Kidvelo brand launched by balance biking's power couple

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I reckon virtually no-one reading this will have heard of Karen and Gary Wood. Yet virtually everyone reading this will have been impacted by them without realising it!

If your child has ridden, or is riding, a balance bike, then the couple played a massive part in making that happen.

It's hard to imagine now, but not that long ago children relied on stabilisers when learning to ride.

However Karen and Gary were early users of the new fangled balance bikes with their children and realising their potential became passionate about getting more children on them.

In 2010 the couple became the exclusive distributors of Strider Bikes in the UK and Ireland and the rest, as the saying goes, is history!

Balance biking went from a niche activity to THE way to learn to ride a bike in less than a decade.

Karen was responsible for setting up the popular balance bike racing series here in the UK, plus established a network of balance bike clubs across the country.

I know so many Cycle Sprogs got their first riding experiences on a bike provided by the couple, a fact backed up by the number of lovely comments we received on social media when we reported in May 2019 that they had parted company with the brand.

But the great news for everyone in the kids bike industry is that they are back!

Karen and Gary have teamed up with Anthony and Nicole Kotarac, the couple who did the same role in Australia, and launched Kidvelo.

The Kidvelo Rookie 12 Balance Bike launches in the UK this Autumn

The first model to land is the Kidvelo Rookie 12 balance bike, aimed at toddlers from 18 months up to 4.5 years.

Designed from the ground upwards, the signature low centre of gravity, full aluminium spec balance bike, is designed to perform.

The company’s philosophy is that the less weight in a bike allows for a better rider and equals more fun, and this is reflected in a balance bike that weighs just 2.93 kg.

The alloy rims and air tyres promise to deliver a smooth comfortable ride over any terrain.

Available from Kidvelobikes.co.uk in four vibrant colours the Rookie will retail at £120.00.

However they are having an introductory pre-order sale where you can order now and get £20 off, plus free delivery across the UK.

It's great to have Karen and Gary return to the balance biking community and they told me they're absolutely delighted to be back in the saddle again.

"It has been a long two years of research and development, countless kids testing bikes and tweaking. We are delighted that we achieved our aims of lowering the centre of gravity and producing a brilliant quality light bike".

With half term behind us and the clocks gone back, the school run looks a little different now. Darker mornings and early sunsets mean it’s a good time to make sure everyone feels confident and visible on their bikes for the weeks ahead.

If you’ve been meaning to try cycling to school, there’s still no pressure to do it every day. Even once a week is a great way to keep riding through the colder months and stop it from feeling like a big deal.

Good lights, front and rear, are now essential for many journeys, along with reflective details on bags and clothing. Warm layers, gloves and waterproofs make a big difference to how much everyone enjoys the ride, and it’s worth checking tyres and brakes as wet leaves and frosty mornings arrive. Allow a little extra time, and stick to routes you know well while everyone gets used to riding in the dark.

Whether it’s the ride to the school gates, a weekend spin through crunchy autumn leaves or a festive lights ride as Christmas approaches, every journey this winter is a chance to stay active, have fun and make cycling part of family life.

Explore our guides to bike lights, winter cycling kit and route planning, and get tips to help your family keep cycling to school with confidence all winter long.