away, he did straddle the bike and use it to run around with no outside help. At first he fell quite a bit since even running while straddling a balance bike takes quite a bit of coordination, but it didn’t take long before he was hauling the balance bike up dirt hills and riding back down with squeals of delight. After riding the Strider balance bike for several months, my now 2 year old can keep up with his brothers on their big boy bikes and every time he sees it he gets excited and yells, “my bike, my bike!”. At the rate he is going, it wouldn’t surprise me if he is riding a 2 wheeled bike much younger than his brothers did.
Lightweight Balance Bike for Kids
The Strider balance bike is small enough that we often take it with us in the car to the park or take it with us on trips. The bike itself is really lightweight, only 7 pounds, which makes it portable, but also makes it really easy for young toddlers to maneuver it.
I have actually stuck the entire bike in the basket of my double stroller on a walk to take to the park before. The size and weight make it much easier to transport than traditional tricycles which are usually heavy and bulky.
Affordable for Families on a Budget
Many toddlers go through a string of ride on bikes before they make it to a 2 wheeled bike. The Strider balance bike allows you to skip the tricycle stage and the small preschool-sized bike that often only lasts for a year before being outgrown. The seat adjusts easily so it can fit kids from age 18 months to 5 years, making it unnecessary to purchase multiple bikes as children grow.
Enter to Win (Closed)
Win a Strider Sports Balance Bike in your choice of colors. This giveaway is open to the U.S. and will end on February 3, 2010.
This Giveaway is Closed
Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.
In compliance with the new FTC Guild lines, please note that this is a sponsored post. I was given a Strider Balance Bike to test and review free of charge. However, I was not paid for the review and the opinions are my own.
Additional Entries
After having commented on this post, you can earn additional entries by doing any of the following. Make a separate comment on this post for each extra entry you qualify for.
- Sign up to receive the Busy Mommy Media Newsletter
- Sign up to receive Updates from Busy Mommy Media by entering your email in the box at the top of the sidebar
- Subscribe to the Busy Mommy RSS feed
- Blog about this giveaway and link back to the giveaway post (5 entries, make 5 comments)
- Follow Busy Mommy Media on Twitter
- Twitter about this giveaway (Once per day)
- Stumble this post
- Use other forms of social networking to spread the word about this giveaway
Related posts:
About Rachel
21 Days Left 
14 Days Left 
I’d love to win, any color would be fabulous.
Tweeted http://twitter.com/cdziuba/status/7727269245
Signed up to receive the Busy Mommy Media Newsletter
Signed up to receive Updates from Busy Mommy Media
Subscribe to the Busy Mommy RSS feed
Follow Busy Mommy Media on Twitter cdziuba
I posted your giveaway on my Facebook page Carol P dziuba http://www.facebook.com/#/profile.php?id=752204468&ref=nf
This look fabulous! I love that a child that can walk, can learn to ride a Strider Balance Bike. My son is 2 and can’t quite get pedaling. This would be great.
I signed up for you newsletter
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/7727974889
Signed up for ENews & Updates (top right bar)
I am following you on twitter (notimeMom)
To WIN a Bike would be Pretty Neat : ) Would LOVEEEEE To WIN : )
interesting concept. Would like to try with grandchild
I like how the “STRIDER PREbike” can help with building the little one’s self esteem and confidence.
Thank You!
I would love to win this for my baby he is such a big boy now
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/notimeMom/status/7751258294
I would like to give this to my nephew.
follow you on twitter(Missybeez80)
tweeted
http://twitter.com/Missybeez80/status/7751645453
I would love to win this!!
What a great bike I love how the child has to use his legs to ride it what a great way of exercise.
My son would love this!!!
Signed up for your newsletter
Signed up for your updates
This is a great idea! One that would go over well at our house!
Following on Twitter
genny315
Tweet
http://twitter.com/genny315/status/7757436368
I’d love to win this for my daughter.
this is such a neat bike; lightweight, easy to learn, prepares children for a “big” bike, skip the training wheels completely! Wish me luck! Vanessa.Iaquinta@gmail.com
newsletter Vanessa.Iaquinta@gmail.com
email Vanessa.Iaquinta@gmail.com
rss Vanessa.Iaquinta@gmail.com
twitter Vanessa.Iaquinta@gmail.com
wow! this bike will be perfect for my son in just a few months!
This looks perfect for my two year old.
I would love to win it looks like a neat bike. Any color for a girl would be fine
I like the bike in blue. Very cool
dmkayes@gmail.com
I signed up to get your newsletter.
dmkayes@gmail.com
I subscribe to your feed via Google Reader.
dmkayes@gmail.com
Just in time! Your contest has impeccable timing! Our youngest son is at that age where mini-big-wheels just don’t cut it any more (he’s growing up so fast). I can see him learning to balance on a little red Strider PREBike. What a unique concept. Thanks for the opportunity!
wow what a neat concept. My 3 year old just out grew her 12 inch bike and really has a hard time riding it so we are facing buying the next size up. I really thought her other bike would grow with her longer. So the fact that this bike grows with the child is very unique. I would love to win this for my 3 active kids 4 and under
my grandson would like this mverno@roadrunner.com
This looks so great! My little one would love it.
I like the pink bike. Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
this would be a huge hit at my house! my daughter would love it and so would the little boys i watch!
I would love to win this for my little grandson. Thanks for the giveaway.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
I follow on Twitter (eswright18)
eswright18 at gmail dot com
Tweeted. http://twitter.com/eswright18/status/7772555934
eswright18 at gmail dot com
I would love the pink.