Many adults have memories of their own childhoods and experiences of learning how to ride a bike. First came the bike with training wheels, and then that fateful day where the training wheels came off… but then there were the falls and the scrapes and the tears of frustration. When you think about it, it actually doesn’t make sense… learning to pedal a bike with training wheels that bounce you back and forth really does nothing to actually teach you to ride a bike. It would be like trying to teach a baby to walk before they can stand. It just isn’t possible. The first step in properly teaching someone to ride a bike is teaching them to balance. Hence the invention of the balance bike!
7 years ago, when E was 4 years old, we decided it was time for him to learn to ride a bike. We brought him to a school track and completely removed his training wheels and pedals from his bike and spent the next couple of hours pushing and running with him, and he totally got it! Literally, he learned how to ride his bike in a matter of hours. We put the pedals back on and off he went. At that time balance bikes didn’t exist, but people were starting to understand that balancing was key for learning to ride a bike.
Fast forward to O’s 2nd birthday and he was actually given a balance bike! He had received the Norco Alloy Run Bike and we were thrilled as we knew that it was going to be amazing and that he would be able to learn to ride a bike that much quicker!
The Norco Alloy Run Bike is a balance bike offers a tough yet light weight aluminum frame, easy-spinning wheels and a low, stand-over height, which makes it easy for kids to put their feet on the ground to push, control and stop. The padded seat offers a comfy place to sit while they glide along.
Because of the high level of quality that this bike offers, we also know that little A will also be able to use the bike next summer to help him on his way to learning to ride and bike and likely passed on to other children after him. At $125, the Norco balance bike is amongst the lower priced options for balance bikes currently available in Canada. Other similar bikes retail anywhere from $100-$200. The price tag seems high for a product for 2-3 year old, however it is a great investment and one that is worth it for our family.
O will be 4 in a few months, and while he hasn’t yet fully mastered the art of the balance bike, he is well on his way and we are confident that this bike will get him riding a big boy pedal bike very soon. It is also a great reassurance to us that he will have the skills and knowledge of how to properly balance before he gets on his big boy bike. Hopefully these skills will results in a few less falls and scraped knees for him!
Tell Us: Did you use a balance bike to help your child learn to ride?
Disclosure: This review is unsponsored.
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