"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
04/23/2020 at 16:30 • Filed to: None
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"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
04/23/2020 at 16:30 • Filed to: None | 0
| 26 |
So our daughter is turing 2 next month and I’m happy to see that even without much encouragement from me she definitely loves playing with toy cars and pushing them around (she even thinks this dollhouse crib she has is a car because it has 4 wheels and puts her animals in it and goes vroom vroom around the room!).
We are considering getting her a tricycle for her birthday - every time we ask if she wants a “bike” she gives a very enthusiastic YES!
Many of you being parents, do you have recommendations or suggestions on tricycle options?
We had 3 contenders -
Radio Flyer Deluxe Steer & Stroll
We’ve written off the Radio Flyer - while it looks retro and cool it has hard plastic wheels (the others are made of EVA) , which makes it a big no for me. On top of that the other two have seat belts (not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, but at least its an option). All have that handle/steer thing for while she’s still learning to use it which we also like.
Think we’re leaning towards the SmarTrike as the Schwinn seems bigger and reviewers seem to say its built pretty crappily.
Folks on here have any experience with these models? Or any other trikes (that are reasonably priced) that you swear by instead?
Thanks!
EDIT: Appreciate all the balance bike suggestions. That’s definitely part of the plan - we view the trike as a stepping stone towards manned vehicles before we get her in a balance bike (which at some point we view her using either/or depending on what we’re doing/where we are).
Future next gen S2000 owner
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 16:51 |
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Get the one with a handle. It’ll save your back.
Edit: They all have handles. Wise choice.
Nom De Plume
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 16:54 |
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Why not a balance bike?
I mean why not show her both a tricycle and a balance bike?
Many friends have gone the way of a plastic vehicle they sit on that carries very little momentun and steers more by foot than the wheel. Then have a balance bike they can tuck their feet up and coast that requires some steering input
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 16:54 |
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smobgirl
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 16:57 |
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Have you considered something like a strider bike? They’re easier to maneuver on softer surfaces (dirt/grass) and they make the eventual transition to a bicycle really easy for little kids to master.
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Nom De Plume
04/23/2020 at 16:59 |
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A thousand times, this. A balance bike makes the transition to real bicycle nearly seamless.
MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
> Nom De Plume
04/23/2020 at 17:00 |
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I was going to mention a balance bike as well. They seem to be a logical way to get them to a bicycle and they can be used much longer than a tricycle
ttyymmnn
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 17:08 |
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I have starred every comment that suggests a balance bike. We didn’t use them, but oh, how I wish we had. We went the standard tricycle to training wheels route, and training wheels suck. You never learn to ride that way. I finally took my boys out to the flattest non-concrete place I could find and said, “Go for it.” It took about 15 minutes, but they figured it out pretty quickly. With a balance bike, you’re already there.
That said, a trike for a little one would be fun. I do recommend the ones with the handles for the little ones. We got some German one that was grossly overpriced but worked well. The only drawback was the small, hard front wheel that just spun when they really tried to get it going.
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Nom De Plume
> MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
04/23/2020 at 17:11 |
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I believe, not entirely sure given how quickly lawsuits on cribs etc can spring up and completely remove product features as an option, some of them allow you to remove a plug and install included optionally packaged cranks/chain/single speed cog.
The key component to all the balance bikes I’ve seen was totally rebuilding them. Even just improving the grease, filing some badly finished parts, and making sure everything is properly fixed makes a huge difference.
Balance bike is usually better as a second purchase after they are utterly and dangerously confident at scooting around on a little plastic vehicle.
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> Nom De Plume
04/23/2020 at 17:12 |
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We absolutely intend to get her on a balance bike before a proper 2 wheeled bicycle. At this age it feels like she’s a bit too small and young for it capability-wise.
The intent definitely isn’t to go from trike to regular bike, but trike —> trike+balance bike —> bike
The trike will be more usable right now while she’s not the most competent as far as mobility goes, and also will be a more relaxing thing to use even after she gets a balance bike...e.g. we just want to go for a walk, she can handle herself. A balance bike presumably she’ll need more supervision.
WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 17:13 |
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Keep in mind the ability to modify once you’re out of warranty.
The Schwinn and the smartTrike have more safety features, but that comes at a weight penalty without a substantial cargo capacity increase. Corner speeds will be compromised.
The fact that there’s tons of room for turbos/piping/intercooler etc. on the Radio Flyer (not to mention that bitchin bell) make it a clean winner for me.
.
Also, holy crap this kid’s stuff is expensive. How do you guys do it?
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> TheRealBicycleBuck
04/23/2020 at 17:13 |
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Thanks, definitely intend to do this - we view the trike as a stepping stone before balance bike, which feels a little too beyond her capability right now (plus we live on a hill lol).
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
04/23/2020 at 17:14 |
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I don’t really want her growing up and wanting a Harley...or worse, getting hitched to one of those accountants who cosplays on the weekends as a gang member :P
thatsmr
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 17:16 |
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The only thing I found about trikes is they are outgrown super fast. Dunno Id recommend a seatbelt but helmet good
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Nom De Plume
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 17:16 |
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The point I should have brought up was pedaling is considerably harder than scooting for most kids. Watch someone’s kid who is almost too big for a hotwheels or more upright metal trike compared to a younger kid.
Could easily be the opposite for your girl. Just offering a second opinion.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 17:17 |
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The scariest thing for us was living on a rural highway when the kids were that age . The speed limit was 55, but trucks regularly rolled past at 65 or faster. I once watched in horror as a pack of dogs was mowed down by a truck. It was like Pet Cemetery, but nob ody buried the dogs and none of them came back. We only let the kids out front when we were out there and we were always policing the end of the driveway.
MrDakka
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 17:18 |
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You’re doing this wrong. She needs a proper bicycle, since she’s two and bicycles have two wheels. After that, a tricycle for her third birthday would be child’s play. Then you can get her get her some power wheels for her fourth birthday.
Kid's gotta learn life is painful and the sooner she learns that lesson, the sooner she can learn how to deal with the pain
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> Nom De Plume
04/23/2020 at 17:19 |
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Exactly this. She’s never had anything beyond her rocking horse (well, giraffe). And we live on a hill. Don’t want her first vehicular experience being this young and just going flying down the road to a fiery crash.
With a trike she’ll get used to the concept of being on a “vehicle”, and we’ll get her on a balance bike maybe next summer or so when she’s that much more competent, at which point she can use either/or depending on use case.
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> ttyymmnn
04/23/2020 at 17:22 |
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Thanks, that’s our thinking too. There is zero flat land in sight and she’s never been on anything like this - just putting her on a balance bike right now doesn’t seem like a good decision. Definitely part of the plan before getting her on a pedal bike.
That bit about the hard wheels - also my concern about plastic tires. Even the EVA ones sound like they’re still pretty hard, but should have a bit more traction and cushion to it. I just remember riding plastic wheeled toys as a kid and it being a slippery mess (and leaving all kinds of scratches all over the floors when riding indoors - don’t want that on our hardwood).
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Nom De Plume
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 17:23 |
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This might easily be my favorite image the internet has produced. By a wide margin the best cyclist to ever race. The average adult would feel bad for this kid if they saw him today in slightly updated clothing. Yet so much wisdom lies right on the surface. The blouse, the shoes, the lack of pedal flats... all too much if you don’t realize how well dressed he is or how well proportioned and built that bike is.
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/23/2020 at 17:25 |
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Honestly we buy a TON of stuff used. There are lots of second hand kids clothes/toy stores out there, and my wife is on a bunch of local online mom groups. Lots of free stuff or for pennies on the dollar. Also libraries are your friend when your kid’s interests change frequently and abilities grow so rapidly.
I n general it’s not very expensive for us at all, so don’t mind buying something brand new every now and then.
Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 17:53 |
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You guys are Asian?
Before we went balance bike we had a 3-wheeled scooter for the kid. He never really spent a lot of time on a
trike before preferring the scooter.
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> MrDakka
04/23/2020 at 18:26 |
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So I guess she’ll be perfectly employable as a semi-truck driver by the time she’s 18 and we’re ready to kick her out of the house? Hmm, not a bad plan!
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
04/23/2020 at 18:28 |
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Well that picture was just stolen from Google, obviously not my kid since we’re just talking about buying her a bike. But I do check the Asian box indeed usually on forms :)
Yeah no clue how in to it she’ll get but seems like a reasonable next step for her.
phenotyp
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 18:32 |
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Balance bike! We got our daughter on the balance bike at 2 and a half, and before she was 3.5, she was in her first pedal bike.
For comparison, her cousin is 14 months older, had a trike as a toddler, and still couldn’t ride a bike at 7. Granted, there’s very much a difference in personality and motivation, but even when she’d try my daughter’s bike, she’d quit in tears.
Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 20:34 |
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I’m going to be a voice of dissent here; balance bikes work for some kids but trikes work for everyone; don’t start the balance bike thing too young . I’ve met a few other parents who have a kid or kids who just never got it and our kiddo was the same. Sorry I don’t have trike feedback.
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Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/23/2020 at 21:47 |
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Only usually, hmm......