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As your child grows older, they will probably want their own bike. The first bike is a fantastic source of independence for a child. They seem to be able to ride hour after hour around a small circuit near their home, or round the block time and time again. In their heads, they're on a massive adventure, travelling to another world. If your child can't balance, or you want to move them away from stabilizers, then remove the pedals and lower the saddle, so they can scoot the bike around. This gives them the idea of balancing. Watch them, and when they start lifting their feet off the ground and seem confident, replace the pedals, raise the saddle and they will start to ride almost as if they've done it forever. Encouraging children to be part of your cycling means that you get to spend time together and you may even be setting them up with a passion that they'll have for the rest of their lives.

Marin make children's bikes with the emphasis on lightness, strength and rideability. Available in 20" and 24" wheels, they are designed for the child with wider horizons.

Marin Age 9+
Hidden Canyon (boys) 20" wheel £275	Hidden Canyon (girls) 20" wheel £275	Bayview Trail (boys) 24" wheel £350	Bayview Trail (girls) 24" wheel £325

Pashley make tricycles for children.

Pashley
Robin 4 - 9 years £395	Pickle  inside leg 17" – 20.5" £445

Puky make your child's very first bike

Puky Age 2 1/2 years+
Learner £80	Learner (with brake) £84.50

Trek make a range of children's bikes for older children - bigger bikes are real bikes, not toys, built with the same attention to detail and safety as our grown-up bikes. They are made to last, and can be passed on from child to child. Trek’s range from the 16" wheel Jet and Mystic 16, single speed fun bikes, through to the 220, which, with 21 speeds, v-brakes with small levers for small hands, cranks that are drilled for two leg lengths, so that they grow with the child and a suspension fork is a proper small mountain bike.

Trek Age 4–6 [16" wheel]	Trek Age 6–9 [20" wheel]	Trek Age 9+ [24" wheel]
Jet 16 (boys)  age 4–6 £150	Jet 20 (boys)  age 6–9 £180	Mountain Track 220 (boys) age 9–12 £250
Mystic 16 (girls)  age 4–6 £150	Mystic 20 (girls)  age 6–9 £180	Mountain Track 220 (girls)  age 9–12 £250
	Mountain Track 60 (boys)  age 7–9 £225
	Mountain Track 60 (girls)  age 7–9 £225

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