Let's do this - two-wheeled adventures await!
Here's a quick run-through of the key decisions that you'll need to make
Choosing the type of bike based upon your child's age, ability and where they will ride the bike.
We stock a full range of bikes adapted for different levels and styles of riding. We group these into several categories, with indicative age ranges noted on our site:
Balance bikes: No pedals here! This is how kids learn how to ride a bike. How to balance and manoeuvre a bike. We strongly advise against stabilisers which subsequently have to be unlearned (hence you won't find any in our shop)!
Balance bikes are designed low to the ground for stability and to instill confidence. Your child should start with their feet flat on the ground to begin with, which our minimum inseam measurements guide, and you can raise the saddle incrementally as their confidence grows. In time, they will naturally learn to lift their feet a little and roll. Then they'll roll a little further. Next, they'll experiment with rolling and turning at the same time. It's an intuitive process for them which comes with time on the bike.
Brakes need not be learned initially - it will probably be too much to take in depending on the child's age - but they are a very useful addition once your child has mastered the balance basics.
Bikes tend not to be too specialised at this early age, mostly running slick or low profile tyres (i.e. not too knobbly!), but there are exceptions - just check out the Dirt Hero bike for any future MTB champs!
We stock three sizes of balance bike (with 10", 12" and 14" wheels), allowing kids to get on two wheels from as early as 18 months old, whilst also accommodating older children and balance progression for a number of years.
First pedals: Here we go! Your child has been zooming around on their balance bike for a while. Maybe they're getting towards the top of the saddle height and their legs are still bent close to a right angle at the knee. Not least, they're ready to explore further afield, and faster, and that requires a machine with pedal power and good brakes!
Depending on your child's height and their confidence on a bike, either a 14" (a little smaller) or 16" (a little bigger) wheeled bike will be the best size to progress to for those first revolutions. Again, please follow inseam measurements to confirm sizing pre-order (more on that below!).
All of our first pedal bikes come with front and rear caliper brakes (not coaster brakes, which are another thing to have to 'unlearn' later!), tyres that can handle some light trails and are single speed. We have belt-driven bikes as well as those with a well thought-out classic chain set-up.
Town / Hybrid / Mountain / Road / Gravel! The clue is in the name! Whilst first pedal bikes are essentially hybrids, the bike world thereafter offers different types of bikes to suit different types of riding, with the introduction of gears across the board.
For urban jaunts and school commutes, possibly carrying luggage, a town bike might suit you. A hybrid bike provides the flexibility to ride on easy trails too, with luggage racks available for certain models. A mountain bike will be a bit more cumbersome on the road but allow full freedom off-road. A road bike will have you whizzing along the asphalt at new-found speeds! It that wasn't enough, our road bikes also come with 'gravel' tyres so that they can moonlight as hybrid bikes too!
Measure your child's inseam, to determine the right size
- Get your child to stand against the wall
- Place a book between their legs and ask them to hold it as high as is comfortable, keeping one edge of the book against the wall so that it stays square
- Measure the distance from the top of the book to the floor
- Repeat a couple of times for accuracy!
Browse our selection of high-quality, lightweight, kids-specific bikes
We've taken care of curating a range of top-quality bikes that you can trust to serve you well. Now you know more about the different types of bikes, and armed with your child's inseam, you can get stuck into the details (and colour choices!) of the models that correspond to your needs, safe in the knowledge that you can upgrade easily as soon as six months into a subscription.
Decide if you wish to subscribe or buy
This last one is really up to you. There are significant benefits to taking a bike on subscription; not least, you can access brand-new bikes without large upfront costs and at a fraction of the total cost of ownership of buying a bike.
Save even more once we have pre-loved bikes back in our stable - do register your interest over email team@revolvbikes.com, or via 'back-in-stock' alerts on our site, so that we can keep you informed.
However, we appreciate there may be circumstances where you prefer to buy a bike and we do not wish to exclude anyone from our range of great bikes and the ability to lower the cost of ownership via our repurchase programme.
Overall we are agnostic as to whether you subscribe or buy with a repurchase guarantee. Both routes support our mission to get more kids riding, higher-quality bikes, at lower cost and more sustainably!
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Partner brands - better bikes for bigger adventures
Our carefully curated selection of high-quality, lightweight, kids-specific bikes are easier for your child to ride and less likely to fail.
These bikes are designed from the ground-up for children; super lightweight, with specific frame geometry and adapted components.
Get to know our partner brands.
Bike guide - let's get you started!
Let's do this - two-wheeled adventures await!
Let us take you through the key decisions that you'll need to make, help you to navigate our range of bikes, how to ensure you order the right size bike and more!
Safety tips - have you got the basics covered?
Riding a bike is a great way for kids to exercise, explore their surroundings, grow and and have fun. It's also a rewarding family activity that can be adapted in so many ways; from trips to the shops and picnics in the park, to laps of the lake and off-road adventures!
Whether riding on-road or off the road, day or night, a few simple steps will help to keep your clan safe and comfortable.