A brake is a complete must have...
Although I have to say Carla has gotten very good at anticipating and
really
only
uses it when really nessesary...
RR coming and yes the maiden voyage for me was brakeless...


Jimbo(san)

As my not quite three year old son says everytime he's in the middle of
doing
something dangerous, "be carepul".

Bike content: he figured out how to pedal and steer at the same time last
weekend. We'll work on brakes next....

-Andrew

What do kids usually get on their bikes these days... is it still coaster
brakes
or do they start right up with hand brakes?

Jimbo(san)


Well the classic place to start is with a brakeless fixie (with three wheels).

We skipped that step as a buddy of mine gave my son a Giant Animator BMXy thing
with coaster brake. It was a bit aspirational as the gift was given before he
could even walk. I'll probably add handbrakes to it sometime in the next year
or so to get him used to the idea. I figure his next bike will probably be
handbrakes only.

If I had it to do over (which I do, as my other son just turned one) I'd go the
tricycle route first. The fact that there's no freewheel makes the connection
between turning pedals and forward motion much more clear.

-Andrew