Teach Your Kid How to Ride a Bike in a Day (woom 3 Bike Review)

I did a lot of research online before deciding which bike to purchase for my 4-year-old. Everything I read online said that after mastering a balance bike, most kids can learn how to ride without training wheels in one day. Having spent many hours and days learning how to ride a pedal bike as a child myself, a one-day pedal bike expert seemed like sorcery to me – especially because it all was dependent on having the right bike – the woom bike.

Sounds unbelievable, right? The makers claim this bike to be the best for little kids because of its lightweight and slim design, but it comes with a hefty price tag.

Did I really want to risk my daughter’s physical well-being and confidence on a $300+ bike she will quickly grow out of?

Well, I did! And I’m happy I took the chance.

Read on to find out:

Right before my daughter’s 4th birthday, she asked for a pedal bike. Our neighbor’s 3-year-old had just started riding a pedal bike and suddenly our almost 4-year-old was inspired to pick up her balance bike again.

Previously, our kiddo had rarely touched the Specialized balance bike she was given for her 2nd birthday. After hopping on the Strider balance bike our neighbor had, she was zipping around the yard. Something about having her on the right balance bike made it easier for her to ride (and therefore more enjoyable).

Maybe this whole bike to kid weight ratio thing had some truth behind it? We knew that mastering the balance bike first would be key to her success at riding a pedal bike (see more info about balance bikes here). We told her she had to practice balancing for longer stretches of time, and I would count and cheer as she passed 10, 15, 20 seconds.

She asked for a purple bike every day. When the time came to order one online (after much of the aforementioned research), I chose woom.

Why woom Bikes

woom bikes are lightweight. They claim that woom bikes weigh 40% less than other bikes and that bikes that are lighter weight are easier for kids to ride.
The brake system is easier for kids to understand and safer for them to learn because there is an obvious distinction between front and back brakes. The green one is the back brake, and the only one we use (so she doesn’t fly over the handlebars).
They don’t recommend you use training wheels with these bikes. No training wheels mean no need for another transition or to relearn how to ride a bike without them.

After assembling the purple woom 3 bike, I whisked my daughters away to their grandparents’ house to practice riding in a large parking lot. My husband stayed home to work on the chicken coop because he was so confident that she couldn’t learn how to ride a bike in one day. Boy, was that a mistake.

Step 1. How to Begin Teaching Your Kid to Ride a woom Bike

Before my child and I got started, we watched a few tutorials online that recommended we first:

Remove the pedals
Practice balancing on the bike until she is stable for long stretches of time
Try using the back brake at slow speeds (the green one)

Step 2. Riding with Pedals

After becoming a master balancer on her new bike, our 4-year-old was ready for the next step – riding with pedals! woom recommends that you:

Put on the pedals. One screws clockwise, one screws counterclockwise – it is a little confusing
Push the pedals. Show your kiddo how the bike works by lifting the wheel in the air and letting them push the pedals with their hands
Ensure their feet touch the ground when sitting on the saddle
Let them try to ride! Run alongside them to prevent falling. Encourage them to lift their feet when they gain speed and push down on the pedals
Give the green brake a squeeze slowly. Practice stopping

Once the pedals were on, our preschooler sat on her bike, pushed off, and rode like she had been riding for weeks. No training wheels. No falling. No joke.

Although the cost is high ($199-$349 for sizes 1-4), the bike itself was magic. Our 4-year-old was able to ride a bike without falling within minutes. She ended her first day on a pedal bike full of confidence and joy.

I recognize this bike may be cost-prohibitive for some families. Guardian Bikes have similar high ratings and are cheaper. I would also suggest saving the environment (and your wallet) by finding a secondhand bike on the woom website, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. Depending on your child’s size, you could even skip the balance bike all together and get started with this bike first (with the pedals off, of course).

I tried searching for a few weeks but had trouble finding the size I needed. Luckily, when your child grows out of their woom bike, you can trade it in on their website for 40% off a new bike. Traded-in bikes go towards “Families in need for the #woomgives program.” Contact woom directly if you’re interested in finding out more. You can also find certified pre-owned bikes for a slight discount on their website.

BIPOC kids should have access to the tools to make early riding a joyful experience for them – it is a great start to a lifetime of adventure!

Was your early bike riding experience a joyful one? Share in the comments below.

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Angel

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Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.