Buying a bike: the must-knows!

Everything you should consider when buying a children's bike and what makes woom bikes so special

Are you looking to buy your child a balance bike or pedal bike but don't quite know where to start? 

You've come to the right place! We've put together this handy guide to outline exactly what you should be looking out for when buying a bike – especially if you're planning to treat your child to their very first bike or balance bike.

Let's get our priorities straight – riding a bike is meant to be fun! So what features should you be looking out for to get the good times rolling for your child?

1. Light weight

Good children's bikes have to be light above all else. This is so important if your child is going to be able to handle their bike properly. They have to be able to push their bike, get on independently, start riding from a stop and cruise around effortlessly. 

A lightweight bike will also help your child learn how to keep their balance and stop in a controlled way.

Many standard children's bikes are so heavy because of their hefty steel frame and superfluous components that they equate to as much as 60% or even 70% of a child's total body weight.

That's the equivalent of an 80 kg adult having to learn the basics on a bike that weighs 50 kg.

If you want it to be love at first ride for your child, make sure the bike you buy them doesn't weigh more than around 35% to 40% of their body weight.

When we were first developing our bikes here at woom, we worked extremely hard to keep the weight to a minimum. 

We achieved this by using superlight frames and lightweight aluminum rims and avoiding unnecessary components that hadn't been designed with kids in mind. 

And that's why woom bikes can tip the scales at up to 40% lighter than the rest of the children's bikes on the market.

2. Right frame size

When choosing the right frame size, your child's size and cycling ability are the defining elements. Age doesn't come into the equation.

So how do you work out the right size?

With the saddle at the minimum height, your child should be able to reach the ground with both feet without having to make any major posture adjustments. 

You can find out everything you need to know about working out the right bike size here.

You should also make sure that the main components of the bike can be adjusted so that it can grow with your child. 

Take our woom bikes, for example. They come with the option of adjusting the saddle height, the handlebar position and the reach and position of the brake levers to suit your child.

3. Child-friendly ergonomics

Another important factor is child-friendly ergonomics. Children are not just little adults – they have shorter fingers and legs, narrower shoulders and a completely different pelvis shape. 

That's why it's so important for bikes and their components to be tailored to fit children's bodies and requirements. 

Make sure you look out for handlebar grips that are narrow enough for small hands. 

Your child should always be able to reach and operate the brake levers with minimal effort.

What makes the ergonomics of woom bikes so child-friendly?

First off, it comes down to the frame design, which has a huge impact on the riding experience. If you want to be sure that your child feels comfortable on their bike and will enjoy cycling, you need to opt for a bike that provides your child with stability and a smooth ride. 

Our bikes have a low sitting position (= low center of gravity) to guarantee stability and a flat steering angle (angle of the head tube in relation to the road surface) combined with a long wheelbase (distance between the front and rear wheel axles) to ensure the expected smooth ride.

The low entry position is another feature our bikes have going for them. This makes it easy for kids to get on and off. They can also get their feet back on the ground in no time if they find themselves in a tricky situation.

Beyond the design of the frame, we've considered kids' ergonomic requirements in all other components. 

The narrow hub on the rear wheel on our balance bikes (woom ORIGINAL 1 and woom ORIGINAL 1 PLUS), for instance, offers plenty of legroom for easy walking and running.

Further examples include our saddle, which has been designed to fit a child's pelvis for added stability and comfort for your child.

And we couldn't forget our specially developed cranks, with the crank arms shorter to match a child's leg length and the distance between the pedals smaller to allow for children's narrower hips. This protects the knee joints since the knees won't have to bend as much when pedaling.

Shorter crank arms also reduce the risk of the tips of the toes colliding with the front wheel or the pedals hitting the ground when going round corners. 

What's more, the shorter distance between the pedals ensures optimum power transfer and intuitive pedaling.

4. Child-friendly brakes

Wondering whether a coaster brake is necessary? It's a very good question! After all, most of us probably learned to ride a bike with a coaster brake and wobbly stabilizers. Although it is a good question, our answer couldn't be a more definite no. And that's because we believe that the concept of the coaster brake is outdated. 

It's really difficult to brake evenly by back-pedaling and the rider's feet have to be on the pedals with the pedals at the right angle for braking to be at all possible in the first place. 

This means that your child might not be able to brake in time, hard enough or at all in an emergency situation. 

Plus, not having the option to freewheel when setting off can cause problems. Say the pedals weren't in the correct position – your child would have to get off their bike and line the pedals up before they could get going. 

Stabilizers aren't in keeping with the times either since they're counterintuitive when it comes to developing a good sense of balance. The best way for your child to learn how to balance is indeed on a balance bike. 

Not to mention that coaster brakes and stabilizers are an added weight, making bikes heavier than they need to be and less enjoyable to ride.

With all of this in mind, even our smallest balance bike (woom ORIGINAL 1) comes with a V-brake that's easy to operate with a child-friendly brake lever.

We also realize that it can be difficult for younger children to distinguish between left and right, which is why the brake lever for the rear brake on our smaller bikes (woom ORIGINAL 1 PLUS, woom ORIGINAL 2 and woom ORIGINAL 3) comes in an eye-catching shade of green to stop children from mixing up their brakes and in turn prevent crashes.

5. Premium quality

Children's bikes have to be able to withstand a lot of use. But they also need to last long enough to be passed onto younger siblings or sold on the second-hand market in a decent condition. 

With that in mind, you need to keep your eyes peeled for outstanding product quality and premium components when you're buying a bike.

Make sure you also take a closer look at the saddle. It should be made of a robust and hard-wearing material without being excessively hard.

How do we guarantee the high quality and durability of our woom bikes?

• We apply multiple coats of paint to protect the premium aluminum frames of our bikes against damage and wear and tear. 
• We also exclusively use sealed industrial-grade bearings to stop dust and water in their tracks. 
• The wheels are equipped with stainless steel spokes. 
• The welded seams on our frames (where the tubes are joined together) are implemented with care and precision, leaving them beautifully even and smooth. 
• Our specially developed handlebar grips – the woom Ergogrips – are screwed securely onto the handlebars and have a safety-conscious design to provide further protection in the event that your child falls onto the handlebars.
• Our saddle is made from a hard-wearing material and reinforced with Kevlar. Plus, its edges are protected against the scratches and tears that can occur when your child leans their bike up against a wall. 

In short, the premium quality of our bikes is reflected in every last detail.

6. Safety

When your child is learning to ride a bike, safety comes first. 

Alongside getting to grips with new movements like setting off and pedaling, children often have trouble finding their balance and struggle with fear and a lack of confidence. That's why all good children's bikes come with as many safety features as possible to counteract the challenges associated with developing these new motor skills and to make cycling (and learning how to cycle) as safe as possible.

Which woom bike components make cycling so safe for children?

• Our specially developed steering limiter is a safety feature you'll find on bikes ranging from the woom ORIGINAL 1 (our smallest balance bike) right up to the 16-inch woom ORIGINAL 3. Its function is to prevent crashes caused by oversteering.

• All woom bikes also have handlebar grips with a safety-conscious design featuring additional impact protection on the ends. And our knee-friendly stem comes without any protruding bolts to prevent injuries.

• The chain guard on our smallest pedal bikes (woom ORIGINAL 2 and woom ORIGINAL 3) is designed to stop fingers and trouser legs getting caught.

• The wide, grippy tires ensure that your child always has the best grip, whether on tarmac, gravel or a forest trail. The reflective stripes on the sidewalls of the tires add visibility, even in low-light conditions.

• Last but not least, the large flat pedals give your child great grip underfoot, meaning their feet don't even slip in wet conditions

Summary

Investing in a high-quality children's bike is a smart move all round.

You know your child will be so much safer on their adventures if they're riding a premium bike that has been designed specifically for children. They'll also learn to ride their bike much faster and they'll have even more fun getting active outdoors. You'll be giving them the building blocks they need to develop a life-long passion for cycling and sport. 

What's more, you won't need to worry about buying a new bike for their siblings, as a premium bike will still be around to spread the love of cycling to your second and even third child. 

One final argument in favor of purchasing a high-quality children's bike is the high resale price. You can expect close to the recommended retail price when selling a well-looked-after woom bike on one of the popular online selling sites.