Guardian bikes?

[Anonymous]

These keep getting advertised to me, does anyone have one?

We’re on a 12” balance bike now and I want to get something with detachable pedals and a hand brake, because my kid gets a lot of speed on the balance bike and I feel like learning to brake before getting pedals might be easier than the other way around? The foot braking right now can be a little harrowing. I would just as soon never have the backward-pedal brake so I don’t want the Strider version (a strider is what we have now).

[Anonymous]

We are really happy with the one we ordered!

[Anonymous]

We went from a 12 inch strider to a guardian bike for all the reasons you mentioned. It basically worked just like the ads. She got the handbrake down fast and was pedaling around the same afternoon. Very happy with the purchase!

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids that they’re at this stage?

[Anonymous]

Not OP but my 3yo has a 14” strider that she’s really fast and stable on and I’ve promised her peddles for Christmas. I’d been thinking of getting her the strider peddles but I’m going to look into guardian as I agree with OP that I’d prefer her to get used to a hand brake rather than reverse peddles.

[Anonymous]

I wish I could convince myself to drop money on this. My 3.75 yo started riding a 12” pedal bike recently and it’s great, but he can’t figure out the coaster brake so he just brakes with his feet down like he did on his balance bike. It stresses me out a ton. I am constantly yelling at him to slow down, running after him with our stroller, making sure he stops before a downhill, etc. I’m very cautious so I’m constantly fighting him about where and how fast he can ride. I just wish he could brake. His bike cost $20 from a neighbor tho and I can’t imagine dropping $250 or whatever on another 12” bike. Ugh z

[Anonymous]

We have one for our 4 yr old. She went from the balance bike to the Guardian pretty easily. I will say the Guardian feels very heavy, but I have nothing to compare it to.

The hand break is great. I don’t think it mattered that she learned how to pedal first. The guardian break is super super easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went from a 12 inch strider to a guardian bike for all the reasons you mentioned. It basically worked just like the ads. She got the handbrake down fast and was pedaling around the same afternoon. Very happy with the purchase!

+1 - our 4 year old transitioned from balance bike to guardian bike and he learned with the guardian bike at 4

[Anonymous]

Thanks all, this is so helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are your kids that they’re at this stage?

Mine is three and outgrowing our 12” balance bike.

[Anonymous]

Sadly, Strider’s add-on pedals for their balance bike are too narrow. DC found it hard to learn to pedal because her foot kept falling off. So I would not go that route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I could convince myself to drop money on this. My 3.75 yo started riding a 12” pedal bike recently and it’s great, but he can’t figure out the coaster brake so he just brakes with his feet down like he did on his balance bike. It stresses me out a ton. I am constantly yelling at him to slow down, running after him with our stroller, making sure he stops before a downhill, etc. I’m very cautious so I’m constantly fighting him about where and how fast he can ride. I just wish he could brake. His bike cost $20 from a neighbor tho and I can’t imagine dropping $250 or whatever on another 12” bike. Ugh z

Resale value is high for these bikes. We sold one for almost what we paid. They are significantly easier to handle and use the brakes. It is super unsafe for kids to brake with their feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I could convince myself to drop money on this. My 3.75 yo started riding a 12” pedal bike recently and it’s great, but he can’t figure out the coaster brake so he just brakes with his feet down like he did on his balance bike. It stresses me out a ton. I am constantly yelling at him to slow down, running after him with our stroller, making sure he stops before a downhill, etc. I’m very cautious so I’m constantly fighting him about where and how fast he can ride. I just wish he could brake. His bike cost $20 from a neighbor tho and I can’t imagine dropping $250 or whatever on another 12” bike. Ugh z

Definitely go to a 14” bike if you can.