Strider 12" Pro balance bike review

Giving your child a good first experience on a bike is important if you want them to grow up and love their bikes as much as you do. A balance bike is the ideal introduction and avoids the difficult transition from stabilisers to two wheels. We tested the Strider 12" Pro balance bike, with a sometimes willing, and sometimes not so willing toddler

(Image credit: Cycling Weekly)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

At £80 the Strider is quite pricy. There are cheaper balance bikes on the market, but do bear in mind the weight. The heaviest ones can come in around 5kg, around half the weight of an average toddler. Imagine trying to pick that up or manoeuvre it round a tight bend or past a climbing frame every 20 seconds or so.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Lightweight so easy for a small toddler to handle

  • +

    Lots of adjustment meaning it can last for years

  • +

    Solid tyres so no messing with pumping them up or mending punctures

  • +

    Easy to build

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Expensive for a toddler

  • -

    When saddle at lowest setting seatpin sticks out the bottom which can catch ankles

  • -

    More colourful options might be attractive to kids

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

I still remember the day my stabilisers came off. I don’t remember exactly how old I was, but I remember what happened. I was riding down the pavement, not getting very far before losing my balance and jumping off the bike as it rolled into the gutter between two parked cars. I ran off in shock leaving my mum to pick the bike up. I don’t know why, but I’d been scared of using my brakes. I was concentrating so hard on my balance and pedalling that steering and braking became too much for my brain to process.

Buy now: Strider 12" Pro balance bike at Strider bikes for £110

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1