We ran across this great review the other day and thought it would be good to post on the blog and address one issue that comes up in it below.

“I got this for my 3 year old daughter last year. She was very apprehensive about it, but gave it a try. Within a few weeks, she was lifting her feet carefully off the ground. She was even walking up the driveway with a slight incline and scooting down. Again, just barely lifting her feet off of the ground. She got her balance, but all she needs is her confidence. She did take a spill (only once), but it didn’t hurt her too badly. It happened because she was moving straight, legs lifted, but then turned her handle bar too sharply. She wasn’t hurt badly at all because she wasn’t going that fast. She even got up and tried again. So, it is now two seasons later (we bought last summer) and she is much more confident. I am confident she will be riding a two-wheeled bike with pedals by the end of the summer. All this without having to hold the back of the bike and deal with the great fear of me letting go! I recommend this running bike to anyone who might be considering a tricycle – get this instead!”    ~PixieMaMa

There is an ongoing debate in the balance bike world about steering limiters.  Some companies decide to put steering limitation on their bikes, we feel this limits learning, fun and overall safety.  When toddlers are learning on a Strider they are learning the feel of riding a real bike, without the pedals.  It is safer, Like PixieMaMa’s child, to take falls at a younger age and at slower speeds than it would be going from limited steering to limitless at an older age and higher speeds.  That crash was not something to shield the child from, that crash was a valuable learning moment for taking total responsibility for steering the bike.  Pixie was going slow, didn’t get hurt, learned the lesson, and is a better, safer bike rider because of it.  Another advantage to Strider’s steering is that the bars will fold flat when your child falls, eliminating the potential for the bar end to injure them.  (also making it easy to pack up for travel as well).

We never like seeing a child crash on anything, but crashing is a part of learning.  We created this video to help people understand what happens during a crash and highlight how easily tricycles tip over and how easily they get out of control.  Tricycle crashes are far more prevalent and serious than people realize… and unfortunately don’t contribute to making the child a better, safer bike rider.  Strider crashes are minor, occur at comparably slow speeds and close to the ground, and, best of all, directly educate the child how to be responsible for steering a bike.  Keep kids safe and help them learn the skills they’ll use for a lifetime of riding bikes.  Down with Tricycles and Training Wheels… Strider on!

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