Disclaimer: I received a free product for my post! These views are my own and were not at all influenced by the party who gave me this opportunity..
My son loves to ride his trike, but he was getting a little too big. I wanted to get a nice bike for him that would be great for teaching him to ride a big boy bike and then I heard about the STRIDER Balance Bike!
Click here to visit their website
The STRIDER Balance Bike is made without pedals and its main goal is to teach kids how to balance in preparation for riding on two wheels.
What I Love
I have seen a number of balance bikes before, but I really like the STRIDER Classic frame. It is lightweight so it is easy to move, is adjustable to fit your child’s size, and has a very sleek and simple design. This STRIDER bike is made for kids ages 18 months to 5 years old. It is a great product if you want to start your child biking young. We used this with our 3 1/2 year old when my husband returned home from his deployment. My husband grew up riding bikes all the time, so he was excited to start his implied “daddy duty” to teach our son how to ride a bike. 
Because the STRIDER bike does not have pedals, your child can really focus on balancing the bike and learning coordination without having to worry about pedaling. It also helps kids to gain confidence and learn at their own speed.
As I mentioned, our son started using his STRIDER bike at 3 1/2. He is at the age where it is especially easy for him to get distracted and since he did not have extreme interest yet in riding a bike, we had a difficult time getting him to use the bike properly. He could not get the speed needed to balance the bike and is still working on coordinating riding his bike and watching where he is going. When we first received the bike it was pretty chilly out so we did not use it very much, but in the last couple of months as it has been warm, I have seen quite a bit of improvement. He is more confident as he rides and does not end up running into mailboxes and eating grass as often. I think one of our setbacks at the beginning was wanting so badly to really help teach our son when we should have let him experiment on his own while cheering him on. We are still working on getting balance down then we will be transitioning to a pedal bike without training wheels. I love that the website gives some helpful tips and guides to using the balance bike an moving up to a pedal bike. Learn more here.
Another thing I love about STRIDER Bikes is that they help children with special needs! STRIDER also serves the community through the Rider Fund, giving bikes to children with and without special needs. For each STRIDER bike registered on the site, the company will donate $1 to the Rider Fund. Find out more here.
What I’m Not Huge On
Had I written this review when I first received the bike to test, I would have had more to say here as we were having issues with my son using it properly. Now that he is a few months older and a lot more focused, the STRIDER Classic bike has been working a lot better for him. While I can’t say I think it would have worked for him at 18 months, it is helping already at under 4 years of age. I think I was quite a bit older when I finally learned how to ride without training wheels. Plus, each kid is different and will learn at a different pace. 
Also pictured above, Baby K’tan Baby Carrier
Overall, the STRIDER balance bike is a great tool for teaching children how to balance, even at a very young age, teaching confidence and coordination. Bikes start at $89 and come in four colors–blue, red, green, and pink. Check out STRIDER Bikes on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. You can purchase a STRIDER bike on their website, Amazon.com (affiliate link,) or find a store near you.
Bonus Tip: Remember to always make your kids wear a helmet when riding a bike, even one without pedals! Spills and accidents are to be expected so you will want to protect that noggin and prevent major injuries. Make sure you are buying a helmet that fits properly on your child’s head as well. Download this helpful PDF file from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to make sure you are wearing your helmet correctly.
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-When did you first learn how to ride a bike without training wheels?
My 3 year old LOVES his Strider bike!! It’s such a great way to teach a kid balance! <3
That is awesome! It sure is! My son grabs out his bike anytime we are outside.
What a great review! I love the tips about what age children would benefit from using this bike at PLUS I loved the tips about helmet as well! Most parents forget about how important that it! What a really cool bike – your son seems to really like it!!!
Thank you! Yes, a lot of parents forget about the importance of helmets and wearing them properly. I cannot believe the amount of kids I see unchaperoned and without helmets riding bikes on the street by us, as young as as a year and a half old! I think many are simply not informed and the link I included is very helpful!
Awesome review, love the detail! This would make a great bike for my niece! Great way to teach balance / control!
Thank you! I’m sure your niece would love it!
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