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Does your kid have a bicycle on their Christmas list? If they do, here are some tips to help you pick a bicycle gift for your kids this Christmas that will be fun, safe, and will last at least until they out grow it or maybe just till next Christmas.
How to choose a children’s bicycle
Whether you’re getting your kid a tricycle, a push bike, or a kids full carbon road bike, the most important thing is that it fits them. For younger kids that may mean that they need to be able to put their feet down when seated. It is important that they feel confidant on the bike, especially for first time riders. It is ok to get a bike for your child that is maybe just a bit big as long as the handlebars and seat can be adjusted down enough to allow them to ride it with ease. You also want to make sure they aren’t reaching to touch the pedals.
Retail Store vs. Local Bike Shop
Even though I have advised against it on my post about not buying bikes from Wal-Mart, I think getting a younger kid a Wal-Mart bike is OK as long as you really go over it and make sure it is assembled properly and doesn’t have any defective parts.
Kids grow fast, especially the younger ones. For some it may be difficult to justify buying a more expensive kids bike from a bicycle shop unless your kid races BMX, Junior Road, or Mountain Bikes.
One thing you should consider is that if you have more than one kid or you have more kids in your extended family you may be able to give, sell, or hand down that bike to another kid because it may last longer if taken care of.
Assemble it your self vs. Have a shop build it up
I would be wiling to bet that most people buy bikes that are already assembled. The only thing you have to be concerned with if the bike is all ready built up is if it is assembled properly. This is also true if you get an unassembled bike. If you are getting a push bike, a tricycle, or a BMX style bike with a coaster break, I think with a little mechanical ability you would be able to assemble the bike as long as you follow the instructions.
That being said, I can not make an argument against having a shop build up the bike for you. They are going to have more experience building bikes. If you are getting a mountain bike or road bike for an older kid that his shifters, gears, and hand brakes, it may be better to avoid the headache and lost time to just have a shop do it. I would even recommend taking the pre-assembled bike to a shop and have them give it a good once over just to be sure. How much is you kids safety worth?
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