Balance bike or tricycle? how to choose

The great thing about balance bikes is that kids can move along, go up and down pavements, and get themselves off slightly muddy ground unaided. It's because they're lighter and more manoeuvrable than bikes with stabilisers, giving learner cyclists that bit more freedom. A balance bike is also perfect for learning to brake, provided you buy a model equipped with brakes. Kids will quickly understand that they're the one who controls their bike and that they can do what they want with it.

Some trikes come with a removable pole that parents can use to make sure their child doesn't stray too far and to help them steer.

The fundamental differences are by no means trivial. According to Frédéric Héran, an economist, urban designer and lecturer at the University of Lille 1, the rise of the tricycle dates from the 1950s to the 1970s, “when cycling was reduced to a recreational activity or a children's game. You could no longer leave kids to play on their bikes out in the street: that space was reserved for cars, the symbol of progress. But tricycles - with a parent pole to aid steering - and bikes with stabilisers stopped kids becoming too independent too quickly by forcing them to stay under constant adult supervision.”

In the era of free motor skills and autonomous activities, “the rise of the balance bike reflects the cycling boom and the unrivalled freedom it can offer for even the youngest of children, in cities where traffic levels are finally dropping,” he explains.

Balance bikes - those little bikes without pedals - are often used by kids aged 2 and up. But what is the advantage of this pedal-less bike? Is it really necessary to begin cycling with a balance bike? We can say for sure that, among other things, it helps kids develop their balance and motor skills.

"Cycling involves coordinating and linking together multiple movements. This is in addition to hand/eye coordination and balance... So altogether there are a lot of things to take into account," says physiotherapist Karine Roulin.

The balance bike gives children the opportunity to break down these movements. It helps them discover their balance, learn to distribute their weight, and find their centre of gravity. The balance bike targets an essential basic skill: balance. ”

ANOTHER KEY BENEFIT: children learn to be aware of their surroundings and understand how to overcome obstacles.

What you choose will depend on your aims: if you want your child to learn to ride a bike or improve their motor skills, opt for a balance bike.~ If it's just for playing, why not go for a tricycle. Some models even have a little plastic container attached to the rear wheels or a front basket for kids to put their toys in.

 

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