I want you to think back to your childhood. Don'€™t sigh, it wasn'€™t that long ago! Think back to when you got your very first bike. Do you remember how you felt? I do; nothing could describe it better than pure excitement.

While only being five years old, it was my first taste of independence. It was like being trusted with the keys to the city and with each new trick that was learnt, a big thumbs up from the folks made the struggle to learn all the worthwhile. Now, the day has come where it'€™s time to buy your own child a bike; to create an unforgettable memory. Hold the brakes though, before we get too involved in sentimental feelings, we'€™ve actually got to choose the bike first. A task that is much harder these days, given the smaller selection of bikes our parents had to choose from. It'€™s so easy to get caught up in colour and decorations that practicality often gets thrown out the window. To make the process easier, here are five things to consider when choosing your child'€™s very first bike.

Have You Thought About Balance Bikes?

What is your like? Some are dare-devils who will tackle anything head on, usually resulting in constant cuts and bruises. Others tend to be more cautious. If this is the case, then start by riding on a Balance Bike. A Balance Bike is a modern version of the hobby horse bike. It has no pedals, crank, chain or training wheels, so your child can simply scoot their feet along the ground to gain momentum and raise their feet to cruise along. To stop, all they have to do is drag their feet along the ground. The idea is to teach a child to steer, maintain balance and stop, before moving on to the more challenging task of pedalling.

Choose The Right Size

When determining what size bike for your child, there are three rules of thumb. When their bottom is fully seated on the bicycle, their feet should easily touch the bottom without having to stretch to reach the ground. They should also be able to grip the handle bars with ease and finally, they should be able to sit comfortably on the bike no knees near the ears! Tip: It can be tempting to buy your child a larger bike that they will grow into, until they do, it'€™s particularly dangerous as they will struggle to control the bike, making it not very fun for them to ride.

Invest In The Correct Safety Gear

The law in Australia is that no person is allowed to ride a bike without the correct safety helmet. Don'€™t even consider giving your child a bike without this crucial accessory. It'€™s important that it fits well and your child likes it. The helmet should fit snugly on their head, rest 1-1.5cm above their eyebrows and be bright in colour so that it can be easily recognized.

How Much Assembly Is Required?

First bikes come in all price ranges, but if you know that they might only be riding it for a year before they need a new one, then there'€™s no harm in buying a cheaper one from a department store. These bikes normally come pre-assembled, but it doesn'€™t and there'€™s too many bits and bobs to put together, then it'€™s best to take it to a bike specialist like 99 Bikes. Their team will be able to put it together in a matter of minutes and you can rest assured that it will meet all safety requirements.

Do You Need Training Wheels?

Training wheels are recommended for children between the ages of two to five to build confidence while learning to balance. Some argue that training wheels can be dangerous if the bike picks up speed, but as long as they are going slow to start out with, training wheels are a smart choice. After all, you can easily detach them once they get the hang of it.

Choosing your child'€™s bike is an exciting time, it'€™s important to have fun and enjoy the experience of teaching them how to ride.