Islabike or Not??

[mattH]

Hello,

I have a islabike balance bike for my son...

I keep looking at him speeding along and think... Son you are ready for pedal power.

Ideally I'd like another Islabike. However they are expensive even second hand. For good reason of course, they are a high quality piece of kit!!

I thought i'd ask here if anyone can recommend any other kids bikes before i leap once more into Isla world...

Light weight, easy to ride, functional brakes that are easy to use.. I think that's it..

Any advice greatfully received!

Best,

Matthew

[Goodliz]

Dawes Blowfish is a really nice one. Light and easy for little legs to pedal.

[etta166]

Try a Frog bike at a local bike shop. I've got a 14" and 16" Isla bike, but went for a 20" a Frog bike. The extra for the slightly lighter Isla bike didn't seem worth it for a 6 year old.

Also, if you're not expecting long rides, then a heavier bike won't matter as much. I was expecting my son to do 3+ miles in one go under his own motive power from when he started reception so the better bike was worth the extra for us. I don't think I'd have bothered if I was just getting it to ride in the park, personally. I know others are evangelical about Isla bikes, though.

[mattH]

To Good Liz and etta166,

thanks for your thoughts.. that's a great help.

Ill check out the Dawes version. Frog bikes also look good. At present i want something they want to get on and muck about on outside of the school/park run - enough to get us up to sydenam hill woods from crofton park for instance...

In truth all the decent childrens bikes i have found that may be good are all fairly pricey.. I guess this is a good sign. Quality holding value.

[snowboarder]

Look at hoy kids bikes as well - in Evans.

There's a second hand islabikes Facebook page - the 14 and 16" versions come up a lot on there.

We just bought a 20" for our 6 year old and it's so much better than the 16" specialised he had previously.

[DaveR]

Edwardes in Camberwell often have second hand kids bikes - they're a mixed bag but you can find a good one and not too expensive. Decathlon also worth a try.

[Gubodge]

I'm an Isla evangelist. My younger daughter really didn't get on with cycling at all until we moved her from her ridgeback onto an Islabike. The weight was part of it, but it was mainly the ease of braking that really boosted her confidence.

I think Islabikes do some kind of trade-in if you did decide to stick with them. I have no idea how much it's worth, but might be worth exploring.

[rebeccaben]

I'm an islabike evangelist. My daughter went from bike phobic to Bradley Wiggins when we swapped her heavy bike for an Isla. We bought ours secondhand and will sell it again secondhand when she grows out of it. Because they hold their value so well I am sure it is cheaper to do it this way than to buy a cheap(er) bike new.

[mattH]

Hello all,

many thanks for the replies and the PM's. Much appreciated!! I went for A frog bike for my eldest. (7y old) and an isla bike for my youngest. Both great bikes and they are happily wizzing about!!

After purchase i saw a 5y old sppeding about in Peckham Rye park on a very smart looking bike. His father told me it about it. Early rider pedal bike - see link. Very smart looking machine!! Worth checking out i think..

http://www.springsandthingscycles.co.uk/bikes-c1/childrens-bikes-c16/early-rider-early-rider-belter-16-belt-drive-pedal-bike-p1012/s1014?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=early-rider-belter-16-quot-belt-drive-pedal-bike-erbr16&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&gclid=Cj0KEQjwiN6sBRDK2vOO_vaRs5cBEiQAfsnJCa0WKmICWHhyiaWNAsxnZyD-Xvl67azSn_SaLO4Q_2oaAuFV8P8HAQ