My husband and I bought a strider for my 18mth son's Christmas present from Santa, after seeing a friend give her son one for his 2 yr birthday (my son just loved it at the party). It truely is the best way to teach kids how to ride a bike in my opinion!
We live in Alaska, so he rode it around the house for the first few months. We do have laminte floor in most of the house, but the bike does not seem to scratch the floors, and its small enough to manuver around the furniture and the clutter toys ;) He really liked it through the winter, but it didn't get tons of use. I don't think he really had the idea yet, and there is just so much you can do in a house with a bike.
Now its summer (and he's 26 mths), and he has it outside and inside. After watching the older kids ride around the neighborhood on their bikes, its like it has somehow clicked what he is suppose to do with the Strider, and now he won't get off it! :) The moment they sit and stride is when they become addicted quick!! He has also progressed so fast, and has me practically running to keep up with him. I'm amazed really! He loves going down hills and picking his feet up, and you can see how proud and confident he is in his riding ability!! I just cannot believe he is balancing on two wheels at such a young age!! I know I was 4 when I learned to ride my bike without training wheels (where were these bikes 25 yrs ago?)! He has even taught his cousin how to ride her Strider (also 2 yrs old). She also got one for Christmas but was less interested in the bike than he was. That is until she saw him moving along, and again it is like it 'clicks'. Now we cannot keep her off it too! :) Within 2 days of her learning to ride it, they are both already in the woods finding trails on their bikes; going where other kids cannot go on training bikes or trikes!
They have both taken some spills, but none are really bad. No marks, bruises, or anything; they seem to catch themself mostly as they go down. My son never cried when he falls, and just gets back on the bike (this is amazing for my son who loves to run to me to kiss his boo-boos). My neice did cry the first time she spilled; I think it scared her more than anything. Took her a few minutes to get back on the bike after the first spill, but all her following spills she doesn't make a sound and just gets right back up on the bike. So very proud of both! I think falling from a bike on training wheels is a much scarier and probably more painful fall, and can really set them back some. Most of their falls is just about learning how to turn and control the front wheel (and most of that problem is looking over the shoulder rather than looking ahead, or snagging something in the woods).
The bike is made tough in my opinion. We have taught our son to be gentle when he lays it down b/c if it wears out anywhere, it will be the handle bars. I expect him to be riding it until its the next kids turn! And hopefully the condition will be good enough to donate it to a friend or to the daycare center or something once #2 is done with it :)
But even if you don't decide on the strider, defintely get some sort of balance bike!!! Other people stare at my kid moving along so confidently, smoothly, and quick, while their 3 or 4 yr old flip flops back and forth on some bike with training wheels ;) I look at that and think I'm SOOOOO glad I'm not going that route! LOL, and I have to chuckle when my son totally passes them up!
| Bike Type | Balance Bike |
|---|---|
| Age Range (Description) | Kid |
| Brand | Strider |
| Wheel Size | 10 Inches |
| Suspension Type | Rigid |
| Special Feature | Lightweight |
| Included Components | Training Wheel |
| Brake Style | Linear Pull |
| Item Weight | 6.9 Pounds |
| Model Name | Strider ST-2 PREbike Balance Running Bike |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 27.9 x 14.5 x 6 inches |
| Package Weight | 10.4 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 33 x 15 x 21 inches |
| Brand Name | Strider |
| Manufacturer | Strider Sports |
| Part Number | ST-2 Prebike |
| Sport Type | Cycling |
