How to Check Your Child's Bike Is Safe

Children's bikes often receive less maintenance than adult bikes — they're ridden hard, dropped, and left outside. Here's a simple safety check any parent can do before a ride.

The five-second pre-ride check

Before every ride, these take less than a minute and catch the most common safety issues:

• Squeeze both brake levers: They should feel firm and grip before reaching the handlebar
• Check tyre pressure: Tyres shouldn't feel completely flat or very soft
• Rock the handlebars: No movement — they should feel solid
• Check the saddle height: Child should be able to touch the ground comfortably
• Make sure the helmet fits: Sits level, straps form a V under each ear, two-finger gap under the chin

Brakes: the most important check

Children's bikes have smaller, less powerful brakes than adult bikes, and children have less hand strength. It's especially important that brakes are correctly adjusted. Common problems we find:

• Over-tightened rear brake: Causes the rear wheel to lock up too easily and skid
• Worn or contaminated pads: Especially on cheaper bikes ridden in wet conditions
• Brakes adjusted for adult hands: Levers too far from the bar for small hands to reach properly

Tyres

• Check tyre pressure with a gauge — the correct PSI is usually printed on the tyre sidewall
• Look for cuts or embedded glass in the tread
• Sidewall cracking means the tyre needs replacing

Saddle and seatpost

The saddle should be at a height where the child can put both feet flat on the ground when stopped, or just their toes while pedalling (depending on age and confidence). Check the seatpost clamp bolt is tight — children's bikes are frequently sat on and pushed with someone pushing the saddle.

When to get it serviced

Most children's bikes benefit from a service once a year — or after a crash, if the bike is ridden frequently, or if you notice any of the above issues. A basic service for a child's bike is £35 and takes about 45 minutes at your home.