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Grace’s Strider Balance Bike & a Strider Giveaway

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In April, during the Ultimate Blog Party at 5 Minutes for Mom, I mentioned that I’d love to win a Strider Balance Bike for Grace. I wanted to give it to her for her third birthday.

If you aren’t familiar with them, read this post on balance bikes by Sue at 5 minutes for Mom.

Basically, they are normal bikes without the pedals. They allow small children, even under two, to learn to balance and ride a bike without training wheels.

I didn’t win the drawing. I was bummed (though not at all surprised, there were hundreds of entrants). I told Joe that we’d have to buy Grace a balance bike for her birthday.

And then, the awesome Sue from 5 minutes for Mom and Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles asked if I’d like to review a Strider Balance Bike.strider balance bike

I was ecstatic, and I imagined Grace jumping on her bike and rolling all over the neighborhood.

Grace and I watched You Tube videos of kids on their balance bikes. I built the bike up, and told her how it was going to be super fun.

The day it arrived, we put it together at my mom’s house because her driveway is flat and level and ours isn’t. Grace jumped on the bike, picked up her feet, and fell over.

I’m not exactly sure what she thought was going to happen, but it wasn’t falling over. She scratched her knee a tiny bit, cried forever, and that was the end of the bike for more than two months.

I’ll be the first to admit that she’s timid, but I was growing impatient.

Weekly, I’d ask, “Hey! Wanna go ride your bike?”

She’d look at me like I’d grown an extra head and reply curtly. No.

Sue was completely patient about my review, and I was completely embarrassed to tell her that I couldn’t get Grace near her bike.

But then, one day, she tried again. She kept her feet on the ground, and she rode walked her bike around a level parking lot.

The next time, she did a little better.

A fun new pastime was born. A week or two after she fell in love with her bike, I shot the following video.

It speaks for itself.

She’s slowly, patiently, building confidence. I can’t wait til she’s really zooming around.

That day is coming soon.

And then, I’ll be lamenting that she’s super zooming around the neighborhood on a big kid bike. Tears will be shed.

By me.

Strider Balance Bike GiveawayStrider balance bike winner

Sue offered to give one lucky Feels like Home reader a Strider Balance Bike!

To enter: Tell us in the comments why  you’d like to win a balance bikes. (You can use the link to learn more about them.)

For extra entries:  Tweet about this giveaway (including @FeelsLikeHome) and leave the URL for the Tweet in the comments. You may do this daily.

Good luck! I’ll use Random.org to choose a winner some time after 11:59 pm on July 22, 2010. I used Random.org to select a winner. Congratulations to C, who left comment #34!

I received a Strider balance bike from Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles in order to evaluate before posting. Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles is also providing the bike for the giveaway.

Happily submitted to Things I Love Thursday

© 2010 – 2018, Tara Ziegmont. All rights reserved.

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Comments

  2. I would like to win because my 2 year old would LOVE it and this way he can ride a bike with his older brother. topgun34er(at)hotmail(dot)com

  3. Oooh, I have wanted a balance bike for Noah for quite some time, but I can't get past the price tags! This giveaway is perfect. I so hope I win that I'm tempted to set up a twitter account JUST to get more entries….

  4. I'd like to win so my son can learn how to ride a bike! They look really neat, and your daughter is super adorable with her “super zoom” lol!
    Thanks!
    fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

  5. I would like to win a because Gunner has downs and this would be great for him.

  8. Well, this says 0 comments, and I am sure the first won't win, but I just don't want to pass this chance up! I LOVE these bikes! I would love to have this for my daughter. She would love this so much!

  10. I would love to win this for my little grandson, it would be great for him to learn balance

  12. I have never heard of these!!!!! What a great idea! My little man can NOT get the hang of pedals. He ends up scooting around on his bikes and trikes and I know he gets frustrated. I bet this would be good for him!!

  13. Ever since I have seen these I have been fascinated by them. I think it is such a great way to introduce kids to balance before they actually learn to ride a bicycle. I would love to win this for my niece.

  16. I'd love to win the balance bike for my middle sons birthday coming up. He's a bit afraid of his 2 wheel bike and I think this would be the perfect thing to transition him!

  17. I did it Tara: I signed up for Twitter just for you! 😛 Hey, aren't you the one that finally lured me into Facebook too? I concede, I wouldn't go back to “before FB” now…
    Not sure yet how to link a particular tweet, but I'll figure it out – http://twitter.com/mathmommymusing

  18. I remember learning to ride a bike and being scared to death of crashing. I thinking it would be much easier to learn to ride and balance on a Strider Balance Bike and gain confidence on it before adding the complication of pedals!

  19. I would like to win this for my granddaughter. She is so envious of the “big kid” bikes her cousins ride. This would be wonderful for her!

  20. Our three-year-old son is very hyper, and I think this would be great for him to burn off some energy.

  21. I would love to win, my son is too little for a bike with pedals but the strider works for all ages and he is so obsessed with bikes right now!

    [email protected]

  22. I would love to have a balance bike for my son to boost his balance, coordination and confidence before placing him on a regular bike.
    I think that this bike would make the transition so much easier and better for him.
    Thank you so much for the giveaway.

    jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

  23. I have never heard of these before but they look awesome! My niece would love this!

  24. I’d love to win one for my 3 year old and eventually for his younger brother. It looks like a great thing to build his coordination as he is not a very coordinated little boy 😉

  25. I would love to win this for my grandson. I love how it strengthens thier gross motor skills and teaches them how to balance.

  28. My 3yr old would love this since she tries to keep up withh her older brother.
    vickers at comcast dot net

  30. I'd like to win this for my niece who is afraid of the one she has. I think she'd really like this one.
    dolniaks[at]consolidated[dot]net

  31. This just looks like it makes more sense than learning to pedal first. My two-year-old would use it to learn and we could also use it for my four-year-old.

  33. I'd like to win that bike for my daughter because she is a cautious little girl who will probably need something like this to build up her confidence before she ever gets a real two wheeler.

  38. You have to click on the time of the tweet and you'll get a URL specific to it. 🙂

  45. i'd love my 2 1/2 year old to learn how to balance on a bike! what a great concept

  46. We've been looking at balance bikes for a long time but have had trouble justifying the cost. Our daughter has (mild) physical delays, and we've been told that a balance bike would be a great way for her to build strength in her legs as well as her confidence. violetsayuri(at)gmail(dot)com

  47. Oh, I had been hoping to review on but it didn't work out. Chloe has a bike with training wheels. She's three. John has a tricycle. I would love to win and have the share it; learning to really ride. It's hard not to be skeptical but real moms rave about it (not just the sales pitch from the manufacturer) so I know it must work!

    jennifer @ beautifulcalling.ca
    http://www.beautifulcalling.ca

  49. My son is just learning to ride a bike and these look like a great bike to start with

  50. They are very nice, and well made. Grace's has put up with some abuse. 🙂

  52. I was just telling my husband about this type of bike yesterday. Our oldest is 3 and I'm a laid off teacher. It would be great to win!

  61. I would love to win because my daughter has sensory processing issues and with it she is unable to do things like peddaling….I think she might be able to work a balance bike…these look cute and I love all the info I read on the site

  62. I would love to win the balance bike because my daughter hates the pedals on her tricycle. I also believe that balance is more important than peddling.

  65. I'd like to win this because my 4 year old daughter is interested in learning to ride a 2-wheel bike and this would be very helpful.

  68. I would love this for 3 year old. She is just starting to learn to ride her bike. My hubby is enamored with this. He has wanted to purchase since Mackenzie was born. LOL!

  70. I would love to win this! I think it is a great idea and it seems like it would help them learn to ride so much faster than a bike with training wheels, and they would have so much fun doing it!
    irshsmil9 @ yahoo.com

  71. I want to win because my son is terrified of a bike, even with training wheels. I know he would feel more confident on this one!

  72. I'd love to win this because it would help my little neice feel like one of the big kids.
    kirbycolby at gmail dot com

  74. I have wanted one of these for SO long! They look amazing! I know my almost 2 year old daughter would LOVE it!

  76. My daughter is having a hard time switching to a 2-wheeler, so I'd love for her to be able to focus on balance first!

  82. I like the idea of teaching balance without the distraction of pedals.

    vermonster79(at)yahoo(dot)com

  83. My young nephew is learning to ride a bike but has a hard time balancing-this would be perfect for him 🙂

  85. For his third birthday, all we heard about for weeks, nay months, before was how much Murph wanted a bike. A blue bike to be specific! So of course we looked all over to find the perfect blue bike. Of which he is of course too small to actually ride. I think it's less the size issue, and more the coordination of getting the pedals to move forward. He will go a little, then slip back to a braking position. I would LOVE to win a bike that he actually might want to ride! As of right now… his bike gift has been a terrible let down!

  87. I would love to win one of these for my granddaughter, Little Miss Lily. Maybe she could burn off some energy, while improving her motor skills.

  88. I'd like one because my daughter really wants to learn to ride a bike, and I think one of these would help. 🙂

    macd9900 at gmail dot com

  90. I'd love this for my niece and two little nephews! I think they'd really like it (especially the 2 1/2 year old boy :)).

    Thanks!
    misterjimmy at sbcglobal dot net

  92. Two of my neighbors had these for their kids, but unfortunately had passed them on to others before my oldest was anywhere near old enough to try them. He's currently two and would love one. We'll be buying him one for Christmas… unless we win one first. 😉

  93. My youngest needs a good bike and I've been looking at the strider bikes for awhile. He'd just love a red one!

  95. I would love to win this for my 3 year old son. He would feel safe on it knowing he can touch the ground with his feet. These are such neat bikes. Then he would be on his way to a regular bike =)
    [email protected]

  96. I joined your blog, facebooked and newsletter and my son will be 4 next month and this would be great for him

  97. I'd love this for my son. He is almost three and would love a big-boy-bike like his sisters. His favorite color is orange, so I was immediately drawn to the orange Strider bike! 🙂 Thanks for the entry!

  101. my daughter is 2 and I would like to see for myself how much fun she'll have with this alternative to a tricycle

  103. I'd like to win the bike for my son because I think its a fantastic transitional step in between a tricycle and a bicycle that will teach balance seperately from peddaling. I'm amazed that nobody thought of these sooner! Thanks.

  105. I don't want to win the bike, but I do want to say that my boys (3 and 4.5 yrs) have balance bikes. One is a strider and the other is not. They both LOVE them! I'd recommend them to any one!

  107. I would like this as it is fun to ride while teaching balance..semtaylor(at)yahoo(dot)com

  108. I would love to win this for my son. He is obsessed with big kids riding bikes. I think it would be perfect for him and that he would have a fun time on it.

    giveawaymommy at yahoodotcom

  109. I would love to win this for my daughter. She wants her own bike so bad and this would be a perfect one to start her out on, thanks for the chance!

  110. I wanna win this for my best friends son. he would really enjoy this and be on the fast track to riding a big boy bike!!!

  111. I want this because if my son is anything like me, he'll be in his teens before he learns to ride a bike!!!!

  114. What a fun bike! This would be great to teach my Gracie how to balance. Great bike and giveaway. Thanks.

  115. I need to try something new with my kids. My oldest STILL is pretty lame on a bike. So I think if I start my two year old on a balance bike he'll be riding better than his brother in no time

  116. what a great idea for young ones! I would gift this to a good friend who has a young boy 🙂 I know they would love it!
    i2ylee(at)yahoo.com

  118. I think this is the most practical and innovative pre bike ever. Knowing what I went through in helping my children learn to pedal and balance Yuck Twice. I ended up with blisters on my hands from holding the seat so the bike wouldn't turn over with my son. Kid powered is so much better.

  119. I have a nephew that is a little hesitant to ride his bike, maybe this would help him with his confidence. Thanks!!

  121. I would like to win because my little one is about to turn three, and I think it’d be a great way to introduce a bicycle into our daily routine!

  124. because my preschooler would love this, would teach her confidence and show her how to balance..

  126. My timid 3 year old would love this and may even learn to ride a bike before his overachieving little brother does! What a great way to build confidence.

  128. I would love to win this for my daughter because she has been begging for a bicycle.

  129. Wow, I’ve never seen one of these before but I love the idea. It looks like a great bike that would put my son on a fast track to riding a bike by himself. Definite confidence booster and something that will help keep him enjoying being active.

  130. First of all, I LOVE the Strider company – they are totally awesome. They sponsored one of our raffles to raise awareness and money for a cure for colon cancer in my daddy's honor. They are still sponsoring us by offering a discount to buyers and a donation to our Undy 5000 – Dallas team through October. Go Chisum's Crew!

    I would love one for my nephew's birthday. I like that the kiddos learn balance first and foremost. I also like the fact that there are no chains or pedals to get caught up in. A boost in his self confidence is pure bonus.

  133. We would like to win the Balance Bike because it's ideal as an introductory bicycle… meaning that as the kids learn to ride the bumps aren't so big and bruises aren't so bad! 🙂

  134. I'd like to win so I can walk with my grandson when he “superzooms” (too cute!) around the neighborhood.

  135. The first time I saw a Strider bike in action (on a video) it was like a lightswitch coming on in my head. I thought “Right! That makes so much sense!” I showed the video to my partner (an Engineer) that very night because I was so impressed by the concept. How can a child learn to balance with training wheels on that prevent them from feeling the bike tip more than an inch or two in either direction? Anyway, I've been obsessed since then. 🙂 I'm so bummed I didn't find your blog before today so I could have been tweeting daily like a madwoman! 😉

  137. i would like to win a balance bike because our son is almost old enough to learn to ride

  138. my youngest daughter does not have the balance her big sister does. She struggles so much to ride her bike. I would love to get this bike for her and help her gain her confidence.

  140. I would love to win a pink one for my daughter… her older brothers had such a hard time going between training wheels and a regular bike I think the Strider Balance bike looks like a perfect way for my little girl to learn balance faster.

  143. My daughter really hasn’t figured out pedaling, but is envious of the neighborhood kids on their bikes so this would be great for her.

  144. My daughter has a tike but she just coordinate pedaling and steering simultaneously. I like the Strider bike because it takes away the focus from pushing the pedals (I'm not sure she has the leg strength for this yet) and on to keep balance and steering. She gets discouraged not being able to push and head in the direction she wants too. I would love to win this for her and boost her confidence and skills.

    [email protected]

  145. Would love to win this for my son–he's been having a hard time with balance and this would help a lot. 🙂
    marci
    tristatecruisers at yahoo dot com

  146. I like no battery, no charging and lots of kid power, and I like the way they learn to ride.

  149. I would love to win for our new neighbor, they have a little boy who would love this and would give us an excuse to go over and say hello.

  151. My little guy really wants to ride a bike. I think this would be the perfect stepping stone for him since other more traditional ones have not worked so well. Thanks for the opportunity and love the video of Grace.

  152. I would love this for my nephew to be able to learn balance (he could use some!)

  154. I would love to win this for my kids! They would have so much fun on it!
    stroker881 at hotmail dot com