Now that Charlotte is four years old, my husband and I thought she was ready for a big girl bike. She’s been riding a tricycle for the past year, so we figured it was time to upgrade to a real bicycle. Before we rushed to the store, we wanted to make sure we got the best bike for Charlotte. Michael and I are researchers by nature, but he took it upon himself to search for the best kids bicycle on the market. He came across and was intrigued by the craftsmanship and the reviews.
After doing our research, we were convinced that was the way to go. Since they are located in Austin, Texas, I contacted Woom and asked if we could visit the company and pick out a bicycle for Charlotte. We made it a fun day trip, and we were beyond impressed by the company, the facility, the employees, and the care put into each bicycle.
A little info about WOOM Bikes USA
WOOM Bikes started being sold in Europe in 2013 and quickly became a popular choice. Mathias Ihlenfeld brought it to North America in 2014 and started WOOM Bikes USA. WOOM offers six sizes in bicycles, WOOM 1 to WOOM 6. Each size is handcrafted and targeted for a specific age group.
Custom Fitting
When we arrived in Austin to the WOOM Bikes USA headquarters, Charlotte was fitted for a bicycle by Mathias. First thing was to get her height.
WOOM Bikes guarantees their bike will fit every child. If it doesn’t, then you can ship it back for free, no questions asked.
After Charlotte was measured, she was then able to sit on the different sizes, and Mathias was able to see which bicycle she was ready to start with. He noticed that she was a little nervous since this was her first time on two wheels, so he suggested the balance bike, the WOOM 1.
WOOM 1 is the ideal training balance bike for children up to age 4. This bike is perfect when a child is ready to first encounter two wheels. On the balance bike, children are able to learn how to balance and glide, improving their coordination without having to worry about pedals. By starting out on the balance bike, they learn not only balance and coordination, but they build their confidence, which is super important. WOOM 1 has a low center of gravity and is super lightweight, a mere 8 pounds.
MELON Helmets
After she was fitted for a bicycle, she then got to pick out a helmet. The Melon helmet is also one of the best on the market. It is super light, well-ventilated, and has a genius magnetic closure to prevent pinching of the skin.
WOOM 2
We knew that we were going to leave with a WOOM 2, so we watched Mathias and another employee assemble the bicycle. The detail given to the assembly of each bicycle is impeccable. Each one is tested and fine tuned to make sure that the bicycle is in tip-top shape.
Woom 2 is the first pedal bike designed for children age 3 to 4.5. The bike alone weighs less than 13 pounds, making it easy for children to maneuver on their own.
WOOM has developed the “small hand reach” brake small enough for kids to easily learn and use, which is so important for safety.
The personal attention given to customers is much appreciated and made Charlotte’s first bicycle experience super special.
Freewheel Kit
One particular add-on that we chose was the Freewheel Kit for the WOOM 2. All WOOM bikes come with two hand brakes and a coaster brake. Each toddler bicycle is required by law to have a coaster brake, but you have the option to replace it with a freewheel. The freewheel hub allows the child to pedal backwards whereas the coaster brake makes the bicycle brake when pedaled backwards. When they’re learning how to ride a bike, having the freedom to backpedal is crucial.
UpCycle Program
WOOM Bikes has an amazing UpCycle system available to all customers allowing you to trade in a smaller bicycle for the next size up. If you purchase a new WOOM bike within 24 months of the original purchase, WOOM will reimburse 40% of the original bike purchase price. All you have to do is return the old bike when you buy a new one.
Teaching Charlotte How to Ride a Bike
When we got home, we let Charlotte start playing with the balance bike in our house. You heard that right–inside our home. Mathias suggested we do this so that she could get comfortable with it and learn how to use it in her comfort zone. He was so right, because after a few hours of just playing around with the balance bike, she was ready to head outdoors.
Every day for one week, we took her outside and practiced with the balance bike. She was able to learn how to use the brake and navigate the bike on her own.
After one week, she was gliding on the balance bicycle like a pro. We then thought it was a good time to give it a go on the WOOM 2.
On day 7, we put her on the bicycle with pedals and she took off immediately! Our little girl was riding a bicycle by herself! Of course, she was nervous and fell off a couple of times throughout the learning process, but each time, she got back up and kept going.
It wasn’t long before she was flying. I truly believe that WOOM Bikes is the reason she learned so quickly and has become so confident. Unlike the traditional clunky training wheels option, WOOM is lightweight and built specifically for children who are learning how to ride. It is a bit on the pricey side, but it’s an investment worth making. The resale value is great, and the UpCycle program is an added bonus–that’s something you don’t get with the training wheels bicycles.
The WOOM Bikes really are impeccable!
The Best Kids Bicycle in Action
See for yourself how Charlotte went from learning how to balance on a balance bike to riding on her own in one week flat and how confident she’s become since then.
Find your child’s first bike by clicking on the image below:
What age did you learn how to ride a bike? I think I was 5 or 6 years old. I’m sure Colin will probably be riding at age 3 now that we have WOOM bikes in our household. ;)
