In today’s digital world, encouraging children to engage in outdoor activities can be difficult. However, getting out and exercising is a crucial part of our lifestyles. Cycling is a fun way to get your children outdoors. Not only does cycling promote both mental and physical wellbeing, but it also gives children a sense of independence and can boost confidence. In this blog, we explore the reasons why your child should take up cycling and how you can encourage them to do so.

What are the benfits of cycling?

• Boosts physical fitness: Cycling is an excellent way for children to engage in exercise, helping them to build strong muscles and bones. It promotes a healthy lifestyle from a young age and can help reduce the risk of any health issues.
• Increased coordination and balance: Riding a bike enhances a child’s coordination and balancing skills, which contribute to the development of key motor skills.
• Confidence building: Mastering the skill of cycling is a huge achievement for many young children, helping to boost their self-esteem and confidence. It’s a great activity to teach them perseverance and to overcome challenges.
• Social Interaction: Cycling can be a social activity, encouraging children to ride with and spend more time with family and friends. It promotes communication and social skills.

Tips to encourage kids to cycle

1. Start Early: Introduce your child to cycling at an early age. This could be with a kids’ balance bike, which help children develop balance and coordination before jumping onto a pedal bike.

Here are some great kids’ balance bikes:

Hawk Flash Balance Bike Purple – WAS £89.99, NOW £35 (SALE ENDS SOON)

The Hawk flash balance bike is a great way to introduce your child to cycling. Featuring an adjustable saddle and handlebar, and 12-inch tyres to give your child full control of their cycle.

2. Lead by example: Children will often follow in their parents’ footsteps. So, if they see you enjoying cycling, they are more likely to develop an interest. Plan family bike rides or use your bike for short trips around the neighbourhood. Sooner or later, they’ll be asking to join you for a cycling adventure!

3. Show your support: Celebrate all achievements, even the small ones! This is particularly useful if your child isn’t very confident on bike. Whether your child is starting to ride with stabilisers, or is cycling down a steep hill for the first time, make sure you celebrate this with them. Positive reinforcement will make the learning process much more enjoyable for everyone.

4. Create challenges: Make cycling even more fun by creating small challenges for your little ones to take part in. Get your children to try spotting as many animals on their cycles as they can, or to count how many flowers they see. All these help to keep them entertained and motivated to keep up the hobby.

5. Get them fun accessories: Accessories are the cherry on top of any new bike! They make a bike more personalised and encourage the owner to take pride in their belonging. Whether it’s a cool new helmet, a funky bell, or even a fancy water bottle – these small additions could really help to encourage your child to look forward to cycling. As part of the January Sale, you can get an extra 20% off spares and accessories when you spend £25 or over (Use code ‘SPARES20’).

Browse some of our fun kids’ bike accessories:

Ventura Kids Mitts Green Turtle XS – £6.99

Why not get your child some funky gloves for some added protection whilst riding their bike? Available in blue penguin, orange elephant, and pink puppy. They’re washable and feature a non-slip palm surface and Velcro fastener.

Ammaco Blue Green Spokey Dokeys 25 – WAS £4.99, NOW £2.99

Add some style to your bike these with spokey dokey’s. They’re easy to fit, and will look super cool on your child’s ride!

6. Select the correct bike: This is the most crucial part of encouraging your child to take up cycling. Making sure your child’s bike fits them correctly will hugely impact how comfortable and confident they feel whilst cycling. You may not be aware that childrens’ bikes are measured by wheel size, rather than by frame size. Your child should feel comfortable on the saddle. Ensure they can easily get on and off, can reach the handles and brakes, and can reach the pedals without stretching. Check out our handy guide on kids’ bikes sizing. We also have a large selection of kids’ bikes, with prices starting at £64.99 for 14-inch wheel. If you’re stuck for ideas, here are some of our top picks.

Top Picks – Boys’ Bikes:

Salcano Bad Boy 14-Inch Wheel kids bike Black and Green – WAS £259.99, NOW £139 (SALE ENDS SOON)

This is the perfect choice for any young adventurous child. With a tough steel frame, it’s built to last. The bike features a full enclosed chain guard for added safety. As well as, powerful front and rear V-type brakes for rapid stopping power. It also has cool ‘Bad boy’ themed wheel covers for added style.

Top Picks – Girls’ Bikes:

Flite Screamer 20 Inch Wheel kids BMX bike white and pink – WAS £220, NOW £119 (SALE ENDS SOON)

Let your child ride in style, with the Flite Screamer! Its freestyle frame, BMX fork and stunt pegs make this bike ideal for pulling off those crowd pleasing moves. It has front and rear steel V brakes, to give precise control over speed. Your child will never want to get off this bike!

You can browse our large selection of kids bikes online, or you can pop into your local Cycle King & Hawk Cycles’ store, where our friendly expert staff will be on hand to help you find the perfect bike for your child (and yourself!). We even have an in-store height chart to ensure you get it right first time.

To make the transition as smooth as possible, we recommend reading our blog on ‘5 tips for keeping your child safe on their first bike’ for more kids’ bikes safety tips.

Remember, cycling is all about getting outdoors and having fun! Encouraging your children to cycle will benefit them in all aspects of their lives, whether that’s socialising with their friends or improving their independence as they move through school and beyond. It can take a bit of patience at first, but it’ll be so worth it. So, grab those helmets, inflate those tyres, and embark on an outdoors family adventure!

[THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED]

 

It’s competition time. Sign up to the Cycle King & Hawk Cycles’ newsletter and automatically enter our January Competition to win a Professional Hector Mountain Bike in celebration of our BIG JANUARY SALE! Already part of our community of cycle-enthusiasts? Don’t worry, you can still enter below!  

Bikes makes a great gift for anyone! Whether you’re an experienced cyclist who loves keeping up with all the latest equipment, or just beginning your cycling journey. Bikes give us a sense of independence and for many of us, they’re a huge milestone in our lives. From learning to cycle as a little kid, they often bring a feeling of nostalgia. They’re also a great way for us to get outdoors and spend time with our friends and family. That’s why they make such a great gift! However, there’s so many ways we can make the gift giving extra special – whether that’s through the way the bike if gifted or wrapped, or the extra stocking fillers you buy to go with it. In this blog, we’ll give you some of our tips to make the process of gifting a bike extra special for your loved one.

1. Get to know the recipient’s cycling style/preference

Understanding what kinds of cycling the bike will be used for is key in gifting the best bike this Christmas. Will your loved one be mountain biking and need a hardtail bike, or will they be commuting to work, or just cycling around the block? What size wheel would be best for them? Are they a young adventurer who needs an 18” wheel, or an experienced cyclist-enthusiast cycling in rough terrains who would benefit most from a 29” wheel?

In need of some last-minute inspiration?

ADULT BIKES TO GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS:

The Salcano Shocker is a great bike for riders of all abilities. It’s tough, durable and great for leisure rides across gentle trails, or even for the commute to work. A brilliant choice for those who want to up their cycling activities.

Arden Peak 24 Inch Wheel Kids Mountain Bike Purple – WAS £369.99, NOW £199.00 (SALE ENDS SOON)

The Arden Peak has been designed for exploring paths, tracks and trails! It features a strong h-tensile dual suspension frame set, with adjustable front and rear suspension. With 21 speed gears and twist grip gear shifters, your child is bound to have an adrenaline filled ride!

2.  Find their dream bike! – Ask for advice in store

This is the fun bit, ensuring the bike is extra special for your loved one! We’ve got bikes in a range of colours and designs, so it’s over to you to find their dream bike! Would they like a classic all black bike, or an eye catching red?

You can also get extra accessories to ensure they’re gifted the full package for maximum safety (and style 😉). How about a helmet matching the colour of their bike? Or a set of lights to brighten their rides? Or even a drinks bottle and cage? For the younger cyclists, we’re sure they’d love a lady bug bell or a seat for their favourite teddy/Dollie! You could even decorate their wheels with a set of spokey dokeys, to make it even cooler!

Adult bike accessories:

Ammaco Leisure Helmet Black/Grey – WAS £29.99, NOW £24.99 (SALE ENDS SOON)

Raleigh Rascal Miss Helmet 44-50cm Green – WAS £18.99, NOW £15.00 (SALE ENDS SOON)

We’ve got all sorts of accessories available for you to choose from this festive period! Visit your local Cycle King & Hawk Cycles’ store or shop online. We are open up until 3pm on Christmas eve, so don’t worry if you still need to shop!

3. Get creative for little ones!

For the younger cyclists a great way to make the gift giving extra special could be to make an exciting bicycle treasure hunt. You could create some clues around the house that would lead your child to the finding the bike! It would create more exciting and make the day even more memorable.

Why not get creative with your wrapping too? You could get some funky eco-friendly wrapping paper, use some big bows, or even wrap the bike up as something different. In need of some inspiration? Check out our recent video on how to wrap your bike this Christmas!

Our expert staff are here to help you with any questions you may have! They can suggest which bike will be best for you or your loved one, as well as recommend some great products to go along with it. As well as this, if you buy your bike in store or through Click & Collect, we’ll assemble and store it for you until the big day! Our stores are open until 3pm on Christmas eve, so there’s still plenty of time to come down and buy a gift. Visit us at your local Cycle King & Hawk Cycles store or shop online this festive period.

ALL PRICES CORRECT AS OF 19/12/2023.

Mountain biking is an exhilarating and adventurous way to explore the outdoors. It’s also a sport that can often be quite the investment! High-end mountain bikes can cost thousands of pounds, making it seem like an inaccessible hobby for some. However, fear not! There are plenty of budget-friendly options available that will still provide an excellent riding experience. In this blog, we’ll explore the best budget mountain bikes under £500 available from Cycle King & Hawk Cycles.

TYPES OF MOUNTAIN BIKES:

Rigid: These have no suspension and are good for day-to-day cycling. They’re especially good for those of you who are new to cycling, as they require minimal maintenance.

Hardtail: These have a front suspension allowing for absorption of bumps in the track. We recommend these for those starting out in off-road cycling. They don’t require lots of maintenance but do ensure comfort in your ride.

Full suspension: These are fully equipped with front and rear suspension, and are perfect for anyone who loves a thrill and adventure. If most of your riding will be off-road, these are the best for you.

ASPECTS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN BUYING A MOUNTAIN BIKE: 

Frame materials: Most budget mountain bikes feature aluminium frames. Which means they are lightweight, durable, and comfortable to ride.

Suspension: Rigid and Hardtail bikes are usually more affordable and suitable for lighter trails.

Wheel size: The most common wheel sizes for mountain bikes include 26”, 27.5” and 29”. They all come with an array of advantages, so if you’re unsure which is right for you, get in touch with your local Cycle King & Hawk Cycles’ store.

• • If your main use will be short, fast-flowing trails, 26” wheels are best for you. They’re often lighter and offer better acceleration.
  • Alternatively, for a faster, strong and more comfortable ride, opt for 27.5” wheels.
  • For sturdier wheels, the 29” size will support you better over rough terrains.

Gears: Mountain bikes can have single, double, or triple chainring setups. A single chainring system is simpler and more common in budget-friendly bikes.

Our Top Picks

PRICES  CORRECT AS OF 03/11/2023. PLEASE CLICK BIKE TO SEE CURRENT PRICE.

Ammaco Montana 29″ Wheel Mountain Bike Grey –  WAS £429.99, NOW £269.99 (SALE ENDS SOON)

Perfect for the off-roading–enthusiast. The Ammaco Montana is equipped with 29” wheels, ensuring that can experience a smooth and steady ride across those trails.  The bike also features powerful disc brakes, front suspension forks and shimano revoshift 21 speed gears! With this bike, you’re completely in control of your ride.

Barracuda Draco 100 mountain bike – WAS £240, NOW £199.99 (SALE ENDS SOON)

The Draco is an amazing budget mountain bike! With mountain bike style solid geometry, front suspension forks, 18 speed running gears and powerful v-brakes – you won’t be missing out on any of the thrills!

Mountain biking doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby, and is in fact, available to everyone! Our everyday low prices mean that we can provide bikes without breaking the bank. You can browse our selection of mountain bikes here. With a range of options, you could be riding your dream mountain bike in a matter of hours! Choose click and collect or home delivery or visit us in one of our stores where our friendly staff will help you find your perfect bike.

Prices correct as of 03/11/2023.

Bikes provide your child with a sense of independence, whilst also encouraging your children to enjoy exercise and embrace going outdoors. Although they are exciting gifts to receive, if not gifted correctly, they can come with the added stress of managing excess finances and the dreaded storing of presents until the big day. That’s where our Christmas Savings Club comes in handy. Let us do the hard work for you!

What is the Christmas Savings Club?

Our Christmas Savings Club allows you to reserve a kids bike with just a small £10 initial deposit. We will reserve the bike, assemble it, and hide it away until the big day. It’s a great way to avoid any disappointment this festive period.

You can pay the remaining balance whenever suits you choosing from a wide variety of payment plans. With flexible payments and no credit checks, what’s there to lose? This year, we’ve even included a FREE pre-service and first service, meaning that you’re getting even more for your money!

All you need to do is choose a bike that you want to reserve, pay the deposit and we’ll take it from there!

Top Picks

The Schwinn Mist is great for any young child wanting to get outdoors this Christmas. With eye-catching pink floral graphics and colour matched accessories, you can be sure your child will feel cool and stylish! What makes this bike stand out is that its geometry has been completely tailored to better match a child’s body type. This helps create a more comfortable ride for you child, ensuring they feel confident and comfortable

 Schwinn Koen 16 Inch Wheel Kids BMX Bike Red – £154.99 (on sale for £99.99)

The Schwinn Koen is the perfect bike for any little rider seeking adventure. It comes with removable stabilisers, a seat handle, and is easily adjustable! All while keeping that trendy BMX style. It has also been re-designed to tailor a child’s body, meaning that it’ll ensure a much smoother ride for your child.

Set of 33 Star Shaped Spokey Dokeys – £4.99 (on sale for £3.99)

Elevate your child’s style with some Spokey Dokeys! Not only do they look pretty, but your child will have so much fun mixing these about to create their dream wheels. They’re easy to clip on and change whenever they want to customise their ride.

Decorate your child’s bike with these brilliant streamers! They come in choice of blue or pink/silver and make the perfect addition to make any child’s bike stand out.

How to reserve a bike?

You can reserve a bike by visiting your local store, where our friendly staff will help you secure the best Christmas gifts for your little one. Alternatively, if you’re certain which bike is ‘the one’, you can reserve online through the ‘Click & Collect’ option on our online checkout.

Your local store will be in contact to discuss payment and collection dates.

There’s nothing to lose, so why wait! Find a bike that you love and surprise your loved ones this Christmas with our Christmas savings club!

The Cycle King & Hawk Cycles’ festivities don’t stop there! View our ‘Christmas Gift guide for cyclists’ for gifting inspiration for those hard-to-buy from family members. You can also check out our recent social media post, for how to wrap a bike this Christmas!

Prices correct as of 10/10/2023.