Bikes for kids were objectively terrible when I was young. Like most people who learned to ride decades ago, I started on a heavy contraption with coaster brakes and training wheels. My parents have told the story countless times about how hard it was to teach me to ride without them. I remember the frustration of wrestling clunky cruiser-style bikes up and down the hills around my home in rural Maryland—and the constant annoyance of coaster brakes: accidentally engaging them by pedaling backward, struggling to stop quickly, and the way they ruined any chance of pulling off a good skid.
I grew up in a cycling family and dreamed of racing bikes someday. I was highly motivated to improve. Now, as a father of two, I’ve internalized a lesson all parents eventually learn: if you want to help a kid master a new skill, making it fun is priority number one. And as someone who has led many learn-to-ride programs, I’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference a well-designed kids’ bike can make, and how discouraging the experience can be for a kid on a bike that’s difficult to ride. When a bike is hard to steer, too big (or too small), geared too high, or simply awkward, it adds frustration to a process that’s already challenging. The right bike removes barriers.
Mercifully for today’s youngsters, it no longer has to be as hard as it was for me. We’re in an era where premium kids’ bikes are widely available (for those willing to spend). But premium equipment comes at a commensurately high price. And since kids grow fast—and gear is highly size-specific—many parents end up spending year after year to keep up.
Prevelo Zulu One
Growing up, I heard many variations of “that’s too nice for a kid.” Whether it was food, clothes, or sports gear, the underlying message was clear: the good stuff is for grownups and kids need to earn their stripes first. But I’m here to push back on that idea. If you want your kids to enjoy the riding—and maybe even ride with you someday—get them good equipment. Quality gear makes the experience better. And all parents know that when an activity is more fun, it’s easier to keep kids engaged.
I’ve got two kids: one five, one three, both obsessed with riding. They each took a different path to independent riding, and in the process, I saw how the right gear changes everything. Not just in performance, but in how much they want to ride.
When my oldest was 15 months old, Specialized released the Hotwalk Carbon—a wildly over-the-top carbon balance bike with 8-inch wheels that weighed just four and a half pounds. At the time, I thought it was equal parts amazing and ridiculous. As the only member of Bicycling’s Test Team (at the time) who had a balance bike-aged child, it was my great fortune to bring it home for some real world testing. That bike changed everything for my son, who had shown some interest in riding, but the balance bike we had was too heavy and awkward. Every time he tried to use it, he’d lose interest fast.
The day I brought home the Hotwalk Carbon, he instantly latched onto it. It fit his tiny hands and pint-sized body perfectly, was light enough for him to lift, and just felt right. It was built with real attention to how small kids move and ride. That bike was a turning point—not just for him, but for me. It showed how much thoughtfully designed gear can impact a child’s experience.
Fast forward four years: the high-end kids’ bike category is thriving. Major brands are making real investments, and there are multiple companies focused exclusively on kids’ bikes. That’s huge progress. But even now, many still miss the mark in crucial ways.
Recently, the redesigned Prevelo Zulu One arrived at Bicycling’s Easton, PA headquarters. I brought it home for my three-year-old daughter, who was on the cusp of pedaling unassisted, to try. One thing was immediately clear: Prevelo is one of the brands that is getting the important details right. They come at a high price, but they make a disproportionately big difference in the quality of a young rider’s experience.
Weight
I’m a self-professed weight weenie. I love the way a 16-pound bike disappears under my 175-pound frame—that’s a scant 9% of my body weight. The Zulu One tips the scales at just 14 pounds, a class-leading weight for a kids bike with 14-inch wheels. But even so, for my daughter, a 14-pound bike is still 35% of her body weight. That’s like me riding a 60-pound bike. Every gram counts more for kids than it does for adults.
Prevelo keeps weight down, but crucially, they don’t chase it at the expense of performance. Some brands shed weight up by skimping on brakes, skinny tires or gear range. This Prevelo strikes the right balance between lightweight and capable.
Thoughtful, Kid-First Components
Hydraulic Disc Brakes
These add a little weight compared to rim brakes or cable-actuated disc brakes, but they’re worth it. They’re more powerful, more consistent, and easier for tiny hands to operate than any cabled brake. The first time you see a runaway child barreling towards an obstacle only to see the bike come skidding to a stop moments before disaster strikes, you’ll be thankful for hydraulic disc brakes.
Short Cranks with a Narrow Q-Factor
Prevelo uses custom-made 85mm cranks with a narrow bottom bracket. That, paired with small pedals, keeps ground clearance high—a critical element to reduce pedal strikes every time they turn. I learned that lesson the hard way with my son. I learned that lesson the hard way with my son. I thought I was clever putting a pair of adult-sized Crankbrothers Stamp pedals on his first bike, thinking the bigger platform would make it easier for him to find and stay on the pedals. It worked—but it also led to frequent pedal strikes when he turned. I should have known I couldn’t expect a four-year-old to know to keep his inside pedal up during a sharp turn, or to coast with his pedals level over uneven terrain.
Smart Gear Ratios
Adults can muscle up a hill in a big gear. Kids? Not so much. The Zulu One uses an 18t front ring paired with a 10t cog in back—20% lower gearing than a comparable Early Rider Seeker 14. My daughter couldn’t move that Seeker except on flat pavement. Now, on the Zulu One, she’s ripping around our not-at-all flat backyard with no issue.
Geometry That Inspires Confidence
Mountain bikes got the long/low/slack treatment years ago for good reason—longer reach, lower center of gravity, and a more relaxed head angle makes bikes more stable and predictable. Kids need that even more than adults do. The Zulu One follows suit with a 680mm wheelbase and a 66-degree head angle. Compare that to the Spawn Yoji 14 (my son’s first pedal bike), which has a shorter 607mm wheelbase and a steeper 72-degree head angle. That geometry makes steering very twitchy for new riders, while the Prevelo’s geometry makes riding easier, smoother, and less scary.
Balance Bike Conversion
Kids don’t follow one timeline. My son stayed on a balance bike until he was four, until he was so big he couldn’t ride his little bike without crashing, then went straight to pedaling on 16-inch wheels. My daughter outgrew her balance bike when she was two and a half, before she was strong enough to push the pedals on a bike with 14-inch wheels, even though she was tall enough to fit.
The Zulu One and Zulu Two have what Prevelo calls Balance-Tec frame design. In plain English, it means these bikes can be run as balance bikes (with a conversion kit) or full pedal bikes. There’s a link in the chainstay that lets you remove the chain without breaking it, snap-on shields to protect the bottom bracket (and act as footrests), and an offset seat tube that allows a super low saddle height—so even very small kids can get both feet on the ground.
Although it doesn’t convert to a pedal bike, Kids Ride Shotgun makes an excellent balance bike called the Dirt Hero for kids, like my daughter, who are too tall for most balance bikes but not quite ready pedal everywhere.
Yes, It’s Expensive. But It’s Not as Crazy as It Sounds.
The Zulu One costs $600. That’s a serious price tag for a kids’ bike. Comparable bikes from Spawn and Early Rider land in the same range. Woom is generally cheaper and sometimes lighter, but you won’t find hydraulic brakes or knobby tires on the small sizes.
When you factor in how fast kids grow, it’s tempting to size up. Don’t. A bike that fits and performs well is critical—not just for safety, but for fun. With kids’ bikes, we’re in the business of maximizing fun.
The good news: high-quality bikes like the Zulu are durable and well-built, making them easy to hand down or buy second-hand. If you’ve got multiple kids or friends to pass it along to, the investment stretches further.
But more than just dollars and resale value, think about the bigger picture. A good bike gives a child independence. It expands their world. It teaches balance, coordination, and confidence. And if you’re lucky, a good bike sets the stage for a lifelong love of riding.
So if you’re on the fence: yes, premium kids’ bikes are expensive. But more than just a bike that will be outgrown, it’s also the gift of freedom. Of adventure. Of riding beside your kid with joy instead of tears (and maybe your tears of joy).
Bobby is part of the Bicycling Test Team and brings with him over a decade of professional racing experience, including 3 Olympic Team berths. Prior to joining Bicycling, he raced professionally on the road and track for over ten years and dabbled in cyclo-cross and cross-country mountain bike racing as a junior. His resume includes a bronze medal at the 2015 Track Cycling World Championships, three trips to the Olympic Games, Pan American titles, and dozens of National titles. In his spare time between testing bikes and continuing to race at a regional level, he can be found enjoying the quieter side of life and cheap beer on the farm he shares with his wife and their 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 14 chickens.
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