Hey all, this is my quick list of my favorite 20″ bikes for kids. How I picked these 20″ bikes for kids We run regular kids bike buses to school and bike parades, and our own kid has since moved up to a 24″ bike. I had set up a running feed of used 20″ bikes to help set up my own kid as well as others who we ride with. Who are 20″ bikes for? Generally I think 20″ bikes fit kids who are about 5-8 years old. Our kid is of average height, and they used a 20″ bike from age 6 to age 8. There’s a bit of overlap between sizes – they rode a 16″ bike from age 5-6, and I imagine will ride a 24″ wheeled bike from age 8-11 or so. There are exceptions […]
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Moving up a size: Switching from a 20″ to a 24″ kids bike for a growing child
It finally happened – after talking about the next bike for 6 months, we finally got a new (to them) bike for our kid. Why buy the next size up kids bike? What is the next size up? Our kid was riding a bike with 20″ wheels, and we opted to go the next size up, which is a bike with 24″ wheels. I’ve found that a bike with 20″ wheels seems to work for most kids aged 6-9 or so. And 24″ bikes work for most kids aged about 8-11. So there’s some overlap around the 8-year-old mark. This all depends mostly on how tall your kid is and how long their legs are (their inseam is the critical measurement). Kids who are 8 and on the taller side might need to size up sooner. One of our friends’ […]
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Kids Bay Area bike rides: The Albany Bulb was so much fun!
Kid Bay Area Bike rides: The Albany Bulb The Albany Bulb is an area on the San Francisco Bay that bulbs out as a small peninsula in Albany, California. Like a lot of places along the shore, it was built from landfill – construction debris was dumped into the Bay in the 1960s-80s to create more land. There are walkable and bikeable gravel trails there and a lot of interesting informal outdoor art made using found materials. There’s also a lot of bird and aquatic life. including a habitat for burrowing owls. If you’re wondering where you can take kids for a bike ride, the Albany Bulb may be a good option. Albany Bulb Riding Overview (for kids) The trails at the Albany Bulb are mostly hard-packed dirt with some rocks and gravel. There are not really paved paths, though […]
Continue readingMore TagFrog 55 20″ Kids bike: Quick thoughts
We briefly had a Frog 55 kids bike (20″ wheels) to try out for a bit and so I wanted to share some thoughts about it. Frog Bikes is a UK-based company that designs and makes lightweight children’s bikes. Like other bike brands (Islabike comes to mind) they were founded by parents looking for nicer bike options for their kids. Their goals are to make riding easy, comfortable and enjoyable for kids. The Frog 55 is a slightly larger 20″ bike than the Frog 52, where the “52” and “55” correspond to the child’s minimum inside leg measurement to ride that bike. Slightly aggressive geometry My kid currently rides a bike that is the same size (20″ wheels). She said that the Frog 55 bike feels more stretched out than her other bike, but she didn’t mind too much. On […]
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How much is a kids bike? How much should kids bikes cost?
When it comes to buying a kids bike, you may wonder how much should kids bikes cost? The cost can vary greatly depending on the brand, model and features. One note is that the prices below are related to the original MSRP of a bike, which may be different than your purchase price. There is a lot of value in checking the used bicycle market. Also, smaller children’s bikes (of course) generally cost less. A balance bike will probably cost less than a 16″ wheel bike, which in turn costs less than a 20″, 24″ and 26″ kids bike. Lower-priced kids bikes: under $250 MSRP You can find perfectly functional bikes in this price range. These kids bikes are typically made with less expensive (and heavier) materials and may have poorer quality components compared to higher-priced models. They are going […]
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Bike Twitter’s (or soon Bike Tooter?) tips for helping kids bike to school
Why bike to school? There’s something special about biking to school and watching your child wave to friends as they near the front gates. If you’re just starting out, for Bike to School day (in Alameda County, it’s Walk and Roll to School Day), or because you want to take climate action and make sure your kid(s) get exercise, here are some reasons why biking to school is great: Builds community and friendships Lets kids have fun riding with friends – bikes make people smile! Promotes better air quality & a lower carbon footprint Reduces the number of cars on the road Gets Kids and adults healthy physical activity Saves money on fuel Allows kids to be independent “You and your kids will be happier riding and get used to it quickly” – @share_hugh on Twitter As easy as riding […]
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Top tube bags for childrens’ bikes: A quick review
Why use a top tube bag for a child’s bike? As parents, we want our children to enjoy their cycling experience. We had been searching for a way to enhance that experience for our child by finding a way for them to be able to carry their stuff on their own bike. I looked around for a couple of bags and had found an old bag that we had used before. It was beneficial because it allowed our child to carry their own snacks, band-aids, and other things deemed to them to be essential. It also freed us from having to carry the various sticks, leaves, rocks, toys, and other small things that children often collect and carry. The top tube bag location is great. It allows a child to easily access their stuff, even while riding. The top tube […]
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My choice for children’s bike lights: Inexpensive (less than $15!) but effective bike lights for night riding
Getting a set of children’s bike lights probably worth it for your kid. You can get a functional set for $10-15. It’s an easy safety upgrade if you ride in anything but normal daylight. Bike lights for children’s bikes Your kid might need bike lights if you do anything more than recreational daytime rides. A lot of people view riding a bike as recreation. That’s fine. But if you’re also riding your bike to get from point A to point B with your child, sometimes you will have to ride in the dark. It starts to get dark around 4:30pm during the Bay Area winters, so you may need lights even if you’re not staying out late. Our school day ends around 3pm. If you have scheduled any after care, you’ll be coming home in the dark for at […]
Continue readingMore TagBike gift ideas for kids and others who started biking during the pandemic (2021)
Hi, I’m making a quick list of gifts that I recommend for kids who bike. I also have gift ideas for people who have recently started biking during the pandemic. For some gift guides, bloggers or writers solicit ideas. I’ve compiled this list based 10+ years of bike-commuting experience and daily rides with my child. I’m also finding accessories and other bicycle-related gifts that make riding more fun. My goal is to help make it easier to bike where you need to go. I hope that this gift guide will make it easier for your intended recipient to do so too! Bike accessory gift ideas Lights I recommend lights for anyone who might be riding when it’s starting to get dark. Lights also help when it’s very cloudy or raining. Important factors for me are: size, ease of […]
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Neighborhood Bike Parades That Help Kids Learn to Ride Together
The kids bike parade is a way to let kids play, ride bikes together and learn to ride safely. Children and adults make new friends and build community by bike. How did the bike parade start? Earlier on in the pandemic, we learned that COVID spread mostly through poorly-ventilated air. We tried to think of ways to still foster social interactions between children with a lower risk profile. Our family and a lot of others have gone with their kids biking to spend time outdoors. We started by turning a birthday party into a evening bike ride. Kids had fun biking together and being able to see each other not on a computer screen! Parents got a chance to ride with their kids and others. Neighbors were treated to a lively mini parade. A few parents loved the […]
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