Simply put, a balance bike is a bicycle without pedals. Its main purpose is to help riders build the balance and confidence needed to handle a bike.
Balance Bikes are designed to be the best way for toddlers to learn to ride by teaching balance first. As leaders in the balance bike industry, Strider knows balance is key to almost every physical sport and activity. Kids need to be active daily and balance plays a big role in the development of our children. People of all ages and abilities can benefit from developing their balance.
When balance is mastered, transitioning to a bicycle with pedals is easy. A child needs to experience the feel of leaning and how steering affects the balance of the bike. A Strider Balance Bike is lightweight and breaks riding down into simple steps, inspiring confidence for a child who has only been walking for a short time. If your child can walk, they can ride a Strider!
The Strider 12 Sport is the most popular Strider bike sold around the world. It has a lightweight steel frame, along with a padded seat and adjustable post that grows with your child. The approximate age range is 1 to 4 years, or an inseam range of 12-20 inches. The Sport features performance footrests, a handlebar pad, ultralight wheels, and mini grips.
The Strider 12 Pro has the same amazing features as the Sport but comes in an aluminum frame making it extra light weight and a racing number plate with pro graphics!
The difference is 1000% for the rider! A lighter bike leads to a kiddo being more tempted to pick it up on their own. While it’s only a 1-pound difference to grown-ups, every extra pound makes it difficult for a small child to carry or maneuver. We want all a kiddo’s effort to focus on learning to ride, not lugging around a heavy bike.
Great question. So many options! We offer several different models for kiddos all the way up to adults.
Strider Bikes are available in 12 inch, 14 inch, and 20 inch models (the number refers to wheel diameter in inches). The best way to determine which size and/or model is right for your kiddo is to go by their inseam. (Check out our Size & Fit Guide).
12 Sport 2-in-1 Rocking Bike – Built for babies looking for fun and freedom. This includes both a 12 Sport Balance Bike and Rocking Base. It’s the perfect way to introduce a bike to a child and makes a great gift for baby showers and nurseries. (Ages 0 – 4 years)
12 Pro 2-in-1 Rocking Bike – An all-aluminum frame meets a rocking good time. This includes both a 12 Pro Balance Bike and Rocking Base. Perfect for future racers and high-performance fans. (Ages 0 – 4 years)
12 Sport – Looking for more features than you can shake a stick at? Meet the bike that set the world on fire. It’s our most popular model for a reason. (Ages 1 – 4 years)
12 Pro – Performance meets perfection with the Pro’s all-aluminum frame. This is our high-end model and race-ready right out of the box. (Ages 1 – 4 years)
14x – Instant riding success? Yeah, we went there. The 14x starts off as a balance bike and, with a little help from the Easy-Ride Pedal Conversion Kit, transforms into their very first pedal bike. This is the best bike for children making the transition to pedals. (Ages 3 – 6 years)
20x Sport – Riding a bike is a life changing, magical, and revolutionary skill that belongs to everyone. The highly adjustable 20x Sport is an inclusive, pedal conversion bike and the perfect learn-to-ride tool through adulthood. The Strider scientists have gone above and beyond once again, by making a bigger bike for people who might need some extra help. (Ages 7+ years)
To have the bike fit your child the best, so it’s comfortable to ride (which makes it FUN to ride), we suggest you measure your child’s inseam and set the seat height 1-2 inches below that height.
Watch this video for the simplest way to get an accurate inseam measurement or simply use a measuring tape and measure from their crotch to the floor while they are standing up.
Children put their feet on the ground and push, just like Fred Flintstone.
Toddlers’ legs are strongest when used this way, rather than trying to pedal really short cranks. They are actually faster and more capable of dealing with uneven terrain and inclines on a Strider Balance Bike than a pedal bike.
Stopping is just as easy as starting; they just put their feet down. For young riders, success requires simplicity. That’s what we strive to do: Keep It Simple.
The Strider Ultralight Wheels that come on Strider 12″ models (Classic, Sport, and Pro) are made of an EVA polymer, which provides two key benefits. First, they’re extremely lightweight for easy control. Seriously, these puppies are half the weight of an air-filled tire and inner tube. Second, and parents love this part, the tires on these wheels require NO MAINTENANCE. They will NEVER go flat, just grab and go!
Tires on the Strider 14x and 20x Sport are normal bike tires that will require air to stay properly inflated. You can find information on the proper inflation PSI on the side of every Strider tire.
We include any tools you’ll need as well a visual assembly guide in the box, but if you want a little more detail, we also have quick video tutorials for our bikes and accessories.
Proper seat height should have the child sitting on the saddle, with feet flat on the ground, with a slight bend in the knees. For long-distance striding on smooth surfaces, you can raise this slightly. For obstacles, tricks, and off-road riding, the saddle should be adjusted for slightly more bend in the knees.
Typically, you want the handlebars to be about mid-torso. Ideally, handlebar height should be at the lowest setting for children 6 – 24 months old, mid-height for 36 – 48 months old, and at the highest setting for 48+ months old. But remember, each child will grow at their own pace and adjustments should be made to fit the rider.
For most kids, the Strider 14x! Seriously, there’s no better way to teach your child how to pedal than with the 14x.
For bigger kids first learning to ride and adults, including those with cognitive, developmental, or physical disabilities that make learning to ride more challenging, we recommend the Strider 20x Sport. This inclusive, pedal conversion bike is the perfect learn-to-ride tool for ages 8 through adulthood and for people who might need some extra help.
Kids are focused on FUN. The transition to ANY pedal bike is a big one because most pedal bikes are two to three times the weight of a Strider. Most pedal bikes will only be able to be ridden on flat, smooth surfaces. This isn’t nearly as much fun as going on an adventure with your all-terrain-capable Strider. We recommend that you offer both to your child and let them choose.
Remember, ALL the skills learned and time spent on the Strider will roll into pedal bike / dirt bike riding proficiency later. So don’t be in a hurry; don’t feel like they are falling behind. When the pedal bike becomes more FUN to them, they will make the switch. Until that time, you want to encourage them to ride and have FUN on whichever bike they choose. That’s why we designed the Strider 14x as a balance bike that turns into a pedal bike. Switching back to balance bike mode takes only minutes, and your child has the best of both worlds.
For our full shipping policy please visit our shipping & returns page.
We guarantee that all orders will leave our warehouse within 3 business days. Typically, orders are shipped via UPS and will arrive within 3-5 business days from when your order was processed. Be sure to check your email after your purchase for tracking information… and double-check your spam folder if you haven’t received an email within 72 hours of your purchase.
For expedited shipping, please contact our customer service team at (605) 342-0266.
Our normal business days / hours are Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. (MST).
We sure do! To show our appreciation for their service, we are pleased to offer Active Duty and Veteran military customers 10% off their purchase. This offer is only available over the phone, so please contact our customer service team at (605) 342-0266 to place an order using our military discount.
Our normal business days / hours are Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. (MST).
Please see our warranty page for a detailed overview of our customer guarantee.
Please check out our guide on how to identify a Genuine Strider here.
Balance is the most important skill for riding a bike and training wheels create a false sense of security. Training wheels are often unstable and are meant to never touch the ground at the same time, causing a child to tilt to one side or the other in order to feel stable with the bike holding them up.
When a child is ready to transition from training wheels to a pedal bike, they have to go back to square one and learn balance. Pedaling is the easy part and typically takes a child just minutes to learn, while balance is a skill that can be developed throughout an entire lifetime.
Get tips on teaching riding basics with our Learn To Ride Guides.
We're glad you asked! Strider bikes are sold in a variety of locations such as motorcycle, bike and toy stores. Here's a tip! It is best to call the store before driving across town to see if they have the model/color combo you are looking for.
If you are located outside the United States, visit our International page to find a distributor in your country.
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