Stories | Ridgeback

At Ridgeback, we strongly believe that bike fit is the most important aspect of a kids’ bike. This is why we have a large range of bike and wheel sizes and why we always recommend visiting your local bike shop to make sure that you’re getting the best fitting bike for your child as possible.

If you don’t think that bike fit is important, just try this experiment. If you’re reading this on a phone, just hold it at arm’s length and continue reading (or push your laptop to the far side of the dining table). Yes, it’s still possible to read, but it’s not easy, is it? And if your phone is at arm’s length, it gets tiring pretty quick, doesn’t it? Now imagine that you’re a beginner rider and that’s how far away the handlebars are.

A lightweight kids bike is a bicycle designed to reduce overall weight so children can pedal, steer and control the bike more easily. Most quality lightweight children's bikes use aluminium frames, lighter wheels and child-specific components to improve handling and confidence.

As a general rule, a kids bike should weigh significantly less than the child riding it. Heavy bikes can make cycling tiring, harder to balance and less enjoyable for young riders.

We put a great deal of effort, and scientific research-influenced data into sizing every Ridgeback bike, from big to small. You’ll know well that children aren’t just scaled-down adults, and those proportions of arm and leg length to torsos change throughout their childhood. Each different bike size in the Ridgeback line is built for that particular range of ages and body sizes.

Our designers look at everything: handlebar width, saddle height and pedal crank length in order to make sure that the biomechanics of everything works well together. Even something as simple as a handlebar grip gets special attention, as it’s a part of the bike that your child is always in contact with. We use specially slimmed down handlebars and smaller, soft rubber grips for smaller hands to grip with confidence. The brake levers are built to be already close to the bars, so it’s not a massive reach for your young’un to get to when they need to.

Imagine trying to drive your car with the seat fully back. Yes, you can probably just about reach the steering wheel and if you stretch, you can reach the brakes too, but then you’ll have stopped thinking about steering because it was so complicated. We believe that every child needs a bike where they can comfortably reach the ground (with both feet flat if they’re a beginner rider, tiptoes if they’re more advanced) while also being able to hold the handlebars comfortably. Brake levers should fall easily under their fingers and should be easy to pull and modulate, without being an on/off switch.

The most important thing when choosing a kid’s bike is that it should fit your child well, regardless of weight. A well-fitting kid’s bike is easier to control than one that’s too tall or unstable. A lighter bike is easier still. Your kid has enough to think about, without worrying about having to muscle a heavy machine around. 

Lighter bikes and components do usually cost more, but the trade-off (or trade-up) is that a lighter bike is easier and more fun to ride. The more fun it is, the more often it’ll get ridden, so your cost per ride and cost per smile gets cheaper every ride. 

Now go and push your sofa round the living room and see if you’ve changed your mind about light weight bikes...

Ridgeback kids bikes are designed around child-specific geometry, carefully considered sizing and confidence-inspiring handling to help young riders feel comfortable from their very first rides. Check out the Ridgeback Scoot, MX and Dimension range to find one that perfectly fits your child.

A children's bike may be too large if your child:

• Struggles to start pedaling

• Cannot comfortably touch the ground

• Cannot comfortably reach the handlebars

• Finds braking difficult

• Avoids riding

• Lacks confidence

• Appears unstable when stopping.

A properly fitting kids bike should help children feel balanced, comfortable and in control.

• Correct bike fit is essential for confidence

• A lightweight bike is easier for children to control

• Children should feel stable and comfortable when stopping

• Oversized bikes can reduce confidence and enjoyment

• Child-specific geometry helps improve handling and safety

1. What size bike does my child need
2. Why parents and Kids love it
3. What is a balance bike
4. Teaching your child to ride
5. How to choose the right kids bike