Selecting the Right Bike Gear for Your Children

The great thing about bike riding is that it’s an activity the whole family can enjoy. When your children are too young to ride, they can still come along in a bike trailer, and by the time they’re about 6 or 7, they may be ready for their own bike. Before you know it, the training wheels will be off and your kids will be surprising you with just how well they can ride.

As you introduce your kids to bike riding, you’ll need to make sure you select the right gear for them. Here are a few of the things you’ll need to look for.

The right bike fit: Kids grow quickly, but don’t buy your child an overlarge bike just because you assume they’ll grow into it. Putting your child on too large a bike can cause them to lose confidence and, in some cases, may even be dangerous. Your child should be able to comfortably stand over the bike and dab a foot when they’re sitting. They should also be able to reach and grip the brakes comfortably. If this is your child’s first bike, you may want to choose a single-speed, since gear-shifting can be complicated. By the time your child is ready for their second bike, they may be able to move up to a 3-speed or even a 7- or 8-speed.

Helmet: Your child’s helmet is the most important bike accessory you can buy them. Let them help choose a helmet with a style and pattern they like so that they’ll be enthusiastic about wearing it, and always wear your own helmet when you ride to show them it’s an essential safety feature. To get the helmet fit right, make sure you can put two fingers between the top of the helmet and your child’s eyebrows. Have your child look up and make sure they can see the helmet when it’s on their head. The helmet straps should make a Y underneath your child’s ears, and when the helmet’s buckled, it should be relaxed enough that you child can open and close their mouth comfortably, but not so loose that it will move around on their head.

Gloves: A good pair of gloves can help your child grip their handlebars and avoid getting blisters when they’re old enough to go on longer rides. Many bike gear companies make gloves specifically for children, and you can figure out the correct fit by measuring the widest circumference point of the hand – excluding the thumb – as well as the distance from the tip of the middle finger to the base of the hand.

Bell: Because kids are smaller, they can be harder to see on their bikes. You can help keep them from getting into a visibility-related bike accident by only riding on bike trails and quiet residential streets at first, but even in these areas you’ll still need to keep an eye out for other cyclists and pedestrians. Adding a bell to your child’s bike can help them alert others when they are cycling by, and kids often love having a bell to ring.

For more advice about choosing gear and biking with your kids, stop by Hart’s Cyclery. We love the idea of families riding together, and we’d be happy to offer up our expertise to make sure you and your kids have a great experience.

Since 1988, Ross Hart has owned and operated Hart’s Cyclery in Pennington, NJ. The bike store sells and services the finest brands in the world, including Giant and Cannondale. We provide personalized customer service, taking the time to understand your needs, lifestyle, and athletic style. The focus is ensuring you discover the right bike and the right fit – for the best cycling experience possible.

The next time you visit, check out our newest addition: the GURU Dynamic Fit. The computerized robotic assisted system has revolutionized road bike fitting, and we’re the only shop in the area that offers the service.