Shortages, shortages, shortages! This seems to be the message at the moment, so if you're wanting to get your child a bike for Christmas what are your chances of getting one?

2021 and 2020 before it have both been a crazy year for kids bike sales, and we're seeing real stock shortages of some of the big brand names in kids bikes.

When stock does arrive on websites or in shops it's sold out really quickly.

I'm in regular contact with lots of different brands and retailers and some of them are now not going to have new deliveries in time for Christmas, and are taking pre-orders for 2022.

However, don't despair as there are still plenty of places to get a kids bike delivered before Christmas - last ordering days are earlier than usual this year due to the shortage of van drivers, so please don't leave it to the last minute.

LAST DATE FOR CHRISTMAS ORDERS: SUNDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2021

The Bike Club are proving a really popular choice with Cycle Sprog readers this year, as they allow you to lease a kids bike rather than buy it outright.

Plus they've got a great Christmas deal on at the moment:

With uncertainty over incomes, it's great that you don't have to pay for the full cost of a bike.

Instead, for a monthly subscription you get to rent a quality kids bike from them (they only deal with reputable brands such as Frog, Squish and Forme) and when your child has outgrown it you just send it back and upgrade to the next size up.

It's a great way to be more environmentally friendly this Christmas too as you're reducing the number of kids bikes required as the same bikes can be used over and over again.

You can usually choose between:

a brand new bike (they mainly have the brand new Forme bikes in this category as they've managed to get their hands on lots of the new models of the small Cubleys and larger geared Kinders) or
a ReBike, which has been previously used and returned (Frog, Squish, Cuda and Islabikes are all available within their fleet). All ReBikes are fully serviced, and you pay slightly less per month than you would for a new bike.

Rent Now At The Bike Club

Last date for Christmas Delivery from Decathlon: Saturday 18th December 2021

Decathlon are one of the biggest retailers of kids bikes across Europe, and they are becoming more popular here in the UK all the time, especially as they have been upgrading their kids bike range.

They have a variety of different bikes at different price points, which will obviously vary in weight and specification, so do check before you buy that the bike isn't too heavy for your child to carry.

Their aluminium framed BTwin Rockrider kids mountain bikes (above) are really worth checking out.

And the good news is that they have up to 30% off and free delivery on kids bikes in the run up to Christmas

Buy Now

LAST ORDER DATE FOR CHRISTMAS DELIVERY: SUNDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2021

We recommend Tredz because they are always really honest about the stock levels they have, and really do take customer service really seriously.

We use Tredz ourselves and have always been pleased with their customer service and they have a very high Trust Pilot rating, even during the crazy period of lockdown 1.0, which is very impressive indeed!

We really like that they have a little Christmas present icon which shows whether they can deliver a particular bike in time for Christmas!

It's worth keeping an eye on their website as they get regular deliveries of kids bikes, but given the current situation, they're usually sold quickly!

They stock a good range of quality kids bikes including Frog, Specialized, Orbea, Squish, Cube, Norco, Giant and Early Rider plus have lots of clothing, helmets and other accessories.

And they make it very clear which bikes are in stock, and how long until they're dispatched, which gives peace of mind.

Check Availability at Tredz

LAST ORDER DATE FOR IN STOCK BIKES - THURSDAY 23RD DECEMBER 2021 (subject to next day delivery slots being available)

Puky Bikes are the home of the ever popular Puky Balance bikes, and in more recent years they've also expanded out into kids pedal bikes too.

They are really popular in Europe by used to be really difficult to find here in the UK. Thankfully they're now more readily available thanks to having a UK importer.

Puky have told us that they're hoping to dispatch in stock bikes up until 23rd December, for a next day Christmas Eve delivery, but are totally reliant on the delivery network having capacity. Their message to Cycle Sprog readers is "We always strongly advise ordering early to help with any shipping complications".

They have a range of classic bikes with a step through frame which are great bikes for riding around town, plus their ALU range is more suited to riding on a mix of different surfaces.

Buy Now

LAST DAY FOR CHRISTMAS DELIVERY OF BIKES: TUESDAY 14TH DECEMBER 2021

LAST DAY FOR "NEXT DAY" DELIVERY ON NON-BIKE ITEMS: WEDNESDAY 22ND DECEMBER 2021

CRC are another company we've used a lot, and they've been having good reviews on Trust Pilot (with only a couple of delivery hiccups) during Lockdown 2.0.

They are clear on the number of kids bikes in stock, and only have small numbers of bikes listed at any time.

We have been particularly impressed with the Vitus Kids Bikes we've reviewed - they're a good value alternative to some of the bigger names.

Check Availability at Chain Reaction Cycles

We hope you've not left it too late, and that you manage to get your bike in time for Christmas delivery. We'd love to know what bikes you're treating your family to this Christmas - do please leave us a comment below, so follow us on Facebook and Instagram so you can share your Christmas day successes with everyone!

HAVE STOPPED TAKING CHRISTMAS ORDERS - BUT IF THEY CLEAR THE BACKLOG MAY OPEN UP AGAIN FOR CHRISTMAS DELIVERY END OF THE WEEK

At the Little Bike Company, they only sell kids bikes - what a great shop!

As with everywhere else they are suffering a bit with some brands being out of stock, but at the time of writing, they had quite a lot of woom Bikes ready for your little one this Christmas.

If you've not yet heard of woom Bikes, then you need to know that they are really great quality kids bikes - think the Austrian equivalent of Islabikes!

We've reviewed a few and have been really impressed by their longevity and the attention to detail in the design and build.

Buy Now

This Christmas there is such a shortage of new bikes that it's really worth thinking of buying secondhand, especially if you're looking for a popular colour and size.

You may still be in time to find someone local who can do a collection close to Christmas.

Buy Used

Here's our list of links to good quality kids bike brands that tend to have quite a lot of secondhand bikes being sold on eBay. They're all really well built so more than capable of being handed down to multiple owners, if well maintained.

LAST CHRISTMAS ORDERING DATES FOR KIDS BIKES AT EVANS CYCLES:

UK Standard Delivery and in store Click & Collect - Sunday 19th December 2021

UK Next Day Delivery - Wednesday 22nd December 2021

Evans Cycles website says that these are "the guaranteed delivery dates to get your order before Christmas. Orders placed after these dates may still be delivered before Christmas."

Evans Cycles have just received a delivery of Hoy kids bikes, which are great quality kids bikes that we've reviewed and recommended.

They also stock the slightly cheaper Pinnacle range, plus some other great brands such as Cube, Specialized and Trek.

They have also downgraded their list of brands since being taken over by Mike Ashley, so they also have some very heavy kids bikes that won't last as long or be as enjoyable to ride. It's worth reading the reviews both on their website and on Trust Pilot before parting with your cash

Frog Bikes have been really badly hit by stock shortages this year and have even been on the BBC news saying they won't have enough bikes to meet demand this Christmas

All Frog Bikes in the UK sold out during Lockdown 1.0 and we've only been seeing very limited quantities coming through and selling out almost immediately since then.

It's worth calling your local bike shop to see if they have any in stock.

The alternative is to buy one-second hand.

If you can't find a Frog Bike, don't panic! There's a whole load of other bike brands that are just as good - check out this list for inspiration.

Buy New Buy Used

Shortages, shortages, shortages! This seems to be the message at the moment, so if you're wanting to get your child a bike for Christmas what are your chances of getting one?

2021 and 2020 before it have both been a crazy year for kids bike sales, and we're seeing real stock shortages of some of the big brand names in kids bikes.

When stock does arrive on websites or in shops it's sold out really quickly.

I'm in regular contact with lots of different brands and retailers and some of them are now not going to have new deliveries in time for Christmas, and are taking pre-orders for 2022.

Cycle Sprog is an family run, reader supported, website. We belong to several affiliate schemes so may receive a small commission from sales made from links on our site. We do our best to be impartial and recommend products on their quality not whether they are in a scheme.

Where to buy a kids bike in time for Christmas 2021

Here's our rundown of where you can look to try and get a bike in time for Christmas delivery. Don't forget to check that the particular bike you choose says it is in stock and can be delivered in time for Christmas.

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.

The Bike Club

LAST DATE FOR CHRISTMAS ORDERS: SUNDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2021

The Bike Club are proving a really popular choice with Cycle Sprog readers this year, as they allow you to lease a kids bike rather than buy it outright.

Plus they've got a great Christmas deal on at the moment:

With uncertainty over incomes, it's great that you don't have to pay for the full cost of a bike.

It's a great way to be more environmentally friendly this Christmas too as you're reducing the number of kids bikes required as the same bikes can be used over and over again.

You can usually choose between:

a brand new bike (they mainly have the brand new Forme bikes in this category as they've managed to get their hands on lots of the new models of the small Cubleys and larger geared Kinders) or
a ReBike, which has been previously used and returned (Frog, Squish, Cuda and Islabikes are all available within their fleet). All ReBikes are fully serviced, and you pay slightly less per month than you would for a new bike.

Rent Now At The Bike Club

Tredz - a recommended retailer

We recommend Tredz because they are always really honest about the stock levels they have, and really do take customer service really seriously.

We really like that they have a little Christmas present icon which shows whether they can deliver in time for Christmas!

It's worth keeping an eye on their website as they get regular deliveries of kids bikes, but given the current situation they're usually sold quickly!

They stock a good range of quality kids bikes including Frog, Specialized, Orbea, Squish, Cube, Norco, Giant and Early Rider plus have lots of clothing, helmets and other accessories.

And they make it very clear which bikes are in stock, and how long until they're dispatched, which gives peace of mind.

Check Availability at Tredz

The Little Bike Company

At the Little Bike Company they only sell kids bikes - what a great shop!

As with everywhere else they are suffering a bit with some brands being out of stock, but at the time of writing they had quite a lot of woom Bikes ready for your little one this Christmas.

If you've not yet heard of woom Bikes, then you need to know that they are really great quality kids bikes - think the Austrian equivalent of Islabikes!

We've reviewed a few and have been really impressed by their longevity and the attention to detail in the design and build.

Buy Now

Decathlon

Last date for Christmas Delivery from Decathlon: Saturday 18th December 2021

Decathlon are one of the biggest retailers of kids bikes across Europe, and they are becoming more popular here in the UK all the time, especially as they have been upgrading their kids bike range.

Their aluminium framed BTwin Rockrider kids mountain bikes (above) are really worth checking out.

And the good news is that they have up to 30% off and free delivery on kids bikes in the run up to Christmas

Buy Now

Chain Reaction Cycles

CRC are another company we've used a lot, and they've been having good reviews on Trust Pilot (with only a couple of delivery hiccups) during Lockdown 2.0.

They are clear on the number of kids bikes in stock, and only have small numbers of bikes listed at any time.

We have been particularly impressed with the Vitus Kids Bikes we've reviewed - they're a good value alternative to some of the bigger names.

Check Availability at Chain Reaction Cycles

Ebay - quality kids bikes available now

This Christmas there is such a shortage of new bikes that it's really worth thinking of buying secondhand, especially if you're looking for a popular colour and size.

You may still be in time to find someone local who can do a collection close to Christmas.

Buy Used

Here's our list of links to good quality kids bike brands that tend to have quite a lot of secondhand bikes being sold on Ebay. They're all really well built so more than capable of being handed down to multiple owners, if well maintained.

Your local bike shop

Don't forget your local bike shop! They may well be struggling with stock too, but if they do have something in stock that fits your child, don't wait - it will be gone by the time you come back!

Evans Cycles

Evans Cycles have just received a delivery of Hoy kids bikes, which are great quality kids bikes that we've reviewed and recommended. They also stock the slightly cheaper Pinnacle range, plus some other great brands such as Cube, Specialized and Trek.

Frog Bikes in time for Christmas?

Frog Bikes have been really badly hit by stock shortages this year and have even been on the BBC news saying they won't have enough bikes to meet demand this Christmas

All Frog Bikes in the UK sold out during Lockdown 1.0 and we've only been seeing very limited quantities coming through and selling out almost immediately since then.

It's worth calling your local bike shop to see if they have any in stock.

The alternative is to buy one-second hand.

If you can't find a Frog Bike, don't panic! There's a whole load of other bike brands that are just as good - check out this list for inspiration.

Buy New Buy Used

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Help! Where is still delivering kids bikes for Christmas 2021?