141 of 143 people found the following review helpful
A Preschooler's Dream Vehicle - Totally Recommended,
June 1, 2008 Customer Video Review Length:: 4:49 Mins
I researched available balance bikes and decided that the Mini Glider is the best for my son. He loves it and couldn't be happier. (He has the blue one, but the color doesn't make a difference.) Here's what sets the Mini Glider apart from the other choices:
- Super lightweight. Shipping weight is 6 pounds. Compare to the 14 pound Kettler Sprint. The lighter, the easier for a young child to manipulate. Watch my son mount, turn around, dismount, and even lift his Mini Glider with ease.
- Foot pegs for ease of riding and transition to a pedal bike. Most brands have no foot rest for training foot position. The Glider Rider Bike has a 10-inch footplate, but my son's shoes are already 9 inches long. His big feet fit on the Mini Glider's foot pegs with no trouble.
- Hand brake. Some others leave this out, saying that the child shouldn't go faster than his feet can stop him. My son figured out how to use the brake on his own. It is helpful to him when stopping at the bottom of a hill. At the end of the video, just before the last notes of the music, you can hear the "Shhh" of the brake as he brings the glider to a safe stop.
- Solid, no-pump tires. With a vehicle this lightweight, you don't need the hassle of airing up tiny tires. These tires are sturdy and give plenty of traction.
- Seat height easily adjusts with the turn of one bolt.
- Minimal assembly required. Simply insert the handle bars, tighten with the included tool, adjust the seat, and go.
- Excellent customer service from the manufacturer. I had a question about adjusting the brake, and when I called the # in the instruction manual I spoke to a real person immediately.
My son is a tall (44-inch) 4 1/2 year old. Not particularly athletic or graceful, it took hi m until the age of 4 to learn to pedal a tricycle. When he became interested in bicycles, I got him the Mini Glider. At first, he straddled the seat and waddled with the glider. He soon progressed to walking, running, one-foot-pumping, and coasting with his feet on the foot pegs. The video shows his amazing progress from his second day of riding the glider through 2 1/2 weeks of learning. He loves showing off his skills to everyone, and he wants to go riding every day.
Edit: The new model now offered for sale has a quick-release seat clamp. No tool is needed to adjust the seat. They have also made the handlebars adjustable, for an even more customizable fit. Excellent!
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30 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Seat is low but handlebars are high,
May 12, 2010 We bought two of these, one for our 3.5 year old and one for our 2 year old. Our 3.5 year old has been fine and has enjoyed it. But the handlebars are too high for our 2 year old. The handlebars do not adjust. In the photo, the seat is raised up very high. In reality for a 2 or 3 year old, the seat is much lower and the handlebars end up too high. We would have been better off with a Strider because the handlebars are low and also flat instead of curved.
So far, our 3.5 year old hasn't used the foot rest at all. I think it's easier for him to balance with his knees bent and feet dangling vs. putting his feet on the foot rest. The hand brake is also hard to operate without good grip strength. When I picked this bike over the Strider I thought the footrest and the handbrake would be added value but in reality they have not been used.
If your child is small and has short arms I wouldn't get this bike due to the high handlebars!
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Was this review helpful to you? 25 of 28 people found the following review helpful
BEST BALANCE BIKE HIGH QUALITY,
October 8, 2008 I purchased the mini glider for both my son and daughter. Both loved the bike, my son at age 17 months was gliding in a matter of days. My daughter at 4 took a little longer. The bike took a beaten and would not break even after every kid in the neiborhood cruised around with it. I also purchased a go glider for a friends 7 year old, who loved the mini glider and who was already riding a two wheeler but was hooked on the graceful gliding. This was the best gift I could have purchased. I called the manufacturer with a question, I got a live person without being placed on hold! The picture on this website doesn't due the product justice! The colors are metalic and bright, and bike is extremly light weight and easy for the kids to handle. I wish I had this bike as a kid.
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Strider ST-3 Replacement Wheel: EVA Polymer; Sold as Each; Black - Strider Running Bike PartsStrong Customer STRIDER RimDurable No-Flat TireSold IndividuallyItem SpecificationsColorBlack See Details >> 
