How to choose the best children's bike?

When choosing a bike for a child, be discerning and remember that the child is not a shrunken adult. His body proportions, strength and stamina are vastly different from adults and he needs a bike that fully respects his needs and capabilities.

What is the secret to a perfectly fitting bike?

A heavy bike is a joy killer and overloads the child unnecessarily. Riding it is neither fun, healthy nor safe. The bike is harder for the child to control and the heavy weight unnecessarily stresses the child, which can result in slowed reflexes and impaired reaction skills. And as fatigue increases, so does the risk of injury.

However, parents often do not address weight at all. A 16-inch bicycle from the store can weigh up to 12 kg, which is a lot for small children around 20 kg. To give you an idea, this is the same as an adult weighing 70 kg riding a bike weighing 45 kg.

So if you're choosing a children's bike, always keep an eye on the weight parameter and try to find the lightest possible bike in that category. The best manufacturers know that the weight of the bike is crucial for a fun ride, and therefore they address every gram when developing the bike. For example, the lightest children's bikes in size 16 weigh just 5.3 kg.

The size and length of the frame must be appropriate to the child's body proportions. "If the geometry of the bicycle does not match the child's figure, it forces the child to sit badly, which can ultimately have a negative impact on the musculoskeletal system and its proper development," explains physiotherapist Helena Vomáčková from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Charles University. Too long a frame, which is a common problem with children's bicycles, forces the child into an unnatural torso position, which can have an adverse effect on the musculoskeletal system. In addition, an excessively stretched torso and upper limbs can not only make it difficult to handle the handlebars, brakes or gear levers, but can also lead to overloading of certain muscle groups.

Therefore, choose a bike that is not just a smaller adult bike but has been developed specifically for children. The best manufacturers design their bikes to fit children perfectly, while only fitting them with components that are adapted to the size of the child's hand and foot and match their motor skills. The Beany children's bikes have been developed in collaboration with paediatric physiotherapists, ensuring a unique bike geometry that offers not only a fun, but more importantly, a light and healthy ride.

It is important that the bike matches the child's current height. The right frame size is a prerequisite for how well the bike fits the child. If the frame is too big (or too small), the child will not sit well on the bike.

The child should sit relaxed and with a straight back on the bike - this ensures correct spinal positioning and prevents back pain. When the child is sitting on the saddle and has one foot on the pedal in the down position, the knee should be slightly bent. This angle allows for efficient pedaling and transfers power to the pedals while protecting the knee joint from excessive load. At the same time, the child should be able to touch the ground with the toes. This will not only give him a sense of security, but will also make it easier to get on and off the bike.

Is your child's height exactly between sizes and you are not sure which bike to choose? Never just follow the recommended table, but visit an authorised shop where experienced sales staff will be happy to advise you and let your child ride the bike. Every child is different. While one child will safely ride a 24" size at five years old, the other will be perfectly suited to a 20" size. So never choose a bike based on your child's age, but on their current body metrics.

A smaller frame mounted on larger wheels is also a possible option for smaller adventurers. These will make them great to ride and also make the bike fit them perfectly.

Choose only bikes that have components from well-known and time-tested brands that are actively involved in development and do not forget about small cyclists in their portfolio. A great choice are, for example, components from Shimano, Alhonga or Beany's Solely.jr specially developed for children.

Handlebars, pedals, derailleurs and brake levers should be sized to fit the child's body and match their motor skills. Only then can they use them quickly, easily and, above all, safely.

If you choose well, your offspring will have a good time riding and will find cycling really fun. He or she will learn to see exercise and cycling as a natural part of life and will most likely carry this love into adulthood. If you're looking for a bike for your young racer that meets all the points in this article, be sure to consider the Beany brand, which specializes in the development and manufacture of children's bikes.

Thanks to the bicycle, the child significantly increases the radius in which he was used to move, learns about his surroundings and strengthens his curiosity. Encourage him to be eager to explore and discover. Go on bike rides together, discover new places, try different terrains and explore everything the bike has to offer.

And above all, have fun. Because time spent together is the most precious thing.