Guide to Fitting Your Child to a Bicycle

When the weather turns warm, or hot in some areas, the first thing on most children's mind is getting out their bicycle. Too long have they had to endure snow and icy sidewalks, not to mention seeing their favorite mode of transportation hanging out with the lawn mower!

Some parents will be buying new bicycles this year and this becomes more difficult as your child becomes older...and taller! No more just running to the local discount store and grabbing that one-size-fits-all tricycle. Now it is time to learn the basics of fitting the perfect bicycle to the perfect child.

First of all, take your child with you when buying a bike. Nothing ruins that birthday surprise more than an ill-fitting bike that they cannot ride. Have your child stand over the bicycle with both feet on the floor. No sitting with feed on the pedals or you won't get a good fit.

Then have your child lift up the bike. There should be at least an inch between the floor and the tires. If there isn't that one-inch, then the bike frame is too large for your child. Also, if there is no top tube, which is a rarity these days in the world of BMX or dirt bikes, a child should be able to put his elbow on the bike seat's front and touch the handlebar stem with his/her fingertips.

Now comes the sitting test. Have the child sit on the seat with his/her hands on the handlebars. Your child should be able to place the ball of their feet on the ground. Even if your child is at the training wheels stage, this is very important that they do not tip over.

Your child must also be able to comfortably reach the handlebars and squeeze the handbrakes, if any. If they are extremely hunched over while holding onto the handlebars or cannot reach the handbrakes, then a smaller bike is in order.

Complex bike or Simple? A few questions that you need to ask yourself before even leaving the house to purchase this perfect bicycle. Is this your child's first 'real' bike sans training wheels or is your child looking for a bike with a few more gadgets?

Make sure the bike is simple enough for your child to handle. Some kids get confused with multiple brakes and gears, which can cause accidents. If your child is just riding around the neighborhood with friends, then forego the 10-speed variety. Buying him or her a fancy bike when they are not ready for it is like handing your 5-year-old the keys to your Mustang! That is just an accident waiting to happen!

Different Varieties. There are more varieties of bicycles today than there were when you were a kid and it can be intimidating if you don't know what you are looking for.

Road Bikes:These are easy for biking on roads and usually have anywhere from 14-30 speeds. This bike is built for 10-12 year olds and up into adult sizes.

Mountain Bikes: These are wonderful for off-road biking but can also be ridden easily on roads.

BMX Bikes: This category also includes racing bikes, dirt-jumping bikes and trick bikes. Not something that I would suggest giving a new bicyclist but rather a seasoned veteran to the bike-riding game. Also these styles of bikes don't intermix well with other activities. For example, a trick bike would hold up to use as a dirt-jumping bike. In fact, you may be replacing your new bike quicker than anticipated if it is used in this way. Be certain to talk to your child about how they plan to use the bike before purchasing one of these specialty bikes.

Test Drive It. Well you wouldn't buy a car without getting behind the wheel, would you? Bicycles should not either! Your child needs to test ride it so you can see if the bike fits your child's needs.

Where To Buy It. Buying your child's tricycle at local discount store is fine but now he/she is getting older and needs a quality bicycle. Local bike shops not only carry top-of-the-line bicycles at competitive prices but they also back up their merchandise where some discount stores will not. A good bicycle should last for many years and when your child has outgrown it, the bicycle can be sold knowing that it is still in good shape for its next owner. Bike shops assemble their own products and therefore are safer, whereas most discount stores either have them sent from a warehouse already assembled or have employees assemble them when needed.

Helmet and Pads. Make certain that your child has a properly fitting bike helmet and pads as well. Helmets significantly reduce the chance of head trauma during a fall. It is also the law that bicyclists 15 and younger must wear helmets. While fitting your child for a helmet be sure to follow the 'mouth, eyes and ears' test. The child should be able to see the edge of the helmet when looking upwards, he/she should have the straps under their ear lobes where the strap forms a 'Y' and he/she should be able to insert a finger between their skin and the strap's buckle. Make certain that it is not too loose or so tight that they have difficulty breathing.

Pads are also a good idea for your younger bicyclist, especially those who have just had their training wheels taken off. Falls are bound to occur and this will prevent nasty bruises and even cuts and scraps. Pads are also an excellent idea for those more adventurous and older bicyclist who are more into trails and dirty biking.

Now the last thing that you need to do is...go have fun!