Balance Bike Manifesto

Children’s bikes, especially balance bikes, are unique from adult bikes in that the saddle height will typically match the max stand-over height of the child. With a balance bike, they need their feet firmly on the ground while perched on the saddle for propulsion and balance purposes. Proper fit on a balance bike will have the saddle MUCH closer to the ground than a proportional adult bike. This is true of most kid’s bikes including those with training wheels (I could write pages on why training wheels are a TERRIBLE idea for teaching cycling).

The typical skills progression on a balance bike or any learn to ride bike is as follows:

1. Child walks with bike between their legs, not perched on the bike in any way, just in contact with the handlebars.

2. Child perches on the seat with feet firmly on ground and rolls around, eventually learning to turn by leaning.

3. Child becomes proficient at balancing and begins to glide rather than walk.

4. Child gains confidence to stand on the frame and glide without feet on the ground.

As you alluded to, Step 4 becomes a critical point in learning to ride because this will eventually translate into riding skills which is what we are trying to foster. With a balance bike, pedaling will be the next step and handled completely separate from riding skills.

So know that we have the background, we can look at the dynamics of the rider-bike system. Bike design should not be only about the shape of a human but also the way a human body moves through space, this is something that anthropometrics cannot account for.

When the child stands on the frame or pedals, we want them to assume what is known in the cycling skills world as the “neutral” and or “ready” position.

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In this scenario, having a handlebar with a large amount of rise is beneficial because it allows the proper body position for learning riding skills, which is the goal at this point, they can learn how to pedal perfect circles next year

I like the illustration above for a few reasons but it does highlight the similarities between a childs bike and a MTB with the seat dropped. The handlebar to saddle height is increase to aid in proper skills execution. This is the beauty of decoupling the pedaling from the skills development at such an early age!

Keep in mind, this is why it works out ok, most brands haven’t put this level of thought into their balance bike designs.