Jr. Salonista-worthy bikes?

[nerdwin]

My son is 2.5, and he's mastered the Like-a-bike, and broken one. It's time for a new ride, and I'm trying to decide between a new, bigger Like-a-Bike (the midi)...



...or something with pedal potential. The Specialized & Trek offerings are purple, overbuilt monsters designed to hit a price-point, and don't get me excited.

Anyone know of any well designed, simple kids bikes? The Like-a-Bike fits the style and purpose perfectly...I just need something with pedals.

[justinf]

My son rocks the smallest Specialized, with a cadence of about 480 downhill.

[Shawn G]

Redline Conquest 24 when he's a little older. What could be cooler than a kid on a cross bike? I wanna send my kid's to JB for an ATMO team paint job;). Think I can get a kid's size Sachs team skinsuit?

Shawn G

[TimB]

Annika (3) got one of these for her birthday from her grandparents:

http://www.stridersports.com/photos.html

She _loves_ this thing.

[Moveitfred]

My kids have saddled up on Trek and Specialized. Maybe my kids are extreme oddballs, but what the bike looks like is by far the primary criteria for rightness. My son digs the red flames. My daughter rocks the pastel flowers. After that if it fits, if it's fun, if you and their friends are riding with them, it's all good!

[Giff]

I went with Trek for my kiddos, partly due to the 50% credit you can get when you trade up into a new Trek.

[nerdwin]

The Trek Jet 12 http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...ges_3_4/jet12/ is a pretty good option. I just cringe at the cheapo components.

Suppose Chris King makes a coaster brake hub?

[HUNTER1]

Just got back from a run with my five year old and his Spec. Hotrock. He is good to rip on that rig for an hour plus and it can still handle stair and curb drops with aplomb! The lightning bolts scream"FAST" and it has a low BB which really helped get him off the training wheels and helps him rip the corners now. The low stance would be a natural to your kiddo coming off of a Like-bike and you would probably never use the training wheels, or just for a short period. Whatever you choose, you really can't lose, you are afterall sharing bikes with your child, the experience is what you make it! Good on you.