Strider Learn to Ride Sport Bike *Holiday Gift Guide

***Great Gift for Kids***

Product Description:

Handlebar

Unique 12.7mm steel handlebar is 43% smaller than standard to allow better control with tiny hands. Custom logo mini-grips are soft urethane with protective ends. Machined-aluminum quick release allows “No Tools” height adjustment from 46-56cm (18-22”).

Wheel

Strider-exclusive, ultralight one-piece wheels sport a raised-letter, five-spoke design with 10 bearing support gussets for maximum strength at the lightest weight possible.

Top-quality sealed cartridge bearings roll smooth and never need adjustment.

Tires

EVA polymer (industrial foam) tires are super light and durable yet offer a smooth ride. Best of all, they never need air and will never go flat.

Seats

The durable, all-weather mini-saddle is designed specifically for beginning riders and their tiny hips. Smaller, narrower, and lighter than a typical saddle, this seat allows for proper riding position and posture. ** The Sport model also includes a padded XL saddle and long seatpost to fit kids over 3 years and allows seat height adjustments up to 48cm (19”).

Bar and seat clamps

Machined aluminum quick release allows “No Tools” saddle height adjustment from 28-41cm (11-16”) for the perfect fit for your child.

Footrest

Unique, frame-integrated footrests are properly positioned directly below the saddle for natural bike balance. This position also fosters the advanced ability to stand while gliding as well as pumping and jumping the bike.

Brake mount

Strider-exclusive rear brake mount allows the addition of a foot-operated brake once the kids are proficiently gliding with feet on the footrests. Brake sold separately.

Learn to Ride at Home

1. Adjust the bike to fit the child!  Saddle height is the most critical adjustment, followed by handlebar height. Set the saddle height so the child’s feet are flat on the ground and both knees have a slight bend in them when seated. A good starting point is 1” less than the child’s inseam. Set the handlebar height with respect to the saddle. If the saddle is at its lowest setting, set the handlebar also to its lowest setting, etc. Kids grow quickly. Be sure to adjust the bike every couple months.
2. Be a Cheerleader, Not a Coach.  Children will instinctively throw a leg over the Strider and want to go. Encourage them to do this and give them praise for any amount of time they spend on the Strider.
3. Let the Child Set the Pace.  Some kids jump on the bike and go, go, go. Other kids are more cautious; some may not even sit on the seat at first. This is okay! Their security is in their feet at this point, and we want them to feel secure. As they get comfortable walking around with the bike between their legs and working the handlebar, they will start to ‘trust’ the bike and the saddle. Let them learn at their own pace... they’ll be striding along with feet up on the footrests before you know it!
4. Support the child - NOT the bike!  We instinctively want to help the child by holding onto the bike to keep it from tipping; don’t do this. The child must be allowed to feel the bike tip sideways to be able to learn how to keep it from tipping. If the adult supports the bike when it tips to one side, the child mistakenly thinks that the most stable place for the bike is tipped over to the side. This is the fallacy of “training” wheels.  If the child needs assurance, simply walk next to them and hang onto the back of their shirt so that they can feel safe.

This is a great present for any child ages 18months to 5 years old. I will do a more indepth review after Christmas (as this is going to be his big present).  But the Strider Learn to Ride Sport is designed to teach your child the basic fundamentals of riding a bike, before introducing them to a bigger pedal bike.

So if you have a little one on your gift list, this is a perfect starter bike for them. You can purchase the Strider Learn to Ride Sport from there website for $119 with free shipping to anywhere in the US (excluding Hawaii and Alaska).

Disclosure: I received product(s)  in exchange for an honest review, which may differ from yours. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I used personally, and believe will be good for my readers