s/o of trikes

E&E will be 3 on May 3rd. I had thought about getting them bikes with training wheels instead of trikes. They can pedal their big wheels type toys. What do you think? I hate to spend money on trikes then bikes in a few months.

 

If they can pedal I would definitely get bikes with training wheels instead. We got my oldest DD a 12 inch bike with training wheels at 2.5 years old and she used it for almost 2 years. The bike will last longer than the trike, IMO.

 

We used the trikes for 2 years, and skipped right to a 16" bike. Jon will need a new one this year--he is VERY tall, but Marc will last another year on his. The trikes are just so much more stable. The tiny bikes look cute, but I don't feel they are as sturdy.

 

Personally I hate training wheels and plan to teach them to ride 2-wheelers properly from the beginning, so we're going to keep them on trikes for this summer and hopefully try real bikes the next year. (I also think everyone should learn to drive stick shift first, but that's another issue entirely . . .)

-Rachel

 

We never got them trikes. We went straight to 12" bikes. They got them for Christmas when they were 2 years, 3 months old. Now at 3.5 they ride them well with the training wheels on the ground. We are thinking of moving Gabby's training wheels up a notch soon because she's mastered it as it is. I've seen 3 year olds around here who can ride two wheelers with no training wheels.
I also figured it would last them longer. The biggest problem was finding bikes with pedal brakes instead of hand brakes, I had to go to like 10 different stores.

 

QUOTE
If they can pedal I would definitely get bikes with training wheels instead.


Ditto!!

We got 12" bikes and are already going to have to get another size up... they are almost too big for those.

 

We got some really nice sturdy bikes, instead of some really nice sturdy tricycles. Mine have only fallen a few times and it is because they have not been paying attention (those darn parked cars). We got them at a bike shop.

 

We used trikes until they were 5 then went to bikes with no training wheels (I can't remember the height of the bikes but they are too big for training wheels).

 

I would get bikes (no training wheels) and take the paddles and chain of, so it becomes a balance/glider bike. We bought trikes for K+R's 2nd birthday, Christmas they got gliders and now they are ready to ride a bike with no training wheels. Pretty soon there will be no more room for a car in the garage.
Julia

 

I think it's funny you've received such different responses from everyone! Everyone has different opinions and preferences on this issue.

We prefer trikes to bikes. My boys have Kettler trikes (we had one from my older sons, and then we bought a second one when the twins were 18 months old) and they still fit them and love them. The trikes are not even to the biggest size, yet, and my boys are big kids! They can go quite fast on the trikes and I love how stable they are. I think we'll probably do one more year on trikes (they are 4.5) and we'll get bikes next year.

 

We got them trikes when they were 2 , and bikes for Easter this year. The trikes are still like new, but easier for them to learn on something so small.

 

QUOTE(sharongl @ Mar 24 2008, 10:34 AM) [snapback]684207[/snapback]
We used the trikes for 2 years, and skipped right to a 16" bike. Jon will need a new one this year--he is VERY tall, but Marc will last another year on his. The trikes are just so much more stable. The tiny bikes look cute, but I don't feel they are as sturdy.


Mine had trikes (still have, in the case of the girls). I was not allowed a bike until I was 6. Of course, I was very short, and waaaaaay back then they did not have these tiny bikes. However, I once watched a little boy riding one of those tiny bikes when my first was just an infant. I realized from watching him that those bikes are so fast, and so maneuverable, that a child can whip right into traffic, even if the adult is right there. So, right then I decided my kids would not get bikes until they were tall enough to ride the 20-inch bikes that can be seen over the hood of a car. (Of course, with all the SUVs these days, even 20-inch bikes aren't tall enough!) So mine have the more stable, slower trikes. They got their trikes at 3 (big ones), and are still riding them at 5, so I feel I am getting my money's worth.

 

We LOVE our Schwinn Roadster Trikes.
http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Roadster-12-...s/dp/B000TL7ZM6