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Sunday, August 14, 2016

Stop Reading Click-Bait Sites with "Best Balance Bikes"

Seriously? Google the words "Best Balance Bike" and the first page of results is nothing but a bunch of opportunistic greedy and lazy Amazon affiliates who don't know a balance bike from a hole in the ground. They have discovered [with 2 minutes of research] that the cheap crappy bikes selling the most to the masses can make them some affiliate dough, so they list these products as "the best" and provide you with link to go buy them on Amazon, as though "best selling" necessarily means "best". (Gee, why not provide another place to buy them? Oh yeah, because they won't make any MONEY!" Clearly, this situation grinds my gears, especially as one engaged in the specialization of selling only the best balance bikes for the past 10 years. For those of you still listening and not already on Amazon buying a crappy toy masquerading as a bike, here is our top ten list of the BEST balance bikes.

Judgment criteria:
1. Safety tested per bicycle safety protocols (not toys)
2. Inflated rubber tires (no EVA foam)
3. Metallic frames and forks (no wood or plastic)
4. Twin bearing headsets connecting frame and fork (no quick releases or clamps)
5. Industry standard brake sets (No cheap flimsy toy drum brakes)
6. Decals are underneath the paint like a real bike (no stickers)
7. Saddles are ergonomic for kicking (skinny at the front, wide at the back)
8. Seat height range is sufficient to last rider at least 3 years
9. Weight limit of at least 150lbs (If there is a 50-70lb weight limit, its a TOY)
10. Geometry is engineered for riding by a cycling industry person (not invented out of thin air by a toy factory intern)

Here is The List of the best balance bikes in the world:

-Scoot and Scoot XL by Ridgeback UK
-Dimension 12 and 14 by Ridgeback UK
-TooToo and ALU by Yedoo
-WOOM1
-Islabike Rothan
-Likeabike Jumper (this one can be fitted with a front brake)
-Freewheel by Saracen UK
-Tadpole by Frog Bikes
-Alley Runner | Trail Runner by Early Rider

Next we will inform you of where to buy these bikes. Stay tuned.

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