These convertible balance bikes have optional pedal kits that can be installed when your child has mastered their balance bike and is ready to tackle pedals. Strider also includes a terrific booklet (PDF) with the 14x Sport that not only explains the how and why behind teaching a child to go from striding to pedaling but also describes a few games that you can play to make the experience as fun and natural as, well, riding a bike.

Made by a UK-based company, it’s a really nice bike, but it doesn’t exhibit quite the attention to detail that the Guardian Balance Bike does, despite a comparable cost. Both the handlebars and seat are adjustable, so the My First Balance-to-Pedal Bike grows as your kid does and is easy to transition to riders of different skill levels and heights. Balance bikes teach toddlers and kids how to ride while balanced, whereas training wheels teach how to ride while unbalanced. Cannondale’s Kids Trail Balance bike (it comes in boys’ and girls’ versions, which are identical apart from the colors) is unique, with its single-sided lefty-style fork, made famous on Cannondale’s big mountain bikes. A toddler in 18-months clothes who is just getting started will fit on a different balance bike than a toddler or preschooler in 3T pants.Compared with our top pick, this balance bike can accommodate a slightly taller kid, which means it might get more use over time.

For those aggressive riders who are ready to tackle jumps or varied terrains, the Cub 2 is also available in a Plus model which features air tires, a rust-free aluminum frame, and a handbrake. If our top pick is sold out or if you have a taller child, the REI Co-op Cycles REV 12 Kids’ Balance Bike is an excellent choice. With larger wheels and a larger frame, the Bixe 16 is designed to help ease the transition to a pedal bike for timid kids.

When sitting, the child should be able to put their feet flat on the floor or ground, and nearly all their weight should be on the saddle. Help your little one whoosh through the stages of learning to ride a bike, from parent-pushed riding to fully independent cruising! Remember… while a balance bike certainly prepares a child for a pedal bike, that’s not their only purpose. Look through balance bikes that are designed without pedals and can help your child learn bike skills quickly and then learn to ride a traditional pedal bike more easily. On the Dirt Hero, however, our preschool testers didn’t skip a beat and easily mastered basic single-track trails.