FAQ for new Retail Customers
1. Why does my wheel make a clunking sound?
2. I’ve heard that the Strider grips wear-out or tear quickly.
OR
My hand grips are torn and the handlebars are sticking through. What should I do?
3. When do we add the optional foot brake?
4. When do we switch to a pneumatic tire and metal wheel?
5. When do I need the XL seat post?
6. My wheels are wobbly, what should I do?
7. Why is the Strider headset plastic?
8. Why doesn’t the Strider have a Quick-Release seat post?
9. Why doesn’t the Strider have a kickstand?
10. Why doesn’t the Strider have a hand brake?
11. Why doesn’t the Strider have a steering limiter?
12. My child already has a tricycle; Why should I get a Strider PREbike?
13. My child is about ready for a regular bicycle. Wouldn’t I be wasting money buying her a Strider™ PREbike?
14. What can a child do on a Strider™ PREbike that he/she can’t do on a tricycle or regular pedal bike?
15. What type of material is used to build the Strider™?
16. How old does a child have to be to ride a Strider™ PREbike?
17. My child is kind of timid. Will he be able to ride a Strider™ PREbike?
18. How do I teach my child to ride a Strider™ PREbike?
19. We live in the country with no sidewalks. Can my child still use a Strider™ PREbike?
20. Does the Strider™ balance bike have brakes?
21. My child is already using a bike with training wheels -can the Strider™ still be a useful learning tool for her?
22. How will I know when my child is ready to move from a Strider™ to a regular pedal bike?
23. I’ve heard a lot about toxic paint. Is the paint on the Strider safe and what colors are offered?
24. Is any assembly necessary?
25. Why can’t I just take the pedals off a regular bike?
26. Does the Strider™ PREbike have benefits for parents or other caretakers?
27. Does the Strider™ have a warranty?
28. How does riding the Strider™ benefit a child?
29. How early should a parent introduce a child to a new physical activity like biking?
1. Why does my wheel make a clunking sound?
Check the bearings and see if they are loose. If the bearings look good you may have a faulty hub. If the hub appears sloppy this is a warranty issue. Contact Strider Sports at (605) 342-0266 or www.stridersports.com/warranty
2. I’ve heard that the Strider grips wear-out or tear quickly.
OR
My hand grips are torn and the handlebars are sticking through. What should I do?
We have upgraded the grips with a large cushion end design, if your grips are the skinny originals we will replace with the upgraded grip at no charge.
3. When do we add the optional foot brake?
We recommend the brake when your toddler is consistently putting their feet on the footrests and gliding, or have become more advanced with their riding skills.
4. When do we switch to a pneumatic tire and metal wheel?
The EVA tire and plastic wheel is very durable and trouble free, the pneumatic option is for the consumer who absolutely has to have an air tire/metal wheel and is not concerned about the added weight.
5. When do I need the XL seat post?
When your toddler can no longer fit on their current seat post and saddle with a slight bend in the knee it may be time to upgrade. Anytime we sell a bike for 4 year olds and older an XL seat post and saddle is recommended.
6. My wheels are wobbly, what should I do?
When it comes to bikes for Toddlers low weight is critical. Strider Sports specifies a light plastic wheel and EVA Polymer tire to minimize weight. The trade-off for this is a wheel and tire that sometimes wobbles
7. Why is the Strider headset plastic?
You’ll find a common theme in the Strider design, lightweight and simple. The plastic headset is almost one pound lighter than a standard headset and rarely requires maintenance. It also features a progressive nature. At first the headset will be tight and a little hard to turn, for toddlers just learning to ride this keeps them heading straight even when they are distracted. Then as they learn to steer the headset loosens and allows them to make quick steering changes.
8. Why doesn’t the Strider have a Quick-Release seat post?
Seat height adjustment is the most critical adjustment on the Strider PREbike. We’ve designed it with a standard bolt and nut adjustment so that typically only adults will be making changes. If you have multiple children using a bike, or other reason to adjust the seat often we do offer a Quick-Release.
9. Why doesn’t the Strider have a kickstand?
First, kids are kids and they will rarely use a kickstand. Second, the kickstand adds weight, and the Strider needs to be as light as possible to ensure success for Toddlers. Third, there aren’t any kickstand designs that don’t get in the way of a child’s feet and heels when they stride, they are quite dangerous.
10. Why doesn’t the Strider have a hand brake?
We want children to be safe. We researched various "stopping" methods as they relate to really young children. In the end, in a panic situation, the natural instinct of children is to put their feet down. Even children capable of using a brake revert to planting their feet if they have to stop quickly. The hand brake option does not make sense based on child anatomy... just gripping the bar is a handful for a 2-3 year old
hand... their fingers are not long enough or strong enough to pull a brake lever.
11. Why doesn’t the Strider have a steering limiter?
Safety! Yes, no steering limiter is actually safer because in a crash the handlebars need to be able to fold flat; not be stopped by a limiter and stick up to jab the child in the chest or face. Strider also wants Toddlers to set their own limits. They need to learn at a slow speed that turning the handlebar too sharply will cause a crash. We’ve seen some children transition from a bike with a limiter to a larger bike only to immediately turn to the "stopping point" of the old bike and crash at high speed.
12. My child already has a tricycle; Why should I get a Strider PREbike?
With a tricycle kids are limited to hard smooth surfaces. A toddler on a Strider™ can go anywhere they can walk. If you take your child for a walk with a tricycle, you are always waiting for him or her to catch up. If you take a child for a walk with a Strider™ PREbike, you’ll be hurrying to keep up with your child. Kids learn balance, steering, and self-confidence on a Strider™. On a tricycle they don’t learn any of the skills needed to eventually ride a regular pedal bike. In addition, the Strider™ PREbike weighs less than half as much as most tricycles and, therefore, is much more manageable for a small child.
13. My child is about ready for a regular bicycle. Wouldn’t I be wasting money buying her a Strider™ PREbike?
We don’t think so. Most Strider™ kids easily make the transition from their
Strider™ PREbike to a regular pedal bike without the need for training wheels. They’ve already learned the necessary balance and steering skills. Most kids still ride their Strider™ PREbike after they get their pedal bike because they can do more tricks, have more fun, and go more places on the PREbike.
14. What can a child do on a Strider™ PREbike that he/she can’t do on a tricycle or regular pedal bike?
We’ve set up demonstration courses and had first time riders going up
ramp-liketeeter-totters in fifteen minutes. It’s really rewarding to watch a formerly timidthree- year old shout, "Daddy. Watch me!" just before he/she goes up and over the teeter-totter. Kids also make their Striders™ into off-road vehicles, which they cannot do on tricycles and regular pedal bikes without great strength and skill.
15. What type of material is used to build the Strider™?
The majority of the Strider™ frame is made from durable, light gauge steel tubing, the wheels from heavy plastic, and in keeping with our emphasis on the "Fun" factor, the Strider™ comes with superlight, maintenance-free foam tires. No flats, no pumping air, just get on and go. The Strider™ is not a fragile toy; it is a well-built vehicle that should easily serve several growing children.
16. How old does a child have to be to ride a Strider™ PREbike?
If a child can place his/her feet fl at on the ground while sitting on the seat, he/she can ride a Strider™ PREbike. A few kids fifteen months old have learned to ride a Strider™ better than they can walk. We suggest a 1 to 5 year old range and an inseam of at least 11".
17. My child is kind of timid. Will my child be able to ride a Strider™ PREbike?
Probably. Most kids feel very comfortable on a Strider™ PREbike, because they feel totally in control. They have four points of contact with the ground (both feetand both wheels) and the PREbike is much lighter than a conventional bike or tricycle and, therefore, easier to handle.
18. How do I teach my child to ride a Strider™ PREbike?
Don’t worry, your child will figure it out a lot faster than you will figure out a way to teach him/her. For some reason Strider™ operation seems to come to children naturally. They do better getting encouragement from parents rather than getting
riding tips or instruction.
19. We live in the country with no sidewalks. Can my child still use a Strider™ PREbike?
Sure. Kids can’t develop enough leg power to operate a regular bicycle "off-road,"but they can ride a Strider™ PREbike on grass, gravel (if it is not too deep), and up and down dirt mounds.
20. Does the Strider™ balance bike have brakes?
The beginning rider should only use his/her feet against the ground to control speed and to stop. For the advanced rider, the Strider™ is designed to accept an optional foot-operated rear friction brake that not only stops the Strider™ quickly,but also creates a cool skid mark when applied hard! The brake is a simple one-bolt installation.
21. My child is already using a bike with training wheels - can the Strider™ still be a useful learning tool for my child?
Training wheels are very scary for children. The sensation of tipping from side-to-side keeps them from focusing on the tasks at hand, pedaling and steering. Learning to balance and steer on the Strider™ makes the transition to the pedal bike much easier. Forget the training wheels. Once your child is confident on the Strider™, they will be able to transfer quickly to a pedal bike without training wheels.
22. How will I know when my child is ready to move from a Strider™ to a regular pedal bike?
When you see your child coasting down hills with feet up, going over and
around obstacles, and speeding along with forceful strides, you will know that they have mastered the necessary techniques of balance and steering to begin riding a pedal bike. The transition will be quick and easy. However, you will discover that even though your child can ride their pedal bike without training wheels, they will continue to ride their Strider™ PREbike for pure fun. On the Strider™, a child is confident
enough to continually push to higher levels of expertise. Eventually, these higher thinking, higher level skills are transferred to his/her pedal bike. At this point, the child may ‘hang up’ the Strider™. However, we have found there is usually a one to two year overlap when the child rides both.
23. I’ve heard a lot about toxic paint. Is the paint on the Strider safe and what colors are offered?
Strider™ PREbikes are manufactured in China. The paint has been tested by an independent lab and has been certified safe. It exceeds the safety standards set by codes such as California’s Proposition 65. The Strider™ is available in six vibrant colors: red, blue, orange, yellow, lime green, hot pink.
24. Is any assembly necessary?
Assembly is very basic, taking approximately 5 minutes: tighten one bolt to align the handle-bars and two nuts to mount the front wheel. Adjust the seat height and your Strider ™ balance bike is ready to go.
25. Why can’t I just take the pedals off a regular bike?
You could, but a conventional bike will still be too tall and too heavy for your two year old. The Strider™ PREbike is uniquely designed to allow the seat to be adjusted five or six inches lower than the seat on a conventional bike (or other PREbikes) and at only seven pounds it weighs about half as much as a regular pedal bike.
26. Does the Strider™ PREbike have benefits for parents or other caretakers?
Could one even hope for benefits for a parent from such a small vehicle that benefits kids so much? You bet! Freedom! Freedom from carrying a tired or rebelling child, and freedom from coaxing a dawdling one to catch up. In fact, the parent will soon become the one trying to keep up; brisk walks, jogging, or bicycling now become exercise options to make outings more enjoyable for everyone. The outings will no longer be limited to flat, hard surfaces either; the Strider™ will easily handle
a forest trail or a two-track dirt road if you feel like a walk in the woods... try that with training wheels or a trike!
27. Does the Strider™ have a warranty?
Yes, the Strider™ comes with a 1 year warranty against manufacturing defects. The warranty is limited to riders less than 50 lbs. The Strider™ serial number needs to be registered to activate the warranty. The bottom line, though, is we want you to be satisfied with the product, and we want you to share that satisfaction with other parents. We welcome feedback and will quickly respond to warranty issues.
28. How does riding the Strider™ benefit a child?
With the light weight and simplicity of a Strider™, young riders soon feel confident and in control. At this young age, bicycles are simply too tall, too heavy, and too complex for youngsters to feel this sense of control. Advances in coordination and balance follow quickly as do the development of the thought processes necessary for steering, crossing obstacles, backing up, and doing tricks. To watch this development of thought and skill is actually quite amazing.
29. How early should a parent introduce a child to a new physical activity like biking?
Pediatric neurologists have long noted that there is a rapid learning curve in children ages 0-6. Most of the great masters in sports and music have begun study at a very early age. We have found that kids have a natural curiosity about the Strider™. Watch some of our video clips to see pre-two year olds start their Strider™ experience. They are not frightened by the Strider™, and they advance quickly on
their own.
