Balance Bikes or Stabilisers? Which is better?

Why Stabilisers Don’t Work When Teaching Kids to Ride a Bike

It’s a bold statement, but one we stand by.

Stabilisers can help a child pedal a bike, but they don’t teach them how to balance on one. And balance is the most important skill a child needs to learn to ride a bicycle independently.

Walk through any park and you’ll see plenty of children riding bikes with stabilisers. They can pedal, but many are still relying on those two extra wheels to keep them upright.

So what happens when the stabilisers eventually come off?

They have to learn to balance from scratch.

Why Stabilisers Can Hold Children Back

• They Don’t Teach Balance

A bicycle is designed to balance on two wheels. Learning to ride means learning how to keep that bike upright while steering and moving.

Stabilisers do the balancing for the child.

With two extra wheels keeping the bike upright, children can concentrate on pedalling without needing to develop their balance. It can look like they’re learning to ride, but they’re actually learning a different skill: how to pedal a bike that doesn’t need to balance.

• They Can Delay the Hardest Part

Pedalling isn’t usually the difficult bit.

Most children can learn to pedal surprisingly quickly. Balance is the skill that takes practice.

A balance bike lets children spend time developing that skill without the added complication of pedals. They can walk, push, glide, steer and gradually learn to control the bike at their own pace.

By the time pedals are introduced, the hardest part has already been learned.

• Removing Stabilisers Can Feel Like Starting Again

This is where many children can become frustrated.

A child who has spent months riding with stabilisers has become accustomed to a bike that stays upright for them. Take those extra wheels away and suddenly everything changes.

They now need to:

• Balance the bike themselves
• Steer while keeping themselves upright
• Understand how their body movement affects the bike
• Gain confidence without relying on the stabilisers

It can be a big leap and for some children, it can mean frustration, wobbles and tears just when they thought they had already learned to ride.

Balance First. Pedal Second.

This is why we believe balance bikes are such an effective way to teach children to ride.

Instead of trying to learn everything at once, a balance bike breaks the process into manageable steps.

Push → Glide → Balance → Steer → Pedal

The child above is mastering balance: he is progressing independently, having fun while learning the correct riding fundamentals. By focusing on just a few skills at a time, progress is quicker and less overwhelming.

You may find this podcast useful, recorded with the founder of Kidvelo, Karen Wood & My First Five Years founders Jennie Johnson MBE, and childcare expert Alistair Bryce Clegg on why it is time to remove stabilisers on kids bikes

The Rookie 2-in-1 Balance/Pedal Bike

• What If My Child Has Already Used Stabilisers?

Don’t worry. It’s never too late to learn to balance.

If your child has already spent time riding with stabilisers, they may simply need some time to get used to balancing on two wheels.

A balance bike can help them go back to the fundamentals without the pressure of having to pedal at the same time.

• Are stabilisers bad for learning to ride a bike?

We don’t think stabilisers are dangerous or that parents have made a mistake by using them. For generations, they have been the traditional way to introduce children to cycling.

But if your goal is to help a child learn to ride independently and confidently, we believe there is a better way.

Teach balance first. Add pedals later. Let them start slowly. Encourage short glides. Celebrate the wobbles as well as the successes. Confidence comes from giving children the time and space to work things out for themselves.

Let them start slowly. Encourage short glides. Celebrate the wobbles as well as the successes. Confidence comes from giving children the time and space to work things out for themselves.

• Can a balance bike be converted into a pedal bike?

Yes, some balance bikes can be converted into pedal bikes, but not all of them.

Kidvelo’s Rookie 14 and Rookie 18 are designed to do exactly this. Children can start with the pedals removed, using the bike as a balance bike while they learn to balance, steer and build confidence. When they’re ready, the included Pedal-Kit can be fitted to the same bike, turning it into a fully functioning pedal bike.

This means your child doesn’t have to move onto a completely different bike when they’re ready to pedal. They can keep using a bike they already know and feel comfortable on, making the transition to pedalling much easier.

• What is the best alternative to stabilisers??

For most children learning to ride independently, we believe a balance bike is the safest alternative to stabilisers.

The main difference is what each one teaches. Stabilisers keep the bike upright for your child, allowing them to concentrate on pedalling. A balance bike removes the pedals so children can focus on the most important skill first: learning to balance.

On a balance bike, children can walk, push, glide and steer at their own pace. As their confidence grows, they naturally begin lifting their feet and balancing for longer. Once they have mastered balance and steering, learning to pedal is usually much easier.

With stabilisers, a child can become confident at pedalling while still relying on the extra wheels for balance. When the stabilisers are eventually removed, they may then need to learn the balancing skill from scratch.

So, balance bike first, pedals second is a simpler progression:
Balance → Steer → Confidence → Pedal → Ride!

That’s the principle behind Kidvelo’s convertible balance-to-pedal bikes, which allow children to learn on the same bike and add pedals when they’re ready.

• Is my child too old for a balance bike?

No. Your child is not necessarily too old for a balance bike. Balance bikes aren’t just for toddlers. What matters most is your child’s size, confidence and current riding ability, rather than their age.

If your child has never learned to ride, has struggled with stabilisers, or simply lacks confidence on two wheels, a balance bike can be a great way to go back to the basics. It allows them to learn balance and steering without having to worry about pedalling at the same time.

For older children, choosing the right-sized balance bike is important. A bike that fits properly and is light enough for them to control will make learning much easier.

That’s why Kidvelo makes larger balance bikes too. The Rookie 14 and Rookie 18 give older beginners plenty of room to learn, with the added benefit that they can be converted into pedal bikes when they’re ready.

It’s never too late to learn to balance — and there’s no age limit on enjoying that first successful ride.