As summer winds down and school bells are about to ring, it’s time to gear up for the school year routines, and for many families, that includes bike commutes! With my own kids heading back to class and planning to bike to school several times a week, bike preparation is on my mind. We’re currently using a Prevelo Alpha 3 20″ and a Woom 5 24″ for our kindergartener and 3rd grader respectively, and ensuring these Kid Bikes are ready for daily action is key. When prepping a kid’s bike, I focus on three core areas: reliability, visibility, and of course, fun!
Essential Kid Bike Safety Check
Before the school year rush begins, performing a quick safety check on your kid bike is crucial. I follow a simple “A, B, Cs” approach to make sure everything is in top shape.
First, Air. Tire inflation is paramount for a smooth and safe ride. I make it a weekly habit to inflate the tires on their bikes and check for any signs of wear and tear. To minimize the risk of flats, especially on the way to school, I also refresh the Slime in their tire tubes periodically.
Next, Brakes. Effective brakes are non-negotiable. I meticulously check and adjust the brakes to ensure they provide quick and reliable stopping power. A little trick I use is to adjust the front brake to engage just a fraction of a second after the rear brake for balanced braking.
Finally, Chain and Components. A well-lubricated chain and smoothly working gears are essential for easy pedaling and shifting. I lube the chain regularly and run through the gears to confirm everything is functioning correctly.
For a more detailed guide on conducting a kid bike safety check, you can refer to this video.
Kid bike safety check ABC quick check for tires brakes and chain maintenance
Enhancing Kid Bike Visibility for Safety
Visibility is a major concern, especially when kids are riding amongst cars. Children are smaller and can be easily overlooked by drivers. Considering that part of my kids’ bike route involves navigating a winding neighborhood street, increasing their visibility is a top priority.
Safety Vest for Increased Conspicuity
A brightly colored safety vest is a simple yet highly effective way to make your child more visible on their kid bike. We prefer the pull-over style vest for ease of use and ensure our kids wear them every time they ride their bikes, particularly as they need to cycle on a neighborhood street to get around from our home.
Child wearing a bright yellow reflective safety vest for kid bike visibility
Kids Reflective Vest $9.99
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Bike Lights for All-Weather Visibility
Bike lights are another crucial element for enhancing visibility, regardless of the time of day. Blinky lights on the front of the kid bike and the rear of their helmet significantly improve their presence on the road. This year, we’re using the Lumos Firefly lights. Their magnetic attachment makes them easily removable, and the convenient charging station that handles four lights at once is a real time-saver. While there are more budget-friendly options available, I’m planning to evaluate the long-term value and durability of these Lumos lights over the coming months.
Lumos Firefly smart bike light system for kid bike safety and visibility
Lumos Firefly Smart Bike Light System $49.95
Sync up to 8 lights and your Lumos helmet into a smart light system with turn signals and brake lights.
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Adding Fun to Your Kid’s Bike
Making biking enjoyable is key to encouraging kids to ride more often. Adding a few fun elements to their kid bike can make all the difference.
Bells for the Joy of Ringing
Bike bells are a classic and fun bike accessory that kids love. A bell isn’t just fun; it’s also practical for alerting pedestrians and other cyclists.
Mirrycle brass bicycle bell a fun accessory for a kid bike
Mirrycle Incredible Brass Duet Bicycle Bell $11.71 $11.07
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Music for Morning Motivation
A portable Bluetooth speaker can be a fantastic addition for those morning school commutes. Music can help alleviate any morning grumpiness and make the ride more engaging and enjoyable.
Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker for music during a kid bike ride
Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker $119.00 $99.00
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Tracking Bike Rides for Engagement
To add a tech element and further incentivize biking, consider a bike ride tracker. I recently installed a small sensor on their front wheels that tracks ride statistics and uploads the data to their iPads via the Garmin app. While we are still in the early stages of using them, the kids are already thrilled to see their distance and top speed after each ride. I appreciate that this solution provides data without the distraction of a handlebar-mounted bike computer.
Garmin Speed Sensor 2 to track kid bike ride stats and distance
Garmin Speed Sensor 2 $39.99 $37.50
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Additional Kid Bike Considerations
Beyond the essentials, there are a few other practical additions to consider for your kid’s bike. For my son’s 20″ bike, I added woom plastic zip tie fenders as standard fenders wouldn’t fit the frame. I’m also adding fenders to my daughter’s Woom 5 and swapping out the original knobby tires for more robust Schwalbe city tires. These city tires offer better durability for daily commutes.
As the school year progresses, I plan to share updates on how these setups are working out! I’m also keen to hear from you – how do you equip your kids’ bikes for their bike commutes? Share your tips and ideas in the comments below!
