FAQ for Strider™ running
bikes for kids
My child already has a tricycle.
Why should I get a Strider running bike?
Kids can
only pedal along on the sidewalk with a tricycle. Strider™ running bikes
are really fun. A kid on a Strider™
can go anywhere. If you take your child for a
walk with a tricycle, you are always waiting for him or her to catch up.
If you take
a child for a walk with a Strider™ running bike, you’ll be hurrying to keep up with
your
child. Kids learn balance, steering, and self-confi dence on a Strider™. On a
tricycle they don’t learn any
of the skills needed to eventually ride a regular pedal
bike. In addition, the Strider™ running bike weighs less
than half as much as most
tricycles and, therefore, is much more manageable for a small child.
My child is about ready for a regular bicycle. Wouldn’t I
be wasting money buying
her a Strider™ running bike?
We don’t think so. Most Strider™ kids easily
make the transition from their
Strider™ running bike to a regular pedal bike without the need for training wheels.
They’ve already learned the necessary balance and steering skills. Most kids still
ride their Strider™
running bike after they get their pedal bike because they can do
more tricks, have more fun, and go more places on the
running bike.
What can a
child do on a Strider™ running bike that he/
she
can’t do on a tricycle or regular pedal bike?
We’ve
set up demonstration courses and had fi rst time riders going up ramp-like
teeter-totters
in fi fteen minutes. It’s really rewarding to watch a formerly timid
three-
year old shout, “Daddy. Watch me!” just before he/she goes up and over the
teeter-totter. Kids also make their Striders™ into off-road vehicles, which they
cannot do on tricycles and regular pedal bikes without great strength and skill.
Ph. 605-342-0266 www.StriderSports.com Fax 605-342-0619
What type of material is used to build the Strider™?
In keeping with our emphasis on the “Fun”
factor, the Strider™ comes with superlight,
maintenance-free
foam tires. No fl ats, no pumping air, just get on and go. The
Strider
uses an 8” molded rim riding on sealed bearings and a steel axle. The actual
outside
diameter of the foam tire is 11 inches. The majority of the Strider™ frame
is
made from durable, light gauge steel tubing, the wheels from heavy plastic, and the
tires from solid foam. The Strider™ is not a fragile toy; it is a well-built vehicle that
should easily serve several growing children.
How old does a child have to be to ride a Strider™
running bike?
If a child can place his/her feet fl at on the ground while sitting on the seat, he/she
can ride a Strider™ running bike. A few kids fi fteen months old have
learned to ride
a Strider™ better than they can walk. We suggest
a 1 to 5 year old range and an
inseam of at least 11”.
My child is kind of timid. Will
he be able to ride a
Strider™ running bike?
Probably. Most kids feel very comfortable on a Strider™
running bike, because they
feel totally in control. They have four
points of contact with the ground (both feet
and both wheels) and
the running bike is much lighter than a conventional bike or
tricycle
and, therefore, easier to handle.
How do I teach
my child to ride a Strider™ running bike?
Don’t
worry, your child will fi gure it out a lot faster than you will fi gure out a way
to
teach him/her. For some reason Strider™ operation seems to come to children
naturally.
They do better getting encouragement from parents rather than getting
riding
tips or instruction.
We live in the country with
no sidewalks.
Can my child still use a Strider™ running bike?
Sure. Kids can’t develop enough leg power to operate
a regular bicycle “off-road,”
but they can ride a Strider™
running bike on grass, gravel (if it is not too deep), and
up and
down dirt mounds.
Does the Strider™ balance bike have brakes?
The beginning rider should only use his/her feet against the ground to control
speed and to stop. For the advanced rider, the Strider™ is designed to accept an
optional foot-operated rear friction brake that not only stops the Strider™ quickly,
but also creates a cool skid mark when applied hard! The brake is a simple one-bolt
installation.
Why doesn’t it have a hand brake?
We want children to be safe. We researched various “stopping” methods as
they
relate to really young children. In the end, in a panic situation,
the natural instinct of
children is to put their feet down. Even children
capable of using a brake revert to
planting their feet if they have
to stop quickly. The hand brake option does not make
sense based on
child anatomy... just gripping the bar is a handful for a 2-3 year old
hand...
their fi ngers are not long enough or strong enough to pull a brake lever.
My child is already using a bike with training wheels -
can the Strider™ still be a useful learning tool
for her?
Training wheels are very scary for children. The sensation of tipping from side-toside
keeps them from focusing on the tasks at hand, pedaling and steering. Learning
to balance and steer on the Strider™
makes the transition to the pedal bike much
easier. Forget the training wheels. Once your child is confi dent on the
Strider™, she
will be able to transfer quickly to a pedal bike without training wheels.
How will I know when my child is ready to move
from a Strider™ to a regular pedal bike?
When you see your child coasting
down hills with her feet up, going over and
around obstacles, and speeding along with forceful strides, you will know
that she
has mastered the necessary techniques of balance and steering to begin riding a
pedal bike. The transition
will be quick and easy. However, you will discover that even
though your child can ride her pedal bike without training
wheels, she will continue
to ride her Strider™ running bike for pure fun. On the Strider™, a child is confi
dent
enough to continually push to higher levels of expertise. Eventually, these higher
thinking, higher level skills
are transferred to his/her pedal bike. At this point, the
child may ‘hang up’ the Strider™. However,
we have found there is usually a one to
two year overlap when the child rides both.
I’ve heard a lot about toxic paint. Is the paint on
the Strider safe and what colors are offered?
Strider™ running bikes are manufactured in China.
The paint has been tested by an
independent lab and has been certifi
ed safe. It exceeds the safety standards set by
codes such as California’s
Proposition 65. The Strider™ is available in six vibrant
colors:
red, blue, orange, yellow, lime green, hot pink.
Is any assembly necessary?
Assembly is very basic, taking approximately 5 minutes: tighten one bolt to align the
handle-bars and two nuts to mount the front wheel. Adjust the seat height and your
Strider ™ balance bike is ready to go.
Why can’t I just take the pedals off a regular bike?
You could, but a conventional bike will still be too tall and too heavy for your two
year old. The Strider™
running bike is uniquely designed to allow the seat to be
adjusted fi ve or six inches lower than the seat on a conventional
bike (or other
running bikes) and at only seven pounds it weighs about half as much as a regular
pedal bike.
Does the Strider™ running bike have benefits
for parents or other caretakers?
Could one even hope for
benefi ts for a parent from such a small vehicle that
benefi ts kids so much? You bet! Freedom! Freedom from carrying
a tired or rebelling
child, and freedom from coaxing a dawdling one to catch up. In fact, the parent
will soon become
the one trying to keep up; brisk walks, jogging, or bicycling now
become exercise options to make outings more enjoyable
for everyone. The outings
will no longer be limited to fl at, hard surfaces either; the Strider™ will easily handle
a forest trail or a two-track dirt road if you feel like a walk in the woods... try that
with training wheels or a
trike!
Does the Strider™
have a warranty?
Yes, the Strider™ comes
with a 1 year warranty against manufacturing defects. The
warranty
is limited to riders less than 50 lbs. The Strider™ serial number needs to
be
registered to activate the warranty. The bottom line, though, is we want you to
be
satisfi ed with the product, and we want you to share that satisfaction with other
parents.
We welcome feedback and will quickly respond to warranty issues.
How does riding the Strider™ benefit a child?
With
the light weight and simplicity of a Strider™, young riders soon feel confi dent
and in control. At this young
age, bicycles are simply too tall, too heavy, and too
complex for youngsters to feel this sense of control. Advances
in coordination
and balance follow quickly as do the development of the thought processes
necessary for steering,
crossing obstacles, backing up, and doing tricks. To watch this
development of thought and skill is actually quite amazing.
How early should a parent introduce
a child to a new physical activity like biking?
Pediatric neurologists have long
noted that there is a rapid learning curve in children
ages 0-6. Most of the great masters in sports and music have begun
study at a very
early age. We have found that kids have a natural curiosity about the Strider™.
Watch some
of our video clips to see pre-two year olds start their Strider™
experience. They are not frightened by the Strider™,
and they advance quickly on
their own.
