kids bikes

Buying a kids bike

Here at Cycle Sprog we're here to help you find the perfect bike for your child.

We don't sell bikes ourselves - we independently review and recommend bikes (and we do sometimes get a commission if you buy which allows us to keep doing this!).

We only feature quality kids bikes that will last several children, which we've either ridden ourselves or which have been recommended to us by other keen cycling parents.

Our various articles on the best kids bikes for different ages  will help you decide which bikes you should be considering for your child and your budget - plus where to buy your final choice from.

We'll also help you through the process of deciding whether to buy a bike (either new or second-hand) or lease one.

Take a moment to GRAB YOUR FREE KIDS BIKE BUYING CHECKLIST which will help you record all the information you need to find the perfect bike for your child. 

 

Cycle Sprog is a reader-supported website. When you buy through links on this page we may earn an affiliate commission.

What type of bike are you looking for?

If you already know what type of bike you’re looking for, you can go straight to our recommendations for each type of bike:

The best kids bikes for all ages

Kids bikes are sold according to their wheel size (in inches).  Small starter bikes (12″ to 18″ tend to come without gears) and 20″ wheels and over you can add in gears to make getting up hills easier.

If you’re not sure what type of geared bike you’re looking for, then we always recommend a good quality hybrid bike.

We’ve selected the best kids bikes in each size to help you find that perfect bike.  We’ve included new, secondhand and lease options so all budgets are covered.

Not found what you’re looking for?

If you’ve not found the perfect bike just yet, then here’s all our bike related articles for you to browse through:

Squish 18 kids bike

Review: First impressions of the Squish 18 kids bike

It’s our first ever 18″ wheel bike review – would we be impressed???

Read more about Review: First impressions of the Squish 18 kids bike
Review of the Worx JA-700 junior road cyclocross bike

Cyclocross bikes

Cyclocross is such a fun (and muddy!) sport, and it’s become increasingly popular with families wanting to keep fit and healthy together.  All cyclocross leagues in the UK offer junior races and you don’t need to be a member of a club to sign up.   All these road bikes which we have reviewed are…

Read more about Cyclocross bikes
Cuda Performance CP700R review

Road bikes

A road bike is a specialist type of kids bike which comes with drop handlebars and skinny tyres – it’s designed for going fast on tarmaced surfaces. Many, but not all, kids road bikes can also be used for racing cyclocross with a change of tyres. We recommend this type of bike only for confident…

Read more about Road bikes
Blue Riverside 900 against a grassy backdrop

Hybrid bikes

A hybrid bike is the type of bike we recommend for most children once they reach the stage of needing gears.  Flat handlebars, easy to use gears, a light weight frame and no suspension means they’re easy and fun to ride. We’ve got lots of advice on choosing the right hybrid bike for your child…

Read more about Hybrid bikes
Kidvelo Rookie 12

Balance bikes

Balance bikes are a brilliant invention! They’re a great way to get your child confident on two wheels before they’re ready to move on to a pedal bike. A balance bike will remove the need for using stabilisers for the majority of kids and are a lot more fun (and fast!) While most balance bikes…

Read more about Balance bikes
Photo of boy in Christiania cargo bike

How I started cycling with my 5 week old baby in a cargo bike

A cargo bike, such as the Christiania, together with a car seat, means you don’t have to give up cycling when your baby arrives

Read more about How I started cycling with my 5 week old baby in a cargo bike