Similar to brakes on a regular stroller, these rear brakes (one against each wheel) can be operated by parents. They can also be activated by children when they’re riding on their own (they pedal backward), and this is good schwinn mountain bike practice for learning to ride a pedal bike. Tricycles certainly aren’t just for kids; they’re both fun and practical for adults, too. You might think that tricycles are just for kids who haven’t learned to ride a bike.
It has more heft and seems sturdier than today’s Big Wheel brand. Older kids will likely enjoy the speed and easy turns of a lightweight, low-slung trike, but Kate’s 3-year-old son had some trouble getting the 16-inch front wheel to move. When it comes to a low-rider-style trike, overall we think the Schwinn Roadster provides a better ride. For bigger kids, the Razor RipRider 360 is more fun and easier to use. The INFANS trike also has rear brakes; the Radio Flyer trike does not, and we didn’t find them on many other bikes.
She has a decade of experience reporting on parenting, purchasing, and psychology, and she was previously an editor for Wirecutter’s outdoors section. She’s the author of our guides to the best jogging strollers and the best kids hiking backpacks, and she’s a mom to two children. As Jenni was writing the current version of this guide, her kids were 15 months and 3½ years old—perfect trike-testing age. If you need to tackle a range of gradients on your route, this seven-speed tricycle is the ideal option, making lighter work of hills. The spacious cargo basket has a solid base and can fold when not in use. Like the three-speed model, it’s only available in a 26-inch wheel size.
Install Seatpost
Open the seatpost quick-release lever, then slide the seatpost into the frame. Ensure the seatpost is inserted past the minimum insertion line marked on the post. Install Handlebars
Remove the plastic plug from the top of the fork steerer tube, then insert the stem quill into the steerer tube. Ensure the stem is inserted past the minimum insertion markings on the stem quill.
Many of today’s parents (and grandparents!) may have fond memories of rolling down the driveway—and perhaps over homemade jumps, definitely helmet-free—on an Original Big Wheel. The actual Original Big Wheel was manufactured in Pennsylvania by a company called Marx, which went out of business in the 1980s. Today’s Big Wheel (the name was sold) is lightweight, and the wheels slip a ton. It was difficult for Kate’s young son to get started on the trike, and he soon lost interest. Kate lost interest even sooner, when it took a whopping 54 minutes to assemble, mostly due to the number of decals. Jenni’s 3-year-old son also screamed in frustration while using the Big Wheel and found it didn’t move well across pavement or dirt.
Loosen the stem faceplate bolts, just enough to allow the handlebar to rotate. Rotate the handlebar into a suitable position, then tighten the stem faceplate bolts evenly. The seat features a dual-spring setup that absorbs impact for extra comfort and weight.
This trike is an updated version of the 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike we tested for a previous iteration of this guide. The world of tricycles is wild and weird, with hundreds of options ranging from convertible 4-in-1s to fancy drifters to trikes that become balance bikes. All Schwinn adult trikes come with a basket, but the basket style varies somewhat between models. Other baskets are made from wire with reasonably large gaps, which means you’ll need to make sure smaller items are contained inside bags so they don’t fall out. Some models have foldable baskets so you don’t need to have them set up when they’re not in use. Best suited for flat areas, this single-speed drivetrain is easy to use and simple to maintain, while the chain guard keeps your clothes and shoelaces free & clear.
But we also found the MyRider Midi harder to stop when going fast downhill. This eye-catching bright red tricycle has three speeds, so it’s perfect for riding in slightly hilly areas where you’ll be tackling some inclines but nothing too sharp or extensive. The basket has a solid base and a liner, which makes it great for carrying all kinds of items without worrying about them falling out.
Storage spaces for stuff kids might need—like a cupholder for a sippy cup or a trunk or basket for toys—may also be appealing to kids. Tricycles also teach important skills like steering and pedaling, which lay the foundation for a child to eventually become a confident big-kid-bike rider. We considered more than 50 of today’s most popular tricycles. And along with several dozen kids (between the ages of 1 and 7), we test-drove 21 models. In the end, we think families with toddlers should get the Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike.
Those models with a wide wheelbase will provide stability and grip the roadway, and we found that lightweight trikes are, in general, easier for younger kids to use. Tires made from rubber or foam are softer, and that can help cushion the ride; hard plastic tires can ride a little rougher and be slippery on pavement. But all of these materials are fine as long as the trike is stable. The SmarTrike 3-in-1 Breeze S Toddler Tricycle felt flimsy, with plastic wheels and screws that are tough to tighten.