View this video here.
We recently were lucky enough to review a bike from TykeRider. TykeRider bikes aren’t your ordinary, every day pedal bikes. No way! TykeRider bikes are balance bikes.
We are a big fan of balance bikes and here’s why:
Balance bikes teach children how to ride a bike better at a younger age. A balance bike is a two-wheel bicycle designed for children 2 – 5 years of age that does not have pedals. Balance bikes are also known as running bikes, learner bikes, or training bikes. We prefer the term ‘balance bike’ because it highlights the key developmental benefit of the product.
I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with that statement from TykeRider (read more about balance bikes here). We put so much focus on pedaling, that we often forget that the hardest part of riding a bike is learning how to balance!
I’ve never been a fan of training wheels. They are loud and squeaky, and I’ve always felt like they held kids back from that free flying feeling you get when you just coast on a bike. The TykeRider bikes don’t have any pedals, so once your child learns balance, it’s just about coasting along to their hearts content!
We were able to review the Pink Early Rider Lite balance bike for my daughter Lizzie. She is just 2 years old and had not shown too much interest in riding a bike just yet. In fact, when the bike arrived, she was more excited about her new helmet (the Little Nutty Hula Lounge helmet) then her fun new wheels.
My husband put the bike together in less than 10 minutes. He said it was the easiest toy he’s ever put together for our kids and appreciated how the directions were clear and accurate.
Initially, Lizzie was pretty nervous on the bike. Her brother has a balance bike and I think she thought that she was going to be coasting along the moment she got on the bike (she didn’t remember how he too needed to learn balance way back when!). After awhile though, she really started getting into it!
Nowadays, Lizzie loves her balance bike. She isn’t quite at the coasting stage yet, but she’s getting there! She turns her nose up at traditional peddle bikes though. She’d much rather use her TykeRider balance bike!
About the Bike and Helmet
The Early Rider Lite from TykeRider is an incredibly well made balance bike.
Here are some of the features:
- Environmentally friendly, FSC-certified birch
- Water and weather proof marine-grade ply
- Weighs in at 7 lbs, tested for children up to 100 lbs
- Two levels of steering – Restricted and Unrestricted
- Adjustable seat and reach
- Pneumatic tires with aluminum rims
- Notched fork ends for quick assembly
- Branded flame and logo detail, tire hot patches
- Embroidered faux leather seat pad
I love the fact that the bike is sturdy enough that it can take some falls, but also small and light enough that it’s no big deal to throw it in the trunk of the car if we’re headed to the park. The design is great and the bike fits her well, even though she’s still a fairly little girl!
The helmet Lizzie has is the Little Nutty Hula Lounge Helmet. Okay, can I just gush over this helmet? First off it’s adorable! Secondly, there is a ton of strategic padding in the inside and it covers way more of her skull then traditional helmets do. There’s a padded area on the chin strap which helps make it more comfortable for her. I also love that there was a big sticker on the back when we received it that said “I love my brain”. It was a great chance to talk to our kids about the importance of helmets and what they are actually protecting!
We adore this helmet! In fact, I think we’re going to purchase Noah a helmet from TykeRider.com to replace his current one because Lizzie’s new helmet seems SO much better and safer.
Both the balance bike and helmet from TykeRider are made exceptionally well. The price is a bit steep ($160 for the bike and $45 for the helmet), but TykeRider has provided me with a discount code just for Family Friendly Frugality readers!
Use the discount code balance to get 15% off your purchase from tykerider.com! Shipping is free over $50.
Are you interested in winning a balance bike from TykeRider.com? Well you know what? Sure!
Let’s have a giveaway!
The Giveaway:
The prize: 1 Early Rider Lite Bike from TykeRider!
This giveaway will be done via Rafflecopter (if you are in a feed reader or reading this in an email, you will need to come to the blog to enter). There is no need to leave a comment(unless you just want to say Hi!).
****I will not count comments towards entries.****
Complete any or all of these steps before filling out the entry form. The mandatory entry IS mandatory. Without that entry, no other entries will count.
Mandatory Entry (DO NOT LEAVE A COMMENT TO ENTER-use the form only. Comments will NOT be counted as entries):
(continued…)
- Visit TykeRider.com to learn more about balance bikes. Come back and tell me who you want to win the bike for and why?
Bonus Entries:
- “Like” TykeRider on Facebook worth 2 entries
- “Like” Family Friendly Frugality on facebook worth 2 entries
- “Follow” Family Friendly Frugality on Twitter
- “Follow” TykeRider on Twitter
- Subscribe to Family Friendly Frugality by email (subscription must stay active to win) worth 2 entries
This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ Only. This giveaway will close on 6/24/11 at 9pm CST. I was not compensated to write this review or to run this giveaway. I received the TykeRider Bike and Helmet at no cost to me, and TykeRider will be supplying the prize for the winner. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or acknowledged by Facebook.
Good Luck!
I gotta say, this product looks totally awesome!!!!! 🙂
I would love to win this bike for my daughter Lydia! The bike looks like it is well constructed and perfect for her needs.
I would love to win this bike for my four year old nephew and his three year old brother.
I would love to win this bike for my 4 year old son because he has trouble with balance issues.
What am I lame? Where is the EXTRA INFORMATION section??????
I want to win this bike for our son because I think it would give him more confidence learning to ride than a traditional bike.
mscoffee77(AT)juno(DOT)com
This bike is AWESOME! I would love to win the bike for my daughter McKenna. She would look so cute on this!!!
i want to win this for my niece so she can learn to balance herself before riding a big kid bike
I want to win this for my nephew because he is showing such an interest in learning to ride. He is a spitfire of a little guy!
LuckyTJG@cs.com
I want the bike for one of the kids at the mission I volunteer at because their families barely have money for food, let alone a bike.
I would like to win this for our three-year-old son.
would like this bike for my almot 3 granddaughter. she will get a thrill out of riding like the big kids.
it would help my son learn balance a bike
ugh I hate rafflecopter….I can’t enter 🙁
I don’t see EXTRA INFORMATION section?? IS it here?
I would luv this for my daughter:)
jmatek AT wi DOT rr DOT com
I would love to win this for my daughter. She is a little peanut and doesn’t have the strength to pedal a real bike. And, she so wants to be able to ride a bike like her big brother! These are great products!!!
My daughter needs more confidence and this may be the thing for her.
letessha@yahoo.com
note to self: entered 🙂
I would love to win this for my little boy Lucian for his first bike!! And the structure and design looks safer then any other bike ive seen or researched
I would love to win this Tyke Rider for my youngest daughter because she is afraid of her bike with pedals and I think it would be great for her!
My daughter is learning how to ride a bike and this would be perfect for her!!! 🙂
Is this the extra info section?
I would love to win this for my youngest daughter. She is really struggling with balance on her training wheel bike and she’s too nervous to get the hang of it. She really wants to ride her bike without training wheels though!
I would LOVE to win this bike for my twin great nephews…. They would have sooo much fun with it. Then after they are done enjoying themselves, they can pass it down to their little brother….
Thank you
i would love this for my daughter! she is 5 and we are having difficulties with her balancing!
I want to win the TykeRider Balance Bike for my friend’s daughter who is almost 3 yrs. old & has special needs. My friend was & still is totally dedicated since her daughter’s birth at 24 wks. weighing 1lb. 1 oz. She stayed faithfully by her bedside at the hospital for over 3 mos. & researched all about her daughter’s health condition & problems & sewed a lot of wonderful ‘cozies’ to surround her in the incubator. She didn’t get to hold her until she was over a month old. My family has been living with her family since last August (she graciously opened her home to us) & we attend the same church so we have seen the miraculous progress her daughter has & continues to make all to God’s grace & her parents motivation & dedication for her to continue work thru her disabilities which to name a few, she has oral aversions thus she has a feeding tube, she’s 90% blind in 1 eye & has a contact in the other, she started wearing special ankle braces to help her straighten out her legs & gain more balance, she is still behind her age group in verbal skills but goes to therapy 4 days a week for multiple issues. I would love to be able to give this to my friend to be able to show her my appreciation for allowing us to live in her home & to be apart of their wonderful family! She cannot have more babies but is in the process of adopting a 2 month old she has raised from 1 week old whose mother was on drugs & tested positive at birth. She is adopting so her daughter would not be an only child. She told the Health & Social Services she would even take a special needs infant if needed. This would be an awesome gift for her daughter & she would definitely share with all her special needs & preemie group friends! Thanks for the opportunity to pay it forward! Maxine
I have been looking for a bike like this for my 4 year old- he just can’t get the pedaling down on a standard bike.
I would love to win this for my son Charlie! He is 2 and loves bikes but he can not reach or pedal the ones at the store yet because the pedals are just a smidge to far away from his feet! This would work wonderfully for him! It would give him the confidence to ride on his own(with a helmet of course ;o) ) and help with is coordination and balance!
Thanks for the opportunity to enter this contest! I signed up for your emails and I am looking forward to reading your ebook.
THis is a great idea–the hardest part to learn is the pedal and the ballance at the same time–this way you can give a kid the opportunity to get the ballance down and have them confident they can stay upright! awesome! Love for the little people in my life.
I am living with my aunty and she has a son (my brother). He loves bikes so much!!! He plays bike games on computer and like anything that has bike on it!!! he is just 4 🙂 I love him so much! Im just a student and cannot afford to give him a real bike..I hope I win this one and be able to gift him the bike!! 🙂
I would love to win this bike for my sweet 2 year old daughter Kaylee. She is so interesting in learning how to ride a bide, but it is has been really difficult for her. I know she will learn quickly with this bike.
Thanks for the chance to win! I think this is a FANTASTIC prize!
And I have to say I LOVE Rafflecopter; it makes entering so much easier, and I’m so glad to see you use it on your blog! Thanks! 🙂
I would love this for my daughter! It looks alot safer than just throwing them on a pedal bike right away! Thanks for the chance!
I would like to win the bike for my 4 year old son. It seems like a great way to learn to ride! Would be able to use it for my 1 year old as he gets older as well.
I would like to get this bike for my 4 yr old son, who lets just say, isn’t the brightest star in the sky when it comes to anything…
I want to win this for my Grandson. This bike is so cool!
I would love to win this bike for my twins. They share so that is not an issue. They will be 3 in July and have had issues with balance. Ava has been in therapy and see a neurologist and artho for that issue. Aden is not as bad. They were very premie so some delays were expected. I purchased them each a three will bike for easter and they like to play on them but do not understand how to pedal so they just push them around (they got tired of getting hit in the leg with the pedals. Please consider us. Thanks
Hi! ,
😉
I am looking and looking for a balance bike to fit the needs of my boys. Thanks for introducing this one to us.
I’d like to win this for my son, because I wasn’t taught to balance on a bike until I was 7. I went through so much embarassment. I want him to be confident and ride just with a fun spirit!
My daughter Lydia would LOVE this adorable bike! She is 3 years old and would be so proud to be able to ride a bike just like her big brother does.
I would like to win this for my almost two year old
Thanks for using Rafflecopter – it makes entering so easy!
This looks like a perfect stepping stone to build my kids confidence of riding a 2 wheel bike by themselves. Great concept.. looks very sturdy!!
I want to win one for my daughter i think its a well crafted and hip bike that matches my beach cruiser in colors perfect, we would be the coolest cats in town!!!
can someone please tell me where the EXTRA INFORMATION is?
this would be an awesome bike for my 5 and 4 year olds to learn how to ride a bike!
I would love to win this for my daughter. She has been having a hard time learning how to ride a bike. She is also a new big sister and is trying so hard to do everything right to show her new little brother how much of a “big” girl she is.
I would love to win this bike for my twin boys. They r showing some interest but can’t figure out how to pedal. And yes I belive they need to learn the balance without training wheels!!!
I would love to win this for my grand daughter Alexis, she would love it! And of course she would look oh so cute driving it around! Great bike!
I would LOVE to win this bike for my grandchildren! It’s the greatest new thing! Better than a tricycle!
Ok I am all entered ,really excited at the thought of winning it.It looks like something my grandson would really enjoy. Thank’s for the chance. Lisa
This would be for my sister’s stepson. He is just about to turn 2 and this would be a great birthday present!
I WOULD LOVE TO WIN THIS BIKE FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO WILL BE 4 ON JULY9TH. I HAVE BEEN VERY SICK ITH LUPUS & MY MEDIACL BILL HAE ME WITH NO MONEY FOR A NICE GIFT AS THIS. PLEASE BLESS HER WIH THIS?
i would love to win this for our son, he’s almost old enough for it and i know he will love it!
I want to win for our toddler because he’s about to turn four and would love a bike. This looks more age-appropriate than one with a chain and such.
I would love to win this bike for my daughter who is turning 4 this year.
emscout9 at hotmail dot com
I would love to win one for my boys, Daemon and Jacob. Daemon is 4 and needs practice…and when he is done my 2 year old son Jacob can use it 😀
i WOULD LOVE TO WIN THIS BIKE FOR MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE SHE NEEDS TO MOVE UP TO A BIG GIRL BIKE AND LEAVE HER 3 WHEELER BEHIND, THIS WOULD BE PERFECT <3
I would love this for my kiddo1
I need this for my nephew. He is a clumsey little one.
I would love to win this for my beautiful daughter<3
Hoping to win this for my favorite little man who is turning 4 this year!
I’d like to win for my son because he is a beginner. He would love this 🙂