There's an interesting post over on Baby Cheapskate seeking some input on which is better: walking bike or training wheels and I wondered if you guys had some thoughts on this. My 3 yr old son has nearly outgrown his tricycle and he's a pretty active kiddo, so I think he might be ready to take it up a notch. Lots of parents seem to recommend a wooden walking bike like those you find at Target or a "real" bike. Some parents have suggested just buying a standard bike and removing the pedals. Most of what I've read has discouraged the use of training wheels altogether.

Any of you other Dads tackled this yet?

I'm not there yet, and am hopin' more for skateboard selection issues than bike...

I think training wheels are fine myself. At least to get started and build confidence. I don't see any of the options as detrimental to development and learning to ride... but what do I know, right?

I say just ask the kid...

I'm with Concretin Nik: It depends on the child.

My friends at the Bicycle Sport Shop, though, firmly believe in no pedals.

Training wheels gave my energetic son a false sense of confidence and then he would go around turns and fall over a lot. You think he would have learned, but he was too young to figure it out.

Once his body was ready, it was like magic. There has to be some strength to weight ratio issue going on here.

With the two older kids we went with the standard training wheels. The transition to a two-wheeler sans training wheels was pretty smooth, at around 5-6 years. Though did I mention that my oldest broke his arm riding his bike when he was 7.

I got very interested in balance bikes and bought my youngest a Skuut bike for Christmas when he was 3. Loved the design and construction. Talked to the founders and they were super cool guys. really loved the product. And before I knew it, Coop was hauling ass around the neighborhood on the thing. He was perfectly comfortable going down hills, jumping things. I was amazed at the balance and control he had over the thing.

Which is one reason I am dismayed that he has found the transition to a two-wheeler so difficult. Hard to know how much of this to attribute to personality, but he has had a much tougher time than the other two, but it seems like with a balance bike you trade getting comfortable with the two-wheel configuration for confidence pedaling.

Overall, I loved the Skuut bike, but don't think it helped or hindered getting the kiddo to ride a two-wheeler.

Think outside the box boys. Check out this high(er) performance bigwheels from Razor. I've seen some similar high(er) performance bigwheels at local bike shops too. These have real bicycle tires in front.

www.toysinthemail.com/_Razor-Rip-Rider-3...Machine_RZR00193.htm

www.toysinthemail.com/_Razor-Scream-Mach...Machine_180BW-BL.htm

and then, don't get me started on pedal cars... check out my two favs.

The chrome for the kid...
www.bestinhome-kids.com/American-Retro-F...ar-Red-p/ar-5001.htm

and

If mom let me be a kid again:
www.bestinhome-kids.com/Ferrari-FXX-Excl...BF-7-p/bg-039057.htm