The second we had a kid, my MTB trail riding days got complicated. Rides are shorter, so I can get back home to sub in for mom. Logistics get harder; every ride has to be added to the shared calendar. And all the time I’ve been thinking about when I can finally, actually bring him with me.
The good news: it’s not like we’re the first ones; my brother’s kids are his favorite riding buddies, which is saying a lot as they’re pretty much young adults now. They still want to hang out with him, and with his daughter Alyana making her first pro downhill podium this season, the family has transitioned to a lifestyle centered around mountain biking. The path from newborn to trail companion is well-worn, and I can’t wait to groom my very own mini-me and bestest riding buddy.
Here’s my initial plan for my son’s progression, the rough age ranges, and the gear we plan to invest in for each stage. One thing you won’t find: tricycles and training wheels. They teach a kid to balance on three or four points of contact instead of two, which delays the inevitable wobbly relearning curve. Skipping straight to balance-based progression means there’s no regression phase later.
Stage 1: Exposure to Ride-along (0–9 months)
Before he can ride, he’s going to be around it all to get used to bikes. I did this with my cat Enoki (see this article on taking cats paddleboarding), and normalizing an outdoor lifestyle is the first step.
Tummy time isn’t just a pediatrician checkbox for us — it’s also step one for neck and core strength, which matters because it’s the same strength he’ll need to hold his head up under a helmet. I’m already looking at bike helmets so we can get him used to wearing one early, even just around the house, so it’s no big deal by the time he’s on the bike.
In the meantime, the plan is to bring him to the trailhead, have Mom bring him in to watch me wrench in the garage, and take him out in the stroller on easy gravel. Normalize the sounds, smells, and rhythms of the sport from day one.
I’m already looking for baby helmets!
Stage 2: The Rocking Bike (6 months)
We started with the bouncer at around 4 months. The Strider 2-in-1 Rocking Bike seems like a great next step. Goal: teach babies how to balance using a handlebar to hold themselves up. The 2-in-1 Rocking Bike is both a balance bike and a rocking base that sells for $299 for the combo. (update: we now have one; read all about it here.)
It’s recommended for ages 6 months to 4 years old, but once they’re rocking without having to be spotted, it’s time to get outside!
Since the initial goal is to start building balance and core strength, I want to get him used to sitting astride something bike-shaped, shifting his weight, and gripping bars — all in the living room. This seems like the perfect solution that also covers the gear for the next stage.
Stage 3: Riding Shotgun (9 months–5 years)
The rocker bike should be fun, but once baby boy has solid head and neck control, he’s coming with me, whether it’s on the trail or an outing to the local park. We’re gearing up with the Shotgun Pro EVO, a 2-in-1 front-mounted MTB seat that’s designed to grow with him: a harnessed setup for 9 months to 2 years (9–15kg).
The Shotgun Pro EVO converts into the Pro seat for kids aged 2–5 years (12–27kg). It mounts to the headset and seatpost with zero frame contact, so it doesn’t interfere with suspension or geometry, and it’s quick-release, so it swaps between bikes in seconds. He gets his own grippy handlebars, and I get my little riding buddy with a front-row seat to every root and berm.
The Kids Riding Shotgun seat feels far safer than a rack-style mounted bike seat, a kids’ trailer, or a tag-along system. While Portland, Oregon, used to have a reputation for being a bike-friendly town, it often doesn’t feel that way, and I don’t think I’m comfortable with my kid out of my sight in a trailer.
<UPDATE> I can’t wait for this part. We received the Shotgun Pro EVO and have set it up on two of our bikes. Read more here.
Stage 4: The Balance Bike (18 months–4 years)
We’ve already gotten the Strider 2-in-1 Rocking bike, which means we already have our baby boy’s first balance bike too.
A balance bike is a two-wheeled, pedal-free bike that a child propels by walking or running, learning to glide with their feet up.
The skill transfer to a pedal bike is dramatically better than anything training wheels can offer, because the kid is already comfortable balancing and steering before they ever deal with pedaling. Training wheels teach the wrong skill — they let kids lean into a prop instead of the bike.
Back in the day, tricycles, big wheels, and training wheels were a kid’s first exposure to riding on wheels. However, the crutch of the 3rd wheel can actually slow the progression to riding an actual bike.
I remember being afraid to ride a bike without training wheels for years. For my kid: No training wheels. Balance bikes make so much sense.
I was a late bloomer when it came to learning to ride a bike; I was around 4 or 5 the first time I finally rode a bike without training wheels. My brother and I were playing with some kids, and one of them jumped on my bike, which I could not ride yet. (I was scared) Seeing a kid my age ride away on MY BIKE was the FOMO that motivated me to swing a leg over the bike and start to skoot around on it. It didn’t take long to figure out the balance, and then minutes later, I was pedaling.
The balance bike is where the real foundation is laid — and it’s the stage that separates the kids who pick up riding in an afternoon from the ones still struggling with training wheels at age six.
It’s also worth noting for parents on a tight budget that balance bikes are easy to find on the secondhand market. Last week I picked up our son’s first bike- a Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike for under $40! (List price: $169.99, currently $149 on Amazon) She even threw in a helmet in great condition!
The Balance Bike Progression
It turns out there are quite a few options for balance bikes now. From 12″ wheels and larger, to options like balance-to-pedal conversion kits. There are even off-road balance bikes.
Kids Ride Shotgun makes a 12″ wheel (recommended ages 2-3 years) and 14″ wheel (3-5 years) balance bike called the Dirt Hero. It’s a legit step towards mountain biking with your little buddy, and not only does it feature dirt knobbies, but it also has a Magura MT A4 hydraulic rear disc brake. The bike is compatible with both 12″ and 14″ wheels, so it’ll grow with your up-and-coming shred-grom.
More importantly, there is a small, low-profile foot platform that provides an area to stand, which is key if they’ve progressed to riding features and even jumps!
At this point, your little shredder is ready to shuttle some trails! Kids Ride Shotgun now offers the Uplift backpack ($129) to easily strap a balance bike in, and allow you to shuttle the little one up when paired with the Kids Ride Shotgun seat, so they can get laps in, or hop back on with you when they’re tired.
The Uplift backpack is designed to carry any brand balance bike you may have.
What to look for in a balance bike:
There are a lot of brands offering balance bikes now, with prices ranging from $49 and up. Air tires and weight are important specs to keep an eye out for. Kids this age get frustrated fast, and a heavy bike they can barely maneuver is a motivation killer. Aim for under 7 lbs if possible. The minimum seat height also matters enormously — the child needs to plant both feet flat on the ground, not tiptoe.
Air tires beat foam every time for outdoor use. They roll over real terrain, grip better, and give a more realistic feel that makes the eventual transition to a real bike smoother.
By around age 2.5–3, if your kid is building speed and confidence, it’s time for a hand brake. It teaches proper braking technique before they ever need to worry about coaster brakes, and it’s a direct skill transfer to every real bike they’ll ever ride.
One note on convertible bikes (balance-to-pedal): they exist and can save money, but most work better in one mode than the other. If your kid is motivated and athletic, a standalone balance bike followed by a dedicated pedal bike will give them a cleaner learning curve.
Stage 3: First Pedal Bike (ages 3–5, roughly 14″ wheels)
Balance bikes help kids level up fast. Once your kid is gliding with feet up, sitting with confidence, and reaching for speed — they’re ready for pedals. This transition often happens at 3–4 years old for balance bike grads, and it’s usually shockingly quick.
The 14″ wheel class is what we’re looking at.
What to avoid: coaster brakes. This is non-negotiable for any parent who wants their kid to develop real skills. Coaster brakes — the kind where you pedal backward to stop — actively fight muscle memory, which means things will need to be relearned.
Kids naturally backpedal to maintain balance, and a coaster brake turns instinct into an accidental stop. Nope. As a certified mountain bike coach, I always focused on teaching muscle memory. Coaster brakes teach the wrong body movement. Our goal is progression with no backward steps.
The other item to avoid is heavy bikes. Aim for something under 15 lbs, ideally closer to 12.
Picks worth knowing:
The Prevelo Alpha One is a standout at this size — low standover, dual hand brakes, trail-oriented geometry, 12 lbs. It can even convert back to a balance bike if needed. At around $400, it’s priced for riders who are going to actually use it.
The Woom 2 covers similar ground with a slightly more upright geometry — great for kids who need confidence more than aggression. Equally light, equally good brakes.
The Early Rider Seeker 14 is the full grom experience: MTB geometry, knobbly tires, the works. If your kid is already stoked on trails, this is the bike.
The typical run on a 14″ is about 12–18 months before they need to size up.
BMX Micro Mini Race Bikes
At the same time, I’m also planning to get him a BMX Micro race bike – riding BMX tracks would really give him a leg up.
BMX tracks are designed for riders of all ages, and there’s an amazing community around BMX racing. On any given Saturday, you’ll find moms, dads, and kids all racing on the same day on the same track. There are even balance bike races at some tracks!
Many of my MTB friends skip the BMX phase; however, the kids that grew up racing BMX were always so much more talented on a bike.
Stage 4: Growing Into Real MTB (ages 5–8, 16″–20″ wheels)
The 16″ and 20″ classes are where kids start to develop actual mountain biking skills rather than just riding. At this stage, geometry starts to matter more — you want a bike that won’t punish a kid who’s starting to hit features, take corners, and manage speed on real terrain.
Brands like Spawn, Commencal, Woom, and Prevelo all make bikes in this range with proper MTB geometry, real brakes, and component quality that doesn’t fight the kid every time they try to do something fun.
By the 20″ stage, some kids are ready for actual trail riding — light flow trails, skills parks, beginner jump lines. If you’re near a skills park or beginner pump track, this is the age to start frequenting it. The environment is purpose-built for exactly this progression.
Kids often size through 16″ in a single season if they’re growing fast. Buy used when you can, or plan the budget around it — quality bikes in this range hold 50–70% of their value on the used market, which makes the churn more manageable.
Stage 5: 24″ wheels
More on this soon; our friend Nigel just got his kid the most amazing bike, and it’s allowed his son to level up exponentially.
Helmet Notes Across All Stages
A good fit is everything. A helmet that fits poorly is essentially decorative. At every age, the helmet should sit level on the head — two fingers above the eyebrows — with straps forming a V around the ears and a snug chin buckle (one finger of clearance).
MIPS is worth paying extra for at every stage. The rotational protection it adds to the base linear protection standard is a real benefit for the kinds of falls kids take. That said, I’d consider it secondary to fit; I’ll take a non-MIPS helmet that fits well over a poor fit with extra slip plane protection.
For trail riding specifically, look for a helmet rated to both CPSC (standard road/path) and ASTM F1952 (DH cycling) standards. Most quality kids MTB helmets are dual-rated, but it’s worth checking.
Expect to replace helmets every couple of seasons — both because kids grow fast and because a helmet that’s been in a real impact needs to be retired regardless of visible damage.
The Big Picture
The kids who end up shredding trails at 8 or 10 years old almost always have one thing in common: they started on a balance bike, they never touched training wheels, and someone put them on well-fitting gear and let them move at their own pace. The technical skills build on each other naturally when the foundation is right.
Your kid doesn’t need to be on dirt immediately. The driveway, the parking lot, the pump track — it all counts. You’re building the foundation for the day they’re finally big enough to roll into a trail with you, and that day comes faster than you think.
Note: This article is a work in progress. Have recommendations and bikes that worked well for you? We’d love to hear it!