Part 2 - Balance Bikes - The Progression Project!

by John Lee
Sep 26, 2010 at 4:42

4 Months ago my son got his 23 month old hands on a Weeride Balance Bike - the video and pictures will hopefully show you how far he has progressed on it since his last video on here.

Read on,



Here was the footage from 4 months ago...

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And here is the footage from now....

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It's been just amazing watching him progress on his balance bike. At first and for quite some time we would just play on it in the garden and just use it as an extra playtime toy, but now - it's a key to the outside world and a whole host of mini adventures await him.

Posing...me? I think so!
Posing...me? I think so!

Most days now involve Elijah telling us "Elijah Bike" meaning it's time to go and get the bike out and head out on it. From hitting the skate park, 2 - 4 mile XC rides, pump tracks, BMX tracks to cruising to his mate's house round the corner - this bike really goes everywhere with us - you may have even seen him at the last round of NPS 4X at Chicksands having a go down the dual slalom course! - He is nuts on this thing!

Elijah attacking the first straight at Alvo
Elijah attacking the first straight at Alvo

As a guy who is bike mad it really does make me so happy and proud to be able to go out for bike rides with my son at his own request - this bike has brought us many good times already - I cant wait for the next chapter of this project!

The bike is a Weeride Balance Bike - recommended for 3 years and up - however it all depends on your individual child's ability and stability. Available from www.seatsforkids.com for £45 delivered in the UK!
Must Read This Week

64 Comments

  • + 3
flag tmxownrsgrp (Oct 5, 2010 at 7:27)
 Push Bikes RULE! Here is my son 3 years ago on his: (http://www.pinkbike.com/video/5800/)
The transition to a pedal bike (NO Training Wheels) took 5 minutes and three tries. I was a big pussy and cried, then we ran home and told Mommy. Keep posting video and have a great time.
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  • + 2
flag Jamie-K (Oct 5, 2010 at 3:13)
 This is great, man! I think we have a pro here in the making, you know? We may see little Elijah competing next to young, budding riders in a few years. Smile
I can't wait to have kids so I can get them into biking, haha!

He's a lucky son, and you're a lucky Dad. You're already teaching him on something that you've got a passion for, and hopefully, it'll grow between you. You wouldn't need to tell the future to know that you're going to have many, many good riding sessions with that little guy! Smile
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  • + 7
flag flymore (Sep 26, 2010 at 4:57)
 awesome.
  • + 16
flag Louloulefou (Oct 5, 2010 at 0:54)
 I just love thats Buzz Teeshirt !CUTE!
  • - 19
flag killacali (Oct 5, 2010 at 1:23) (Below Threshold) show comment
 who cares bout the damn shirt that kids CHARGIN!!!
  • + 11
flag Norco-1734 (Oct 5, 2010 at 4:44)
 Man that kids like 2 and starting to shred all ready wait till hes like 15 or 16 hell be at crankworks and goin big
  • + 16
flag RaleighVoid (Oct 5, 2010 at 4:48)
 wow 1.5" steerer as well, sick
  • + 4
flag mugredeldiablo (Oct 5, 2010 at 7:09)
 look how he jumps on his feet just to know that he is gonna ride a bike, hes like "let me shred now"....awesome!!!
  • + 2
flag caste1200 (Oct 5, 2010 at 10:37)
 more like rampage!
  • + 1
flag DEgenerationX (Oct 5, 2010 at 10:58)
 awsome, cute and natur tallent (: thats how i would explain that (:
  • + 1
flag p-romano (Oct 5, 2010 at 22:29)
 when i have a kid. eventually..... hahaha im gettin them one of these. like honestly a really cool experience to ride with ur kid so like when this kid is 12 he will be shredding harder than his dad
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  • + 2
flag mtbporru (Sep 27, 2010 at 8:08)
 this is so awesome. hope you don't mind. i'm posting this on my FB page for all parents to see. it's a great inspiration. you're so lucky your son wants to do this. my son is almost 4 he has 3 bikes including a push bike. he wants nothing to do with them. this is very sad for me because it's why i wanted a son. all he cares about is computer games. I'm sad. keep seeing younger kids take on to bikes. he has no interest
  • + 5
flag jhowlett (Oct 5, 2010 at 8:40)
 take the computer games off him?
  • + 1
flag WAKIdesigns (Oct 6, 2010 at 4:46)
 When I get a son, I'm not sure whether I will buy a bike for him pretty soon, but surely untill he finishes primary school he won't touch any computer game or cell phone with me knowing about it. As me and my wife we pretty much hate TV and don't have one, "ze violent cartoonz" won't be a problem either. Call me nazi, but I'm just panicly affraid of situation that mtbporru talks about.
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  • + 2
flag bullitxl (Oct 5, 2010 at 5:39)
 Great to see your little guy shredding. Like you, I hope I've sparked a life long passion for riding in my son.

I picked a run bike up for my son when he was about 18 months which was a bit soon, he really didn't take interest in it until he was about 23/24 months old even though at 18 months he was tall enough for the bike we have. He's 2 1/2 now, and after a long summer of riding his run bike he's nearly worn the tread off the tires and the bearings need repacked! He's also got a few more tricks in the bag than his old man. He's got the 'weedie' and the 'bar pin' nailed, which for those that don't speak 2 year old are the wheelie and a bar spin.
  • + 2
flag mr-boywonder (Oct 5, 2010 at 12:20)
 The 'weedie' must be comparable to 'popping a millie', as my son does on his pushbike. Smile We've also gone through a set of tires already and I'm resigned to the fact that he's going to be sending it bigger than I can in just a matter of years.
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  • + 1
flag nateb (Oct 5, 2010 at 15:01)
 We started our daughter on one when she was around two, a week after her 3rd birthday she started pedaling a two wheeler, no training wheels, these run bikes are amazing. My evenings with my daughter are now spent riding the skate park and riding around town, last saturday we rode for about 3 hrs. She's gonna be a ripper for sure.
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  • + 1
flag foamfreak (Oct 5, 2010 at 11:23)
 my daughter is 2.5 and is as adanced as this young man. my question to the op is what, if anything, do you do about brakes? my daughter loves her dh, but is having a hard time getting slowed down and in control(feet drag,speed wabbles etc.) on a bike without bakes. any realistic suggestions out there? thanks
j
  • + 1
flag moongose (Oct 5, 2010 at 11:58)
 i know that some of them come with front brakes. ive never seen one with a back brake tho
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  • + 1
flag lelutin (Oct 6, 2010 at 7:31)
 You can convert a normal kids bike into one of these by taking off the cranks and chain.That's what I did for my daughter. One day she asked me to put the pedals back on so I did. I pushed her down a gentle hill and she just pedaled off no worries. It is such an easy way to teach kids to ride a bike.
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  • + 2
flag dcent007 (Oct 5, 2010 at 16:11)
 Awesome video. Here's a video of my son on his run bike. http://www.pinkbike.com/video/149247/ I really want to get him a full face helmet.

You can also vote for the video in the MEC sweet spot contest http://bit.ly/aRsA9C
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  • + 1
flag alexshirley (Oct 5, 2010 at 6:17)
 My little sister is three years old and she has no interest in actually learning how to use her bike. She just uses it as a random play toy. I'm trying to get her to learn but she just doesn't want to. I really enjoyed these video it's pretty cool that your son is riding like that a such a young age.
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  • + 1
flag deanw (Sep 26, 2010 at 13:07)
 I had my little girl on a "balance/run bike" since she was two. Once she was big enough to reach the pedals on a little pedal bike she has been able to ride without training wheels. The run bikes are amazing at getting kids to ride bikes sooner and with more confidence.
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  • + 1
flag PiroChu (Oct 5, 2010 at 11:55)
 Awesome! My daughter (just turned 4 over the weekend) also went thru this route: WeeRide, then 10" bike without training wheels (now on a pink 12" Disney Princess). I'll be putting my son (9-mo old) thru the same program, when the time comes. Smile
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  • + 1
flag OregonsOwn (Oct 6, 2010 at 11:00)
 these are without a doubt the best way to teach kids how to ride bikes. I work at a shop and these people came in with a Specialized hot rock 12" with the cranks off. and they told me they wanted the cranks installed because they had been using the bike as a balance bike. I threw the cranks on and they gave it to their kid. The kid gets on the bikes and instantly pedals off. It was the coolest thing i have ever seen.
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  • + 1
flag riccichang2004 (Oct 7, 2010 at 13:16)
 Many Pinkbike videos wow me, but this one actually put a smile on my face! I have to review many times to get satisfied. Good song/music selection too. The first video wins my vote to Video of the Month!!!

Cutest boy on Pinkbike, and cool Dad too. I want my girl to marry him. The boy I mean.

Can anyone advise the song on the first video?
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  • + 1
flag radek Mod Plus (Oct 5, 2010 at 12:44)
 That's the greatest thing I have seen in a while. I want to see episode 5! So cool to see the progression in such a short time.
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  • + 1
flag Trevwall (Oct 5, 2010 at 7:27)
 My son says while watching the second video, "that boy is the bestest bike rider". The music make the video like watching redbull rampage videos.
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  • + 2
flag Gibatronic (Oct 5, 2010 at 9:08)
 haha... nice to see such young kid riding around and discovering the world up in two wheels!
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  • + 2
flag Paul26 (Oct 5, 2010 at 4:55)
 Today, the track and the bike park behind his house...
Tomorrow RED BULL RAMPAGE!

hahaha this little guy rocks!
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  • + 3
flag crashdad (Oct 2, 2010 at 6:34)
 I purchased one yesterday for my grandson. Big Grin
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  • + 2
flag bigburd (Sep 26, 2010 at 9:56)
 thats ace man ! lucky father and lucky kid Smile
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  • + 1
flag thestraightline (Oct 5, 2010 at 0:38)
 Great stuff! So getting one for my little trooperSmile 7 months might still be a bit early though..
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  • + 2
flag mosesoh (Oct 5, 2010 at 14:34)
 i watched this at school and got called a pedo :/
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  • + 1
flag Pikasam (Oct 5, 2010 at 9:07)
 Dies of cuteness overload.

That crash at the park was pretty gnarly for a little guy. What a trooper!
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  • + 2
flag hannahg (Oct 5, 2010 at 9:24)
 So friggen cute! What a little ripper!
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  • + 1
flag KennyKillsIt (Oct 5, 2010 at 11:22)
 The only sad part is, this kid hits the skate park better and more than some people I see out there /:
This is so Epicute!
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  • + 1
flag the2x4 (Oct 5, 2010 at 5:20)
 good stuff Dad!!! stoked when my girls took their first laps at the track!
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  • + 1
flag dirtjumper571 (Sep 26, 2010 at 13:15)
 awesome little shredder you've got there, only good times can come, especially when he's older!
  • + 1
flag RaleighVoid (Oct 5, 2010 at 4:51)
 haha thats like saying 'the future hasnt happened yet' lol
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  • + 1
flag nastynick42 (Oct 5, 2010 at 22:57)
 Every kid needs one of these.
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  • + 1
flag shmir34 (Oct 30, 2010 at 14:28)
 He's already better than me....
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  • + 1
flag bury (Oct 5, 2010 at 16:07)
 that was awesome, ride safe and stay smart Elijah!
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  • + 1
flag Hunt29 (Oct 5, 2010 at 15:25)
 that bike needs a chris king headset
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  • + 1
flag SessionNH (Oct 5, 2010 at 7:42)
 he is already faster than me
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  • + 1
flag l2wto (Oct 5, 2010 at 6:51)
 thats well cool, wish i had that when i was his age, wat a dude!
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  • + 1
flag jstpower (Oct 5, 2010 at 6:39)
 wow, sooo cool. im jalous...lol kid rock yeahhhh.
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  • + 1
flag tom34 (Oct 5, 2010 at 5:51)
 Man that kid is awesome. Wish I started that young!
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  • + 1
flag game (Oct 5, 2010 at 0:09)
 i like how the ramp says hooker on it
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  • + 1
flag harm (Oct 5, 2010 at 8:54)
 Need to get one of these for my grandkids, thanks for the video!
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  • + 1
flag motoxxxer26 (Oct 5, 2010 at 7:14)
 is the headset off a DH bike? haha
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  • + 1
flag tsuful (Oct 5, 2010 at 7:58)
 new Cameron Zink? Smile the kind is progressing so fast ! sic!
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  • + 1
flag AdrianoooDH (Oct 5, 2010 at 8:13)
 second vid its amazing VOD !! Smile
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  • + 1
flag Ospooh92 Plus (Oct 5, 2010 at 7:50)
 in a few years will be the next Sam hill.....
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  • + 1
flag OllyV1995 (Oct 5, 2010 at 8:40)
 LEGEND!
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  • + 1
flag rvberkel (Sep 26, 2010 at 11:09)
 super cute Big Grin
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  • + 0
flag nofootcanman (Oct 5, 2010 at 8:28)
 DoesDoes he get in the way as much as scooter kids?
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  • + 1
flag godofspeed (Oct 5, 2010 at 6:07)
 Very cool
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  • + 1
flag sebastien49 (Oct 5, 2010 at 14:45)
 that s so awesome
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  • + 1
flag konkreteNyc (Oct 5, 2010 at 7:03)
 Awesome !!!
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  • - 2
flag LIVE-4-WEEKEND (Oct 5, 2010 at 1:58)
 mate this kids got nothing on the ns bikes kid :/
  • + 1
flag gazmataz (Oct 5, 2010 at 2:16)
 Maybe so but the Young lad from Whistler is what, 5 years old?! He goes to school for god sakes!
Little Elijah is only just turning 2 years old. He'll be to the same standard if not higher by the time he hits the same age as are Canadian friend.
Good effort John. Obviously he wants to be just like daddy hey?! hahaha. I foresee a future of you driving the van around the country, getting the little lad to all the races..........
  • + 1
flag suicidedownhiller (Oct 5, 2010 at 11:57)
 The NS kid is WAY too old to be on a push bike anyways
  • + 2
flag moongose (Oct 5, 2010 at 11:57)
 plus that jackson kid, should really be riding a pedal bike by now.
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