Childs Bike with Gears

A hybrid bike is what most children move onto as they grow and get ready for gears. They combine flat handlebars for an upright, comfortable riding position with a set of gears to help on hills and give a bit more speed on the flat.

Unlike a mountain bike, they don’t have suspension, which keeps the frame lighter and the bike easier for a child to pedal and control.

Hybrids are available with 20″, 24″, 26″ and, increasingly, 27.5″ wheels, so there’s a size to suit most children from around six years old right through to their teens.

Gears can feel unfamiliar at first, and it’s normal for a child to need a bit of time to get used to changing them smoothly. This makes hybrids a great all-rounder: light enough for fun rides and longer trips, but versatile enough for the school run, cycle paths, and quiet roads.

We’ve got lots of advice on choosing the right hybrid bike for your child. We cover new, secondhand and leasing options, so you can find something that fits your child and your budget.

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.

Already know the wheel size you need? Jump straight to our recommendations below, organised by size so you can find the best bikes with gears for your child.

Getting the size and quality of your child's bike right makes all the difference to how much they enjoy riding.

These advice articles will help you measure up correctly, spot a well-made bike, and avoid the common mistakes that lead to an ill-fitting or poor quality bike.

Every bike below has been ridden and reviewed by the Cycle Sprog team, or by families we trust to give an honest verdict. We've been testing kids bikes since 2012, so we know what to look for and what actually matters once a child is riding it day to day.

You'll notice the spec is broadly similar whatever wheel size you're looking at. The gears, brakes, and frame material tend to stay much the same as your child grows.

What mainly changes between wheel sizes is the frame size and geometry, to keep the fit right as they get taller. So if you're comparing a review of a 20 inch bike with one on a 26 inch bike, the buying advice usually holds regardless of the wheel size your child needs.