The Early Rider Bella Velio is a premium little ride-on that’s been beautifully made to help your toddler start building balance from around 10 months old.
It’s not just another nursery toy – it’s a well-engineered first step into cycling from a brand known for quality and attention to detail.
If you’re looking for your 1 or 2 year old’s very first bike and budget is not a consideration for you, this is definitely one to consider.
At just 2.8kg it’s light enough for tiny riders to manoeuvre on their own.
The standout feature is Early Rider’s patented Active Balance Control (ABC) system, which helps children learn dynamic balance and gently correct their steering. They point, they go, and they start to understand direction and movement without even realising they’re learning – a brilliant foundation for later riding.
The use of laminated walnut and birch gives it a really premium feel too, and you can tell it’s been built to last.
There’s even a removable parental control handle (tiller) to help in those early days, before they find their feet.
Parents often think ahead to the bigger picture – eventually getting to their first pedal bike.
The Bella Velio is the very first step on that journey, and Early Rider make a whole progression of beautiful balance bikes to bridge the gap.
We’ve previously reviewed the Early Rider Belter 14, their smallest pedal bike, and were genuinely impressed with the quality, child-friendly geometry and how smoothly it rode.
You can see that same design philosophy running right through the Early Rider Bella Velio, which means the whole range fits together as your child grows.
The small touches are lovely as well – a starter ‘passport’ to record milestones, and a plush polishing cloth to keep it looking smart.
If you’re comparing options you can take a look at how it sits alongside other ride-ons in our guide to the Best Bikes for a 1 year old.