FAQ - Strider Bikes

Compare the Strider Classic, Strider Sport and Strider Pro or see our full line of Strider bikes.

1. For what age group is Strider™ built?
The Strider™ balance bike is built mainly for children ages 1 to 5 up to 50 lbs.

2. Can the seat height be adjusted?
The seat can be adjusted from 11 inches to 16 inches to accommodate the needs of your growing child. An optional XL seatpost (extra-long) is available in our store… this increases the max seat height to 18".

3. 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 to fit your child and your Strider balance bike is ready to go.

4. What does the Strider™ weigh?
The Strider™ weighs less than 7 pounds, (less than 1/3 the weight of a comparable pedal bike with training wheels!) It is light enough for a very small child to lift over obstacles and easy for a caretaker to throw in the back of the car for an outing at the park.

5. 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 skidmark when applied hard!

6. How does the optional rear brake work?
The rear brake is a simple lever that presses a friction plate against the rear wheel. The lever has a single pivot located on the underside of the frame and an elastomer spring to hold it disengaged. The rear brake is a simple one-bolt installation that takes just a couple minutes with basic tools. This can be ordered through our online store. An instruction sheet is available on download page for more info.

7. 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 fingers are not long or strong enough to pull a brake lever.

8. What kind of tires does the Strider™ running bike have?
In keeping with our emphasis on the “Fun” factor, the Strider™ comes with super-light, maintenance-free EVA Polymer tires. No flats, 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.

9. What type of material is used to build the Strider™?
The majority of the Strider™ frame is made from durable, light gauge steel tubing, the wheels from heavy plastic, and the tires from an EVA Polymer. The Strider™ is not a fragile toy; it is a well-built vehicle that should easily serve several growing children.

10. How does riding a Strider™ benefit a child?
With the light weight and simplicity of a Strider™, young riders soon feel confident 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.

11. Does the Strider™ run bike have benefits for parents or other caretakers?
Could one even hope for benefits for a parent from such a small vehicle that benefits kids so much? You Bet! Freedom! Freedom from carrying a tired or rebelling child, and freedom from coaxing a dawdling one to keep 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 flat, 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!

12. Does the Strider™ have a warranty or guarantee?
Yes, the Strider™ comes with a both a 1 year warranty against manufacturing defects and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. 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 satisfied with the product, and we want you to share that satisfaction with other parents. We welcome feedback and will quickly respond to warranty issues. If you are not satisfied for any reason, PLEASE contact us.

13. 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 his/her feet up, going over and around obstacles, and speeding along with forceful strides, you will know that he/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 his/her pedal bike without training wheels, he/she will continue to ride his/her Strider™ running bike for pure fun. On the Strider™, a child is confident 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.

14. My child is already using a bike with training wheels-can the Strider™ still be a useful learning tool for him/her?
Training wheels are very scary for children. The sensation of tipping from side-to-side keeps them from focusing on the task 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 the child is confident on the Strider™, he/she will be able to transfer quickly to a pedal bike without training wheels.

15. 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.

16. Why doesn’t the Strider™ have a steering limiter like some other brands?
Through our testing and research, we’ve come to believe that a steering limiter is a hindrance to the child’s development and a potential safety issue in the event of a fall. A steering limiter becomes a ‘crutch’ that keeps the child from fully learning the skill of steering a two wheeled vehicle. Bicycles don’t have steering limiters so at the time of transition to a bicycle, the child runs the risk of not understanding how to set his/her own steering limits through rider input. We feel this steering control should be learned from Day 1 while the child is moving slowly and evolve with the child through the years. As for safety, a steering limiter keeps the handlebars from being able to fold flat to the ground in the event of a fall and potentially impailing the child in the face, neck or chest.