We all want to see our kids thrive. As a parent it can be hard to know when to push them through a challenge, and when to give space to explore a different passion.
My 9-year-old daughter wasn’t confident on a bike, but my gut said learning to ride was an important life skill. So I looked for a different approach from teetering training wheels and crossing fingers. Now it’s the one I wish I’d taken for all my kids—the safest, most innovative way to get them rolling with confidence. It’s called Guardian Bikes.
Here’s why this innovative kids bike is the best first bicycle for beginner riders:
Control and balance lead to confidence
There are so many things I love about my daughter’s Guardian Bike as a mom—but first, here’s what Amy loves. This bike has a lightweight steel frame she can handle without having to wrestle it. The micro-adjustments needed to straighten out and go no longer throw off her balance. She has so much more control.
When we started Amy out on this bike, we set it up without pedals, as a balance bike. (Setup took my husband five minutes from arriving in its box to ready-to-ride, BTW.) This method allowed her to move the bike forward with just her feet, so she could get the hang of balancing and steering. It started her from square one in building her confidence and let her get comfy on the bike first.
Having this foundation made it possible for her to learn how to ride in just one day, which she loved! It also doesn’t hurt that she got to pick her bike’s colors. It feels like hers, and that sense of ownership is taking her far in her motivation to get on it in the first place.
Bonus: it also has a quick-release adjustable seat so it can grow with Amy, as well as a 365-day money-back guarantee in case she didn’t like the bike or needed a different size.
The braking system is the safest out there
All Guardian Bikes are fitted with a patented braking system called SureStop. In short, it’s quicker, more controlled braking. The system uses a single lever hand brake to stop both wheels, and auto-adjusts its reactivity based on the terrain and weight positioning to avoid an over-the-handlebars accident.
This has given both Amy and me peace of mind knowing her bike will answer when a quick stop is needed.
The sizing and bike geometry works for kids
The fit is also unmatched. Guardian Bikes are designed with kid-specific geometry that have a lower center of gravity, wider wheelbase, smaller hand grips, and a closer handbrake—the perfect sizing makes her comfortable on the bike, which is one less thing we have to worry about for her. Plus, it helps to build her coordination skills!
As for finding the right size? Their online RideSizer Tool walks parents through taking measurements so you can zero in on the exact bike size your child needs. It even lets you know how long it will last until they’ll need to size up!
The price makes sense
We’d previously been relying on hand-me-down bikes that didn’t fit Amy, didn’t handle well, and led to lots of falls. The cost of the disappointment, discouragement, and fear that sprouted from that experience canceled any benefit of the free price tag.
We decided we’d invest in the right bike for her, and the budget we’d set aside got us not just the bike, but also a helmet and bell. The 24 Inch Bike costs $429 (but it’s currently on sale for $339). That’s a great price to begin with, but when you consider that it’s lighter weight, has the safest brakes, and has balance-to-pedal capabilities making it 2 bikes in 1, it’s a steal.
My kid is unstoppable now
Amy’s journey to riding a bike has had many twists and turns. Alongside the emotion and embarrassment of her trials were actual scrapes and bruises. Amy’s Guardian Bike started her fresh with a better-suited bike in colors she loves, and every detail accounted for: the correct fit and sizing, the lightweight handling, and the safe and reactive braking.
When things came together in one day for her, we knew this was the bike she should’ve had all along. Get your beginner a Guardian Bike and watch how they thrive.
