As soon as it started warming up this spring and Lauren got out her bike from last year, we knew it was time to get a new one! She had been using a Strider run bike and was doing really well balancing (and going down big hills!) without putting her feet down. We knew she was ready for a real pedal bike - I was so excited to partner with All Out Kids Gear and get Lauren riding a 2-wheeler!

Unfortunately for Lauren, having a little brother means getting a bike that he can also use in a few years! I knew we wanted to get a good quality bike that would last. So after I narrowed down my search to neutral-coloured bikes (black, silver, white was what I was after!) I found the Early Rider Belter 16” Urban Kids Pedal Bike, and nothing else compared!

Touted as the “world’s best selling belt drive bike” - this is a feature that I especially love. The neoprene belt won’t stretch or fall off like a chain and is virtually maintenance free. Eliminating that greasy chain seems like a no-brainer on a bike designed for a 3-year-old to ride - and definitely gives me peace of mind! I also love that Early Rider ensures that all bolts, nuts, and anything that can skin a little shin or ankle have been smoothed, countersunk or eliminated - design elements that do not go unnoticed my me!

Speaking of design - this bike is beautiful! From the brown leather seat with brass rivets, the super lightweight brushed aluminum frame, and matte black Ritchey handlebars - I pretty much want one in my size!

To be totally honest, I wasn’t sure how long it would take to teach Lauren how to ride a 2-wheeler. She had never ridden a bike with pedals before, or used hand brakes! But she was super excited to give it a try. So we headed out, but I quickly realized that I didn’t actually know how to teach her, and she wasn’t really grasping the concept of the pedals, so we went home. That night, after watching a few youtube videos with tips and tricks on how to teach a kid to ride a bike (highly recommend this by the way - I naively thought that holding on to their seat and handlebars and running with them was the answer - it’s definitely not!!)

So with new tactics we set out to try again and literally FIRST TRY - she was off! No word of a lie, after 15 minutes - she was completely riding the bike by herself, using the brakes and everything! I was so impressed but also couldn’t help but feel as though this specific bike facilitated a lot of the ease of riding for her, which gave her so much confidence right away!

So here we are, just 3 weeks later exploring some trails in the mountains. She absolutely loves riding her new bike, and we can barely keep up with her!

We had such a great experience with All Out Kids. They offer free shipping on orders over $49.99 within Canada, but they are conveniently located in Red Deer, Alberta so we were able to pick up Lauren’s bike right away! Definitely check them out for your next outdoor adventure with your kids!

disclosure: this post is sponsored by All Out Kids Gear. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

a new bike and new adventures!