Wooden bikes have a long history. The very first wooden bike is believed by many to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci while the earliest useable and much copied velocipede was a German designed balance bike or running bike known as the laufmaschine from the 1800’s.

More recently wooden bikes have gained popularity in a number of formats from children’s balance bikes through to high end, and very expensive designs such as the stunning Revovo hardwood bikes.

Wooden Balance Bikes
In 1997 a German company called Kokua really pioneered the genre of wooden bikes known as balance bikes, run bikes or running bikes with their Like a Bike.

Since that time countless companies have copied the original well built and popular Like a Bike wooden bike design, predominantly with poor quality knock offs with little innovation that often leave children owners heartbroken and their parents disappointed.

(Try Google “poor quality balance bikes” “poor quality wood bikes” and “like a bike copies”)

One company that has developed its own unique and innovative take on wooden balance bike design is the Australian company Live Play Create with their TIKE.

YISHANE LEE from the New York Times has written a review of US models of Balance Bikes in the NYT Fashion and Style section here.

LEE says that Balance Bikes are “making big inroads into the US as a way to teach children to ride without training wheels”, which is a very similar experience to what is happening in the Australian market.

The article goes on to review some of the cheaper US models, some of which are currently sold in Australia.

We think the review is a little unfair on its description of the Scuut as flimsy as the new US versions is in our opinion more robust than the Smart Gear Training Bike and while it is smaller and uses a cheaper grade of thinner ply than the TIKE, it is in fact reasonably well built and certainly the better model of the cheaper Australian balance bikes.

Also, contrary to the review, our experience also shows that you do not want wheels with plastic or metal spokes for 2-3year olds as they are a recipe for disaster for little fingers and toes.

There always seems to be so much to carry on every outing.  Water bottles, snacks… sunscreen, changes of clothes, nappies, wipes, hats, tissues…….  and then the plush  best friend absolutely has to come as well.  You end up looking like you are heading to the nearest airport for a lengthy sojourn rather then a ride through the local bushland or park.

Live Play Create now have a very cool and functional way to share some of the load.

Introducing the tike buddy bag ..perfect for carrying the best friend, water bottle, hat and snacks for the ride.  This balance bike carry bag will be an indispensable addition to the tike (a bonus for mum and dad as well)

The buddy bag has 2 handlebar straps plus a fork strap for extra stability and is compatible with most popular children’s bikes and scooters.  So if the older sibling is jealous they can have one too.

Available for $24  or with the tike stand for $ 40

Balance bikes are a great way to teach your child balance and coordination from an early age.  Eager to explore their new freedom from 18mths on, balance bikes provide a safe and effective method to provide this freedom and develop your child’s motor skills.

With recent explosion in the number of balance bikes on the market there is and expected amount of confusion for parents. Live Play Create, as Australia’s leading manufacturer of balance bikes,  see a plethora of new models enter the market every year – and this year is no exception.  These are almost always cheap imports with little or no quality control, made of inferior componentry and that are unsustainably resourced.  Most of the product, or importers, are not around even 12 months later once the enthusiastic importers realise that cheap and quality do not go hand in hand.

The following guide should assist you in identifying what to look for when comparing balance bikes.

The first balance bike was invented by German inventor Karl Drais in 1817 and was known as the velocipede which is the earliest known form of a two-wheeler without pedals.

More recently, wooden balance bikes have undergone somewhat of a renaissance which many attribute to the success of the German built Like a Bike (Europe) and the Australian designed TIKE.

Fundamental to explosion in popularity of balance bikes is, apart from their design beauty, the innovation of Like a Bike and TIKE in restricting the steering movement of the bike which results in a significant increase in their stability.

Of course this success has led to an explosion in new balance bike designs appearing almost daily which has led to a significant amount of confusions for parents in reconciling the differences between different makes and models.

The good news is that once you know what to look for, the differences are easy to spot and make it easy to compare balance bikes and choose the best balance bike for your child.