Strider 14x 2-in-1 balance bike launched
The new two wheeler has a claimed weight of 12.5 pounds in balance bike form, and 15.5 pounds when pedals are added.
The company that got thousands if not millions of children rolling on their first bicycle now has a pedal-equipped offering. Strider has launched the 14x Sport Balance Bike, a 2-in-1 two-wheeler that starts as balance bike and then can transform to a singlespeed pedal bike when your tiny tot is ready.
The Strider 14x is aimed at kids 3-7, has a suggested rider height of 37”-49” with an inseam range of 16”-23”. The rider height is just a guideline, explains Strider. The critical dimension is inseam.
Saddle and handlebar height are easily adjustable, and the bike comes stock with a full-length chainguard.
The critical feature is the new bike’s modularity. Out of the box, you get an easy-to-build 14” balance bike that weighs a comparatively wispy 12.5 pounds. Saddle and handlebar height are adjustable, and there are footrests for once your child gets rolling.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSvJUTPMRO4
When balance bike mastery is achieved, simply pop off the footrests and attach the included pedal kit, a simple procedure that only takes a few minutes. Now it’s time to learn to pedal. The bike has just one speed (28t chainring up front, 16t cog in the back), and kid-friendly 76mm cranks that are easier to spin than a longer crank would be. Stopping is done via a coaster brake. And there’s even a full-length chain guard that keep pant legs protected, as well as stopping gunk and grime from building up in the drivetrain.
Training wheels are a thing of the past.
Strider also includes a 20-page full-color Learn to Ride guide that has tips on proper fit, teaching strategies, and even games you can play with your kid to make riding even more fun.
Other notable features of the Strider 14x include a wide range of adjustment (seat height goes from 38cm-55cm), low center of gravity that makes it easier to stay balanced and get a foot on the ground, and a narrow Q factor, allowing kids to toggle back and forth between pedaling and striding when they are first making the transition to pedals. Tires are 1.75” wide and unlike the hard plastic “tires” found on 12-inch Striders, these are actual real rubber with air inside, enhancing traction and increasing on-bike comfort.
The Strider 14x uses real rubber tires instead of the hard plastic variety.
Claimed weight in pedal mode is 15.5 pounds, far less than many similar sized bikes. The Strider 14x comes in green or blue and retails for $210 including shipping. For now there are just two purchasing options, consumer direct on the Strider website and on Amazon where it’s already marked down to $200 (blue frame, green frame). In Spring 2018, the bike will be become available via other channels such as bike shops and toy stores.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVsyVqJWrXc
Strider also points out that the 14x has really been optimized for children at the lower end of the published age range, 3-5 years old. For children 6-7 years old, it is still a good option until they grow past a 23” inseam. It’s also worth noting that the handlebars can be rotated back in the smallest configuration to size it down even further.
In balance bike form there are footrests on the side.
“This bike is going to once again change the game for learning to ride just like the original Strider,” said Strider founder Ryan McFarland. “It’s more than a bike. It’s a process that unfolds as the bike morphs.”
To learn more, head over to www.striderbikes.com.
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