Thursday, October 16, 2014

Balance Bikes! - FirstBIKE Giveaway.


Last summer, Chris noticed our neighbor's little boy's bike. He was two and zooming around confidently, as fast as he could go on the way to the park. I hadn't noticed anything about it at first other than how much fun he was having. But Chris pointed out that the bike had no pedals and no training wheels. Yet this little two year old was gliding around on his own completely able to balance.


It made so much sense. Why were training wheels invented when the hard part of learning to ride is balancing not pedaling? We were sold, and Chris went on one of his product research rampages. He read reviews and consumer reports for a few days until he settled on FirstBIKE. He even called the customer service line. He is thorough. I've mentioned before that we are pretty minimalist in some aspects of kid stuff, but when it comes to really useful and beneficial items like a child bike seat, we'll go for it. The FirstBIKE Basic Blue was going to be Ryan's Christmas/2nd birthday present which was a far cry from his first Christmas and birthday when we just didn't get him any presents. When we bought it last September, we were too excited so we jumped the gun. Chris quickly assembled it (it was so easy) during Ryan's nap time, and we wait for him to wake up. Sadly, it was slightly too tall for him at 20 months so it sat in the the closet until his birthday when everything was covered in snow. 


Finally, when it was spring, he finally got to ride it outside, and we are completely satisfied with our purchase. I love watching Ryan and his friends use it - it is amazing how quickly children learn. If you are having trouble imagining what it looks like when a child is riding a balance bike, I put together a little video for you. Please excuse my lack of cinematography skills:  


FirstBIKE from Katrina on Vimeo.
FirstBIKE was started by a German cyclist and dad who wanted to build a bike that his children could learn to ride intuitively. He developed a bike that naturally helps develop a child's balance, motor skills and self-confidence. Here are the specs:

+ For children from age 2 to 5 (with a lowering kit, they can start at 22 months)

+ High-tech, injection-molded composite frame doesn't scratch, splinter, swell or rust like wood or metal frames
+ Extremely lightweight 
+ High-strength yet flexible, and durable material
+ Weatherproof
+ No sharp edges, parts or extruding screws
+ Easy to carry, clean and store (The holes in the frame make it easy to hang from my stroller when Ryan isn't riding it if we are out walking)
+ Sealed industrial wheel bearings to prevent clogging by dirt or gravel
+ Adjustable, tools-free seat with special "horse saddle" shape to provide maximum comfort and stability to prevent children from slipping off
+ Grows with your child until they are ready for pedals
+ Height adjustment at the turn of a knob (It is so easy. Our neighbors and Ryan can take turns on it within seconds)
+ Child-friendly, rear drum SafetyStop™ brake (the Basic Blue bike that Ryan has does not have a break)
+ Lifetime Warranty on frame & fork; 5 year warranty on all other parts
+ FUN and keeps your kids active. 

I have been SO excited about this next part. I reached out to FirstBIKE telling them how much we loved Ryan's bike that we bought, and they are generously offering the winner of the giveaway a bike in the style and color of his or her choice. That is up to a $199 value! 


So which one would you go for?! Are you as excited about this as I am? 


THANK YOU for supporting my blog, and thank you to FirstBIKE for this giveaway!


You know how to Rafflecopter it up. (And for those wary about sharing your email to sign up in Rafflecopter, it is just so I know how to contact you when you win!)


Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

78 comments :

  1. Street Green. Of course, if I win, I'll be storing it away until summer 2016 or so (still worth it!).

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    1. Isn't it cute to imagine little Toddler Gerardi dominating the Boston sidewalks on one? And it is so easy to store!

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  2. We could add a violet one for Leah to our collection of 5 bikes :)

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  3. What a great idea! It makes perfect sense!!! We would love one in racing green!

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  4. The limited blue looks like Daddy's bike!

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  5. What a great Christmas gift idea! Thank you!

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  6. I am not entering as I have no children and that might be excessive (do they make them for 30 year olds?) but I just had to say this video is TOO CUTE. Go Ryan GO!!

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  7. Street in (gender neutral-ish) green.

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  8. So cute. Great idea. I'd go with cross red!

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  9. I'd love this for my almost 2 year old!

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  10. How awesome! My husband is a biker and really wants one of these for our son! I love the Street Blue, but the Limited Blue is pretty slick too!

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  11. These are so cute! My two year old son would love this. i think my pick would be the Cross read

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  12. Street Blue for sure. This is such a fun product!

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  13. Dying to try this! I'd go with Red and would make a perfect Christmas gift. I hope i wiiiiin!

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  14. the racing green would be a PERFECT birthday present for my constant-motion little boy

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  15. I would get a Cross so my boys could ride it where we live - country, gravel roads, etc :-) Probably in red, just because it's fun!

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  16. This would be the perfect Christmas gift for our two year old, Hudson. I love the Cross Bike in silver!

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  17. Oh my goodness, my oldest would lose her mind over the Street Pink bike (and with three girls in a row, pink is a safe bet for us for a good long while, as much as I may dislike it, myself).

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  18. Cross Red, so my boy can ride it in the backyard until we move somewhere with a driveway and a less-busy street! I do love the look of a red bicycle.

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  19. Love them all! But favs are street or cross red. Thank you!!

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  20. Oh wow! I love limited blue and street green!

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  21. All about the street blue!! And Ryan is a rockstar on it!

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  22. This is awesome! With our rough roads, I'd have to go with the Cross - in silver. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  23. Street pink for our 2 girls!!!! Have seen these at the park and it looks awesome but haven't bought one yet so this would be a huge blessing to our family!

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  24. Some kids in our neighborhood zoom around on them too--and I'd love for E to do the same one day! I'd go with silver.

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  25. Very cool! Our neighbors have a similar bike that they love. I think our biys would love the street red!

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  26. Maybe silver so it could be for any gender? I want one of these so bad, I'm considering joining FB and Twitter for more entries!! Thanks for hosting the giveaway :)

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  27. Oh I think my niece would love that street pink one!!

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  28. Green for sure! I was just looking at one of these for John Patrick

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  29. I'd pick the cross silver, only because our nephews favorite color changes weekly. haha. And I'd add a Bell Dino Compass and maybe a basket....but those skis are pretty tempting too.

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  30. Any color would do!! I don't think my son would care...they look so much fun.

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  31. I like the street red. I've heard the transition from balance bike to bicycle can be really quick.

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  32. Wow, this is SO darn cool... my little boy would be "freak out" happy! I know he would surely pick the racing red bike!! Thanks so much for the sweet chance.

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  33. I would love the Limited Blue for my son. Just this morning I had been thinking about getting a balance bike for when he gets older. A balance bike worked so well for my daughter.

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  34. So awesome! What a great giveaway! I think I'd go with the Cross Silver.

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  35. Wow, I would take any of them! My little boy would be thrilled!

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  36. I would love this bike for my little one! Such a great giveaway Katrina!

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  37. The Cross in Red. My daughter would be over the moon!

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  38. I'd go with the cross in silver!! So cute!!

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  39. I'd go with limited orange.

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  40. I'd love one of these for my daughter! I'd probably go silver....

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  41. This looks very cool! I can image my very active 9 month old would love this in a year or two! I would pick the Street Red

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  42. I love the limited orange! Hoping to get this for my 2 baby girls!

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  43. My son would love one of these!

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  44. My daughter is obsessed with orange, so I'd have to go with the Cross Orange!

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  45. I love the idea of balance bikes! My son isn't quiiite big enough yet, but I'll happily put a "Limited Orange" in the closet for a few months until he's ready!

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  46. Street Green! And Ryan's smile in the video is the cutest.

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  47. I would love the basic blue for little Jorge!

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  48. Oh he is so cute Katrina! This bike is such a well designed piece for kids! So cool! Love the basic blue:)

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  49. I think the Limited Blue looks pretty cool, but I know the actual rider would immediately go for "Racing Red"!

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  51. We need something new for our lil' man, #6. His German Godmother would approve. The basic blue would be perfect.

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  52. These are so cute! The street blue would be perfect!

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  53. So cute - been wanting this bike for my girls!

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  54. I'm sold! Blue street bike for my 2 year old.

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  55. I would love to get the Cross Red for my 2.5 year old. He will be loving learning to ride this coming summer. Perfect!

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  56. These are perfect! I think my son would love the Street Red color!

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  57. I'd probably choose Racing Red.

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  58. Cross red - love the gender neutral so as to accommodate those future siblings (hopefully!)

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  59. I think this bike is so cool. I would love to get the street blue! -Kari

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