I warn you now this report is a little bias towards the smart gear make of balance bikes. It makes my son really happy and what makes him happy makes me happy. I think they are great and good value for money. Anyway, read the report and let me know if you agree or disagree by writing a comment underneath. Cheers :-)

1. Why I love this bike 
A Dad’s opinion on the
Smart Gear Balance Bike

2. What no training wheels?
I remember the first
time I rode a bike on my
own. I remember the
day before my Dad
holding onto the back
running after me as I
pedalled. I remember
some shouting, crying
and frustration. Over the
next few days we went
through it again until
finally my Dad let go and
before I knew it I was
riding.
I remember having training wheels before this and being really
annoyed because the bike felt different without the wheels on. It
took me ages to get my balance right. That's why I didn't want my
children to use training wheels because I don't think it helps you
learn how to balance on a proper bike. That's why I'm so glad the
smart gear balance bike exists.
I like the fact that it is adjustable so can be changed as my children
grow. The rubberized handle grips are really comfortable and the
limited steering radius means he's less likely to over steer and crash.
The pneumatic rubber tires are great and I love the carry handle built
into the body of the bike. It comes in very handy when Daddy has to
carry it home after a hard days riding!

3. What I really like about smart gear balance bikes is the way they
look. They have so many different designs to choose from including
boys, girls and gender neutral. I really like the wooden build, because
it's sturdy, strong and aesthetically pleasing. Personally I went with
the classic bike because it was gender neutral and I wanted my
daughter to be able to use it when she is old enough. I love the birch
wood design as well. They recommend this bike for ages two and
above but my son got his for his third birthday from his grand-
parents.
I told them the best place to buy it online was amazon. I think they
might have saved five bucks if they bought it elsewhere but amazon
are so good if anything goes wrong I didn’t see the point in risking it.
So I thought the price was very reasonable and the bike is still going
strong just under a year old. I know that a friend of mine bought a
second hand one from ebay which was in really good condition.
What I really like is watching him whizzing along and lifting his feet
up to glide. I know that in a couple of years when he is ready for his
first proper bike, learning to balance won't be a problem because he
has already learnt on his smart gear balance bike.
So I would 100% recommend the smart gear balance bike to anyone
wanting to buy a bike for their toddler. Don't just take my word for
it; check out the reviews on Amazon.

4. Some of the written content of this article originally appeared on squidoo and
includes some youtube video reviews that are worth checking out:
http://www.squidoo.com/smart-gear-balance-bike
Synergise2011