In as much as you want your child to grow up and embrace life, as a parent, the safety of your child is paramount. This is especially the case with selecting a bike for your child since this is an investment that will be long-term. Children are always excited and keen on learning how to ride bikes with two wheels, but it’s very crucial to ensure that the bikes they choose possess essential safety features that will safeguard them as they practice their bike riding skills. Thus, here are some of the necessary safety measures that should be considered while choosing a first bike for your child.
Properly Sized Bike Frame
It’s important to have the appropriate bike size to have a good control and stability during cycling. Select a bike that your child will be able to reach the handle bars while seated comfortably on the seat and with a slight bend of the knee when the lowest point of the pedal is reached. The frame should allow the rider to comfortably climb onto the bike and again get off without first having to adjust a position. Children are always growing fast and therefore, when purchasing a bikes, one should consider the size in relation to the kid’s size at a later date. A lot of biking for the youths’ models come with built-in features of seat and handlebar height that can be altered as the child grows.
Low Center of Gravity
As for the new drivers, they should focus their attention on the bikes with a low position of the center of gravity to improve stability. Bike for kids, those with the top tube pinned low and swooping down are useful because the child can place his/her feet on the ground whenever he/she wants to. Furthermore, good training wheels have broad and stable bases to ensure the child stays balanced during the early stages of learning how to ride the bike without training wheels.
Sure-Grip Pedals
Textured, rubberized pedals are necessary to reduce the risk of the feet slipping, which is especially dangerous for elderly people and can result in a fall. Ensure that the pedals have sufficient contact area particularly for those with small feet. This also contributes to the visibility of the cyclist by other traffic participants, as well as the pedals with integrated reflectors. It is recommended that parents do not use plastic pedals or any type of pedals where one can lose balance, especially if the kids have not developed good foot control yet.
Easy-Use Brakes
Ensure that the kids bikes being bought has appropriate breaks that can easily be operated by the kids but at the same time are sensitive enough to stop. For the youngest children, two-wheel bikes with a simple coaster brake, which works by BACK pedaling, are suitable. Most children will have the necessary hand coordination when it comes to hand brakes by the time they are about 5 or 6 years of age.
Incorporate the correct positioning and adjustment of the brake levers in order to provide a better secure feel of the braking procedure. It is advisable to accompany your child on short trial rides on the bike to determine if they have sufficient grip strength to hold the handle bars as well as if they can manage the brakes properly. Explain to the young rider about safe stopping distance and make sure they realize its significance.
Helmet Compatibility
Teach and practice safe riding and make it compulsory for them to wear the correct fitting helmet every time they ride. Thankfully, more children bikes now come with the option of headset fittings that will hold special helmet brackets. These are versatile helmet holders that do not require suspension from the neck and help in supporting the helmet when in use.
However, this does not matter if the bike you have selected is not helmet compatible. Just be certain that your child has a helmet for each time he/she rides and make sure to explain more on how to position the helmet at level over the forehead or how to tighten the straps for safety purposes as well as convenience.
Reflectors & Safety Flags
Some accessories like reflectors or flags make the rider and the horse visible to other vehicles reducing the risks of an accident particularly when using small riders. Try and locate the reflectors that are fixed on the front, the spokes, the pedals and the rear part of the frame of the bike. And safety flags on flexible poles that can be attached and detached are another feature that enhances visibility and safety. For added visibility choose bright colors and LED lighting in the same manner as bikes.
Durable Wheels & Tires
Well, while those little BMX bikes look quite nice, it is better not to choose bikes with slim high-pressure tires for starting riders. These can be difficult for small ridors to manage. Rather, walk with broader tyres usually around 20 inches for better balancing while learning the balances in steering, pedalling, and in the general control.
Also check tires – the tire treads should show no signs of excessive wear and should provide sufficient grip for various outdoor surfaces ranging from pavement to grass or dirt tracks. Check for proper mounting of tires to firm and well-aligned wheels for a non-wobbly, correctly spinning riding experience.
Proper Assembly & Maintenance
While buying a new bike, ensure that it comes well assembled and well adjusted by the bicycle sellers. Make sure the dimensions and angles of the seat, handles and training wheels are adjustable and rigid enough but not too tight for the child as they grow. Check the brakes and tires and enquire about the most appropriate tire pressure.
Also find out how you can educate your kids to perform simple bike repair tasks on their bikes such as patching a puncture, oiling the chain and checking on some bolts at a tender age. Let them watch you do it properly and let them gain practical experiences that will help them grow from caregivers to professionals.
Ensuring that your child is equipped with the right bike safety gears, size and features enables him or her to ride the bike for years before they grow out of it on their quest of attaining the next stage of childhood which is independence. However, the most valuable lesson here is still your complete control and active parenting whenever they are riding. In turn, let bike safety checks and maintenance be fun family time that you have. Your continuous participation makes sure that the safety issue remains fresh in the minds of everyone, avoiding scenarios where people get used to the fact that they are working in a safe environment. Then all that is left is to applaud them in pride as they embark on their two-wheeler journeys.