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Kids’ and Junior Bicycles
Useful Information for Parents
Children are among the most vulnerable road user groups, not only because
of their lack of experience and practice, but also for the simple reason that they
are smaller and may therefore have difficulties overseeing things and be easily
overlooked by other road users.
If you want your child to use his/her bicycle on the road, you should be willing
to invest time in road safety instruction and help him/her improve his/her riding
skills. Children are not as observant as adults, and you should therefore get into
the routine of checking the kids’ bicycle and performing adjustments and mainte-
nance as necessary. If you are in doubt or if you have any questions, contact your
STEVENS dealer.
Bear in mind that it is your responsibility to supervise your child on his/her first
rides and do not overchallenge your child! Inform yourself about the traffic rules in
your country. They vary from country to country. In the UK cycling on a pavement
alongside a road is forbidden by law, unless it has been marked as a cycle track.
Children aged under 10 are, however, below the age of criminal responsibility.
Therefore, they can neither be prosecuted for a criminal offence.
What is important is that your child has good control of his/her bicycle before
riding on public roads. As a first step in this direction we recommend that you give
your child a scooter or a balance bike so that he/she can train his/her sense of
balance.
This being accomplished you will need to make your child familiar with the
functioning of the brakes and gears before you let him/her sit on the bicycle. Find
a place away from the road, ideally a backyard or park, where you can practise
braking and shifting gears with your child under your supervision.
Once your child has progressed to a point where he/she can ride in traffic,
teach him/her how to cross kerbs and railway tracks, i.e. to cross these obstacles,
if possible, at right angle. Before that, they have to make sure that there is no
danger from behind or in front.
Set a good example when it comes to wearing a cycling helmet and to riding
on cycle lanes. It is also advisable to let your child take part in road safety lessons
offered at schools or by local clubs and associations.
Danger:
It is important to tell
children when they
practise braking that in
wet conditions the brake
performance is less ef-
fective and the tyre grip
reduced and that they
should therefore ride
more slowly and brake
more carefully.
Danger:
Children should not
ride near precipices,
staircases or swimming
pools as well as on
paths used by automo-
tive mobiles.
Danger:
Take care your child
is wearing the helmet
while cycling only. For
example, wearing the
helmet at a park or
playground can be haz-
ardous; the helmet can
get caught on features
or obstacles and result
in strangulation by
helmet straps.
Danger:
Make sure the child always wears a properly fitting cycling helmet and
well visible, i.e. bright, clothing. It is also advisable to wear reflector stripes
to increase visibility.
Note:
Make sure the cycling helmet complies with the EN 1078 standards.
Note:
In the UK, cycling on a pavement alongside a road is forbidden by law,
unless it has been marked as a cycle track.
Adjustment
Adjusting the STEVENS bicycle to the bodily proportions of a child is even more
important than in the case of an adult. When determining the saddle height you
should find a compromise that allows the child to reach the ground with both feet
when sitting in the saddle while at the same time giving them enough space for
pedalling. A safe standing (when stopping) takes absolute priority!
Handlebars that are too far away from the saddle or adjusted in a too high/
low position can also lead to the fact that the child is less confident and relaxed
during cycling. Normally, children’s bicycles allow adjustments of the saddle tilt
and sometimes the tilt of the handlebar can be adjusted, as well.
Special attention should be paid to the adjustment of the control elements,
such as brake levers. Easy reach and operation should be ensured for the child.
For more information on how to adjust the STEVENS kids’ bicycle to the pro-
portions and needs of your child, read the chapter “Adjusting the STEVENS Bicy-
cle to the Rider”. If you are in doubt or if you have any questions, contact your
STEVENS dealer.
Get into the habit of doing the checks as described in the chapter “Before
Every Ride” together with your child.
In this way, your child will learn to handle the bicycle properly and you will be
able to detect any defects that have developed during use. Encourage your child
to tell you when something on the STEVENS bicycle is malfunctioning. Rectify the
fault immediately or take the STEVENS bicycle to your STEVENS dealer for repair.
Caution:
With children and
adolescents check the
saddle height every
three months at least!
Danger:
Children can be vain.
Therefore, buy a cycling
helmet that the child
feels happy with. Take
your child with you to
make sure you buy
one which is comfort-
able and fits correctly.
This will increase the
chances that the helmet
is actually worn, which
one day might be a
life-saver. Make sure
the helmet is always
fastened!
Danger:
When you buy the
helmet, have yourself
explained how to
adjust the straps of the
helmet to the head.
Only a properly fitted
helmet can provide full
protection in case of an
accident!
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