Hey everyone,
I know this forum is heavily focused on serious training and racing, but I wanted to tap into the MTB crowd here regarding getting our kids onto the trails.
Like many of you, I want my kids to share my love for off-road riding. But we found that standard pedal bikes can be super frustrating for young kids on actual dirt trails—they just don’t always have the leg strength to push through rough, bumpy sections.
We recently shifted to using high-spec electric balance bikes for them.
It’s been a total game-changer. Without the distraction of pedaling, they focus 100% on core MTB skills: bike handling, line choice, cornering, and braking. Since the ones we use have proper hydraulic suspension and disc brakes, they are actually learning real descending habits early on.
I’m curious if anyone else in the ST community has used electric balance bikes to teach their kids trail riding. Did you notice it made the transition to standard pedal mountain bikes easier down the line?
Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences!