How to pick a bike for your child this Christmas
- Written by Tess Sanders Lazarus
With the summer school holidays approaching, many parents are thinking of getting their kids a bike for Christmas. Better than adding yet another noisy toy to a pile of toys that won’t get played with after a week, a bicycle is a practical yet fun; and more importantly, a healthy gift option.
“Giving your child a bike for Christmas is a great idea. There is nothing quite like the excitement of seeing a bike by the tree on Christmas morning. What’s more, getting it at the start of the summer holidays means they can use it for the entire break and beyond. Whether it’s your kid’s first bike or it’s time to upgrade to a bigger bike, there are some important things to remember when you go shopping,” Decathlon Australia, Wheels Commercial Director, Tamara O’Donnell said.
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The right size for your child
“How do you find the right size bike for your child? You can tell this easily by looking at three things – seat height, standover height and brake reach,” ‘O’Donnell said.
1. Seat height. From balance bikes to their first bike without training wheels, when seated your child’s feet should be flat on the ground. After this it’s easier to balance and your child can stop and have just the balls of their feet resting on the ground.
2. Standover height. The ideal height is when it’s comfortable for them to stand over and hop on and off the bike, and they look confident doing so. This is really important for your child to get the most enjoyment out of their new bike.
3. Brake reach. Ideally, your child can easily and comfortably reach the brakes with a slight bend in the elbow. Looking for these cues will help you make the best decision for your child and ensure they can get the most out of their new bike this summer.
“Both the age and height of your child will help you find the right size bike. At Decathlon, we recommend measuring your child and then checking out our size guideline to see what bikes would be most suited to them,” O’Donnell said.
“You will notice that kids’ bikes are measured in inches. This refers to the wheel size of the bike and is the way kids’ bikes are measured.”
10–12 inch bikes
Balance bikes help transition kids into riding pedaled bikes. These bikes are great for helping kids focus on balancing themselves whilst propelling themselves with their feet and can be purchased as an alternative to learning to ride a bike with training wheels.
14-16 inch bikes
Once they have mastered balance, it’s time to master pedals! These bikes come with or without training wheels and will prepare your child to ride their first ‘big bike’. Our 14 inch bikes come with training wheels already included and are an ideal solution for young kids starting out on their first bike.
20, 24 and 26 inch bikes
If you’re looking for one of these bikes your child is comfortable on two wheels and is somewhere between 120 and 155cm tall. Decathlon offers a range of colours and styles across its hybrid and mountain bikes to suit any child. If they love to be a little more adventurous we have some great styles with suspension, shifting and the braking power to support more offroad based adventures. If your child wants something versatile, comfortable and with that urban look, our Decathlon hybrid bikes are a perfect choice.
“When choosing a bike, come into any Decathlon store and our friendly professional team members will be happy to help you out,” she added.
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Factor in their ability and confidence
“Many parents have no trouble using the charts they see in stores to find out which size bicycle they should buy for their children, however, it’s important to factor in their child’s ability and confidence level,” O’Donnell said.
“Many parents like the idea of getting a bigger bike so that their child can grow into it, and that’s certainly true to an extent, however, with a bigger bike also comes extra size, weight and height, all of which can be rather daunting to child if they are not a very confident on a bike.
“When you buy your kids a new pair of shoes, you buy shoes that can fit their feet and that have just enough space in the toe that they won’t outgrow them instantly. It’s the same with a bike. You want your child to be comfortable on the bike and confident to ride it.”
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Design
“Your child will probably have the most input on a bike’s design! We have a great range of designs for kids bikes at Decathlon so your kids can truly have their pick. Parents thinking about younger siblings coming along and taking over the bike eventually will be happy to see the range of colours and styles we have in store at Decathlon,” O’Donnell added.
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Longevity
“As a parent, of course you’d want to get the most mileage out of your kid’s bike as possible, and all parents will wonder how soon their child will outgrow their bike. Kids are generally ready to move up to a new bike size when there’s not enough space for their knees between the seat and handlebars,” O’Donnell said.
“If you’ve put the seat up as far as it can go, your child can still find it difficult to ride because the centre of gravity has changed and it becomes too high for them to ride comfortably. This is a sign that it’s time for a new bike.
“Any kids’ bikes bought at Decathlon come with a lifetime warranty on the frame, stem, and handlebar and have a two year warranty on components and we encourage all customers to take advantage of our free safety check service in your first three months of ownership.”
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Accessories
“The bike accessory that all parents are after is the kickstand! It is the best investment you can get to help your child look after the bike! Many parents assume that every bike has a kickstand, however, if it is a bike with training wheels, then you’ll have to get a kickstand for when the training wheels come off. We also have a great range of bottle cages, baskets, bells and horns to make your child’s cycling experience super safe and fun,” O’Donnell said.
“Kids love adding their personal touch to their bikes, so be sure to stock up on a few extra items to add to the bike’s basic frame! Pick from a great range of sturdy and funky bike accessories at Decathlon. Your kids will be riding around with the flashiest looking bike all summer long.”
Hot wheels this Christmas
“Your kids will be over the moon getting a bike on Christmas morning. They’ll be so excited, they’ll probably want to get on and ride off immediately, so don’t forget to get them a helmet too,” O’Donnell emphasised.
“Summer time family bike rides are a great healthy way for the entire family to spend time together, so come in store and check out our wonderful range of bikes today.”
About Decathlon
Decathlon launched in Australia in 2017 and now has seven stores across Victoria and NSW. NSW: Tempe, Auburn and Miranda. Victoria: Box Hill, Moorabbin, Knox Field and South Morang.
Decathlon is a member warehouse and membership is free. Shoppers simply sign up in store or online. Anyone can visit Decathlon but they must be a member to purchase products.
The brand is one of the world’s largest sporting goods designers and retailers originating from France. With over 1600 stores across the globe in 50 plus countries and more than 80,000 staff worldwide, Australia is now well and truly part of Decathlon’s growing worldwide presence and has already made a significant impact in the Australian market with its own brand of high quality products at affordable prices.
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