For a child, a bike means wind in the hair, the joyous ring, ring, ring of the bell on the handlebars and freedom — even if it’s only to the end of the block and back. For parents, it’s more complicated. We need to choose safe bikes that are the right size for our children and, most important, insist that they wear their helmets.

Today’s Questions & Parents feature, Q&P for short, is with Ilene and Eric Marcos, who offer their tips for helping children have a safe and fun biking experience. The Purdys’ residents are parents of a 9-year-old boy named Tyler and owners of Bicycle World, a bike shop on E. Main Street in downtown Mount Kisco.

Q: What is the best age to introduce a child to bicycling?

P: Around age 2 to 3 is ideal to introduce them to balance and pedaling. Also, parents should stress wearing a helmet at this early age.

Q: What questions should a parent ask when buying that first bicycle? Do you recommend a tricycle or a bicycle?

P: It’s best to start with a real 12-inch bicycle with training wheels for 2- to 4-year-olds. Bicycles are stable, have brakes and the distance from the saddle to the pedals is shorter on a bike than a trike. Children can usually pedal a bicycle before they can pedal a tricycle. Also, because real bikes have brakes, you won’t have to reteach your child to use the coaster brake. When you pedal a trike backward, the child goes backward, but when you pedal a bike backward, it activates the coaster brake. Also, make sure the bike is good quality, that the training wheels are strong metal with a crossbrace and that qualified mechanics have assembled it.



Q: What is important to know about choosing a helmet?

P: Helmets should pass all required safety tests by testing organizations, such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Snell Memorial Foundation (SNELL) and the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). In addition, helmets should be sized and fit by a professional. Helmets need to sit level on the head and the straps should be snug. Helmets are designed for one crash and should be replaced if they’ve had an impact. As a note, toy stores and department stores can sell helmets that have not passed all of the required safety tests. Bike stores will sell the helmets that pass those tests. Check inside the helmet for a sticker that says which tests have been passed. If a helmet has any, or all, of the testing organization stickers, it should be OK.



Q: How much safety gear do you recommend in addition to a helmet?

P: The helmet is the most important item, but possibly gloves in case of a crash. Some children may like to wear safety pads that they use in other sports, like in-line skating.

Q: Should a parent be the one to teach a child to ride a bike?

P: A parent is usually qualified to teach a child to ride on two wheels. There is a training bar that attaches to the bike, to help the adult’s back, if needed. Like anything, the best way to improve is practice. It’s an incredibly rewarding day for everyone involved when the child frees themselves of training wheels.

Q: When should children stop using training wheels?

P: The average age is about 6. Try to avoid forcing your child to learn this skill, but make time available to teach them. Children will usually tell you when they’re ready to try without training wheels.

Q: What factors, besides cost, should parents consider when they buy a bike for their child?

P: Proper fit is the most important factor. A knowledgeable bicycle store can help you determine the right size for your child that fits today and will give maximum growth for the future. Proper assembly is a must. Department store bikes are usually assembled by non-specialist personnel. Realize that bikes are vehicles, and not toys, and quality equipment is important. Mass merchants pay a lot to license the characters that appear on their bikes, at the cost of sturdy construction and good quality components.

Q: How much should a parent expect to pay for a kids’ bike?

P: Bikes with 12-inch wheels (2 to 4 years) start at $110; 16-inch wheels (4 to 6 years) start at $130; 20-inch wheels (6 to 8 years) range from $150-$220, depending on whether it’s a single speed or multi-gear bike; 24-inch wheels (8 to 12 years) start at $250.

Q: What advice do you have for parents who can’t afford to spend a lot of money on their child’s bicycle?

P: Some bicycle shops, including ours, offer reconditioned bicycles for families on a budget. These are bike-shop-quality bikes that have been reconditioned and are mechanically sound and warranteed for 30 days. These bikes have been used, and may show wear, but they function very well. They are priced similarly to department store bikes, but offer much higher quality. Pre-owned bikes generally sell for about half the price of a new bike.

Q: How often do you and your children go bicycling together? What are your favorite places to ride?

P: We ride in the warmer months on the weekends. Some of our favorite spots are the North County Trailway and dirt roads near our home.

Q: As a bike professional and parent, what advice do you have for other moms and dads about encouraging safe bicycling?

P: Kids learn by example: Wear a helmet, use proper signals and abide by all traffic laws. Have your bicycles tuned-up as needed (about once a year), and inflate your tires before you ride.

Thanks very much to Ilene and Eric for sharing their knowledge by doing a Q&P! Check back next Friday for another Q&P. If you know any parents who you think would be great to feature, please comment here on the blog or send me an e-mail at jalterio@lohud.com.

And, in case you missed them, here are links to our first two Q&P’s, with a Pleasantville mom who is a pediatric dentist and a Chappaqua mom who is trying to improve education about the environment.