When do you get a child to start learning to ride a bicycle? What sort of bike is best to start on? These and other questions are answered by the experts from Frog Bikes
What is the best age to start teaching a child to ride a bike?
Balance bikes are ideal from the age of 18 months upwards. If the rider can get both feet flat on the ground, they will enjoy riding it. But if your child is older, then they can of course learn to ride at any age!
Just make sure you get them a lightweight bike that is not too big for them: a big bike that is heavy is not as safe, and it may even put them off riding.
What is a good type of starter bike?
Balance bikes are where a child’s cycling life begins. Frog balance bikes are effectively a toddler’s bike without pedals and helps a child to develop the necessary balance to cycle. With their unique design and chunky tyres, these bikes are perfect for children to develop the most important skill for biking and are a great alternative to training wheels.
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How do I choose the right size bike for my child?
To get the right size bike for your child, the most important measurement is inside leg.
Stand your child against a wall, with their heels right against the wall. Put a book between their legs, as high as is comfortable.
Ask them to step away from the wall, allowing you to measure from the floor to the top of the book (in cm).
Check out the Frog fitting guide to see what size of bike will best fit your child. Don’t be tempted to go for a larger bike, it’s not safe for a child to ride a bike that they can’t easily control, or where their legs don’t comfortably reach the ground.
How do I assemble and set up a Frog bike?
If you buy direct from the website, you’ll need to attach the handlebars, put on the front wheel, front brakes, pedals, check all brakes are set correctly and set up the gears on the Frog 52 upwards. (Apart from the tadpole, where you’ll just need to attach the handlebars and check the brake). Full instructions are available in our online manuals please follow the instructions and carry out all the checks and adjustments described.
Please note that the setting up of a road bike requires more advanced knowledge of how to set up a bicycle. We highly recommend the bike is assembled and safety checked by a professional bike mechanic before your child rides it, which is one of the reasons we recommend everyone buys from a Frog stockist if possible.
How do I measure a child for a helmet?
To measure for a helmet, wrap a tape measure around the child’s head just above the eyebrows and read the measurement in centimetres.
Most kids’ helmets are sized either XS (around 46-53cm) or S (around 52-58cm). If your child’s head is larger, then you should buy an adult helmet. The average person’s head is fully-grown at the age of 10, so you won’t find your child needs a new helmet as often as they need a new bike!
When the helmet arrives, you need to ensure a good fit. All our helmets are adjustable, either with a twist at the back or by changing the thickness of the foam panels inside. The helmet should fit snugly and be comfortable to wear. When the child shakes or nods their head, the helmet should remain secure. The helmet rim should sit on the forehead, just above the eyebrows. The helmet should NOT be tilted back leaving the forehead exposed or tipped so far forward that it covers their eyes.
What can I do with a Frog bike when my child outgrows it?
We are very keen that old bikes don’t fester in the corner of your garage, or even worse end up in a landfill.
We have a second-hand bike exchange scheme: Pre-Loved Frogs, which is being run through some of our UK Frog stockists. Once you have outgrown your bike, please talk to your nearest Frog stockist about exchanging it for the next size bike.
How are Frog bikes designed?
All Frog bikes are designed with the child in mind. We continually modify our frames and components in collaboration with sports scientists at the Brunel University. Everything from the bike geometry to the quality componentry has been expertly designed and selected to make a child’s journey as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Features such as adjustable brakes and our handlebar stem add-on provide room for growth, whilst the shorter cranks, scaled down handlebars and easy to reach brake levers assist comfort so they can travel further and faster.
As our Head of R&D, Dr Tom Korff explains: “Our bikes are not scaled down adult bikes, as children are not miniature adults. At Frog, we put the child into the centre and design our bikes around the child’s unique anatomy and his/her unique needs”.
Where can I buy a Frog bike?
It is recommended that you purchase your Frog bike from one of the many independent Frog stockists across the UK and around the world. Frog bikes are available in over 1800 independent bike stores across 45 different countries.
What is the story behind Frog Bikes?
Jerry & Shelley Lawson founded Frog Bikes in 2013. It was a fruitless bike hunt for their own two children that inspired them to leave their corporate careers behind and create bikes just for kids.
As they set about creating quality, lightweight & affordable kids’ bikes Frog Bikes was born. Nineyears down the line and Frog’s child-centred approach has earned them global accolade; industry awards for innovation and design, an award-winning factory, around 1,800 retailers worldwide and thriving partnerships.
Where can I find out more about Frog Bikes?
By visiting the Frog website at www.frogbikes.com or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
