What are balance bikes with pedals?

A balance bike with pedals is also known as a convertible bike; it starts as a balance bike and becomes a pedal bike when the child is ready, by fitting the pedals, crank, and chain onto the same frame.

Unlike a standard balance bike, which may quickly become redundant once your child has learnt to balance, a convertible balance bike supports both stages of riding and allows the bike to be used for much longer. Balance and pedalling, all on one bike.

• With the footrest fitted and without pedals, cranks or a chain fitted, your child first learns to balance, steer and master handlebar brake levers on a really light bike. With their feet safely within reach of the ground, your child is in control at all times, and confidence develops alongside the balance needed to keep a two-wheeled bike upright. Once those skills feel natural, you can fit the pedal kit, and they can focus on learning to pedal.

It is a simple approach but very effective:

Balance first. Pedals second.

The Rookie 14 starts with its footrest fitted. When your child is ready, the footrest is replaced by the included pedal kit

How do convertible balance bikes work?

Unlike simply removing the pedals from a regular pedal bike, a convertible bike is designed to work as both a balance bike and a pedal bike.

Kidvelo makes convertible balance bikes in 14-inch and 18-inch wheel sizes which are designed to work properly in both configurations so your child can learn to balance, steer and use the brakes first, before progressing to pedalling on the same familiar bike. By breaking the learning process down into bite-sized steps, all children can develop their skills at their own pace.

Kidvelo Rookie 14 and Rookie 18 bikes include everything needed for both stages. You do not need to buy a separate pedal kit later or replace the bike as soon as your child has mastered balancing.

More importantly, both modes are part of the original bike design. The bike is not simply a conventional pedal bike with its pedals temporarily removed. We remove all the weight of cranks, bottom brackets, chain, and not just the pedals. All in a kit that is easy for any parent to install. Importantly, Kidvelo convertible bikes pass relevant safety tests as both a balance bike and a pedal bike. That’s why we can include the pedal kit at the point of purchase, and not as an additional accessory, as a complete product to help your child learn to ride.

Balance Bike Mode

Your child begins with the footrest fitted and the pedal kit still in its box, the bike handles like a regular balance bike. With both feet able to reach the ground, they can walk the bike along and put their feet down whenever they feel unsteady.

As their confidence develops, walking becomes longer strides and then gliding with both feet raised. The footrest gives them a comfortable place to rest their feet while they learn to balance, steer and corner.

The Rookie 14 and Rookie 18 also have front and rear V-brakes with short-reach adjustable levers for smaller hands. This allows children to practise controlling their speed and stopping safely before pedalling adds another skill to think about.

There is no need to rush this stage. Your child can remain in balance-bike mode until gliding, steering and braking feel natural.

Pedal Bike Mode

Once your child can glide, steer and brake confidently, the footrest is removed and replaced with the included pedal kit.

The frame, wheels, saddle, handlebars and brakes remain the same, so your child can focus on learning to pedal without also having to adjust to a different bike.

Balance first. Pedals when they are ready.

How Does a Convertible Balance Bike Help a Child Learn?

Learning to ride involves several separate skills:

• Balancing on two wheels
• Steering and cornering
• Controlling speed
• Using the brakes
• Pedalling
• Starting and stopping safely

Trying to learn all of these at once can be overwhelming. A convertible balance bike breaks the process into smaller, more manageable stages.

How Do You Know When Your Child Is Ready for Pedals?

Age is not the best way to decide when to fit the pedal kit. Look at your child’s control and confidence instead.

They may be ready when they can:

• Glide with both feet raised for around ten seconds or longer
• Steer and corner without regularly putting their feet down
• Look ahead while maintaining their balance
• Control their speed confidently
• Use the brakes to stop safely
• Handle the size and weight of the bike independently
• Show an interest in trying the pedals

Your child does not need perfect technique. They should, however, be comfortable enough with balancing and controlling the bike that pedalling can become their main new challenge.

How Is the Pedal Kit Fitted?

The pedal unit sits securely inside the Kidvelo frame and is held in place by two bolts passing through it. This allows the rider’s weight to be supported directly by the frame without a bracket hanging underneath the bike.

When your child is ready, the footrest is removed and replaced by the included pedal kit.

The Kidvelo frame has been designed specifically to make this conversion and fitting for any parent, straightforward. The included Allen key is the only tool needed to fit the pedal kit.

A removable frame section provides a route for fitting the chain. This means you do not have to remove either wheel or interfere with the braking system to convert the bike.

The main process is:

1. Remove the footrest.
2. Remove the spacer opening in the frame to pop the chain on the rear cog.
3. Position the pedal unit inside the frame.
4. Secure it using the frame bolts.
5. Attach the pedals and complete the safety checks.

The required Allen keys are supplied with the bike. Always follow the instructions and conversion video for your particular Rookie model before riding.

View Kidvelo assembly and conversion guides

What Happens After the Pedals Are Fitted?

The bike now works as a lightweight pedal bike, but it still feels familiar to your child.

They keep the same:

• Frame
• Saddle
• Handlebars
• Wheels
• Brakes
• Riding position
• Steering and handling

This familiarity matters. Moving from a separate balance bike to a completely different pedal bike can introduce a new size, weight, reach and riding position at the same time as the child is trying to learn to pedal.

With a convertible balance-to-pedal bike, your child has already learned how their bike responds. Once the pedal kit is fitted, they can concentrate mainly on turning the pedals and starting independently.

Can You Remove the Pedals Again?

Yes. One of the most useful features of a convertible balance bike is that the process is reversible. With a Kidvelo this takes just a few minutes, as there is no need to remove wheels or rebuild the bike.

If your child tries the pedals and becomes worried or frustrated, simply remove the pedal kit and refit the footrest. They can return to balancing and coasting until they feel ready to try again.

Going back to balance-bike mode is not a failure. It allows your child to practise the skills they need without pressure and progress at a pace that suits them.

This can be particularly valuable for children who need more time, reassurance or repetition when learning a new physical skill.

Why Do Crank Length and Ground Clearance Matter?

For a convertible bike to work well in pedal mode, the pedal system needs to be designed around the child and the size of the bike.

Crank arms that are too long can bring the pedals too close to the ground when the child corners. Cranks that are too short can make pedalling inefficient and require the child’s legs to turn very quickly without producing enough forward movement.

Kidvelo tested different proportions before selecting:

• 89 mm cranks for the Rookie 14
• 115 mm cranks for the Rookie 18

These child-sized cranks are designed to support comfortable, efficient pedalling while maintaining useful ground clearance.

The position of the pedal unit also matters. Integrating it within the frame helps preserve ground clearance and creates a secure, properly supported riding position.

Is a Balance Bike with Pedals the Same as Removing Pedals from a Normal Bike?

Not necessarily.

You can remove the pedals from some conventional children’s bikes, but that does not automatically make them good balance bikes. A standard pedal bike may be:

• Too heavy for a beginner to control easily
• Too tall for both feet to reach the ground or too small when pedals are refitted
• Too wide around the crank area for comfortable striding
• Designed with a riding position intended mainly for pedalling
• Awkward to convert because the cranks, chain or wheels must be removed to get the weight low enough to use as a balance bike

A purpose-designed convertible balance bike is built to function correctly in both modes. Fit, weight, geometry, foot position and the conversion mechanism are considered from the beginning.

Why Doesn’t Kidvelo Use a Reversible, 3-in-1 or “Flip” Frame?

Some convertible children’s bikes use one reversible frame that is flipped into a different position as the child grows. It is a clever way to extend the bike’s size range, but every convertible design involves choices about weight, fit and complexity.

At Kidvelo, we chose not to make one bike cover the entire journey from a small toddler balance bike to a 14-inch pedal bike. For a 2 years old or younger, it’s so important that their first experience of a bike is a success, or they will get scared and not want to ride. Kidvelo believe that for these kids the lighter the bike the better. A very young needs to be able to hold, steer and manoeuvre the bike independently so by choosing a bike with a bigger frame than necessary, will make this harder for them.

That is why the Rookie 12 is a dedicated toddler balance bike weighing just 2.89 kg. It does not carry the additional frame structure, brakes or pedal-conversion fittings required for a larger pedal bike.

Our convertible design begins with the Rookie 14, when children are bigger and the ability to progress to pedals and use brakes, becomes more relevant. This allows each bike to be designed around its particular job:

• The Rookie 12 remains exceptionally light and simple for first-time riders.
• The Rookie 14 provides the brakes, space and pedal system needed for the next stage.
• The Rookie 18 gives older beginners the same balance-first route on a suitably larger bike.

Rather than asking one frame to suit every stage, we concentrate on giving children the right weight, proportions and features for the stage they are at now.

Which Kidvelo Balance Bikes Have Pedals Included?

Kidvelo offers two convertible models.

Rookie 14: A 14-Inch Balance Bike with Pedals

The Rookie 14 is designed for children with an inseam from 40–59 cm. It weighs 4.7 kg in balance-bike mode and 6.2 kg with the pedal kit fitted.

It is ideal for children moving on from a smaller toddler balance bike as well as beginners who are starting their cycling journey on a larger 14-inch bike.

Rookie 18: A Larger Balance Bike with Pedals

The Rookie 18 is Kidvelo’s largest balance-to-pedal bike and weighs only 5.5 kg in balance-bike mode and 7.1 kg as a pedal bike.

It gives older and taller beginners the opportunity to learn balance first, without the distractions of pedals. This bike is specially helpful for children with SEND, who benefit from additional time to develop balance, confidence or coordination as they can take their time, knowing the pedals can be fitted to the same familiar bike, when they are ready.

Use our Kids’ Bike Size Guide to measure your child’s inseam and choose the correct model. Fit should always take priority over age.

What Are the Benefits of a Convertible Balance Bike?

A well-designed balance bike with pedals can:

• Break learning to ride into manageable stages
• Let children master balance before pedalling
• Help children learn to use their brakes early
• Avoid the move to an unfamiliar pedal bike
• Allow pedals to be removed again if necessary
• Give children time to progress without pressure
• Save parents from buying two separate bikes
• Provide a natural alternative to learning with stabilisers

The key benefit is not simply that pedals can be added. It is that your child can learn each skill in the right order while remaining on the same familiar bike.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do balance bikes come with pedals?

Most balance bikes do not. Some purpose-designed convertible balance bikes, including the Kidvelo Rookie 14 and Rookie 18, come with a removable pedal kit included.

Can you add pedals to any balance bike?

No. Pedals can only be fitted if the frame and drivetrain have been designed to accept a suitable pedal kit. A standard balance bike cannot usually be converted safely into a pedal bike.

How long should my child use balance-bike mode?

There is no fixed timescale. Keep the bike in balance mode until your child can glide, steer, control their speed and stop confidently. Some children progress quickly, while others need considerably longer.

Are stabilisers needed after using a balance bike?

Usually not. A confident balance-bike rider has already developed the balance needed to ride on two wheels. They can normally progress directly to pedals without using stabilisers.

Is the pedal kit included with Kidvelo bikes?

The pedal kit is included with both the Rookie 14 and Rookie 18. The Rookie 12 is a dedicated toddler balance bike and does not convert to a pedal bike.

Do I need to remove the wheels to fit the Kidvelo pedal kit?

No. The Rookie 14 and Rookie 18 are designed so the pedal kit and chain can be fitted without removing either wheel or rebuilding the bike.

Balance First. Pedals When They Are Ready.

A balance bike with pedals gives your child a clear and reassuring route towards independent cycling.

They begin with their feet safely on the ground, learn to balance and control the bike, and only add pedals once those skills feel natural. Because the bike remains familiar throughout, the final step can feel far less daunting.

Explore our convertible balance bikes or compare the Rookie 14 and Rookie 18 to find the right fit for your child.