In a nutshell? No. The debate of girl’s bike vs boy’s bike is outdated, at best. When the safety bicycle rose in popularity, there was a lady’s version with a low step-through frame to accommodate the fashions of the time: big, full skirts and dresses. However, nowadays while a step-through is convenient for city riding as it is easy to get on/off (for both men and women, girls and boys), the frames are often referred to by their type, eg. step-through or low step-through, rather than a gender. Women and girls do not need to buy a stepthrough type frame, unless that is what they prefer.
A girl’s bike vs boy’s bike in the 21st century
Since the 20th century, marketing is the key difference between girl vs boy bikes. At the department store level, children’s bikes have been heavily gendered, with superheroes for boys and princesses for girls. Sparkles, heaps of pink, purple, and flowers, “girl bikes” are now sold more like toys than a way to get around.
For young kids, their body shapes are fairly neutral until puberty. Once they are teenagers or young adults, they may find they fit bikes that are designed for women better — I do, I have a short upper body so that works well with “women-specific” brands like Liv or Juliana (I have a Liv Pique 2 mountain bike and a Liv Brava SLR cyclocross bike); with gender neutral or men’s specific bikes I am often too stretched out. However, I have friends who are in the opposite boat and their bodies do not conform to the gender-typed products and they stick with the original designs (that are typically geared towards men’s bodies). It’s whatever works for your body type. Initially, women had to be super wary of the “pink it and shrink it” problem; an artificial problem created by marketing. That problem still exists, but female athletes are demanding more and high quality brands are delivering real, women-specific products.
But, for young kids the playing field is on a pretty even keel at this point. So colour is more about it being fun and exciting for them, to get them riding, because riding is freedom.
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But my kid likes pink!
Or purple, or sparkles, and so on. That’s okay, I do, too sometimes! The most important thing is that your kid wants to ride. So, pick a bike that fits.
As a mom, I totally understand that some kids are drawn to certain colours or designs, so I am here to help you find the best of both worlds: where form and function meet fun! Just because your kid is drawn to the flashy bikes at the big box store, does not mean they need a toy for a bike, they can have a real bike. A high quality, lightweight bike that will help them develop a love of this mode of transportation or sport, or both, is a lifelong gift. So, if you are looking for a bike that will make both you and your kid happy, read on.
Little pinked bikes
You want your toddler or preschooler to fall in love with their first bike! At these early ages, the weight of the bike is especially important as your kid is still quite small and light, themselves. Here are some wonderful choices:
Balance bikes
Start them young, around 18 months, give or take. Really! They’ll just walk at first, but eventually figure it out around the 2 year old mark or so. Balance bikes teach kids balance, so once they head to a pedal bike there is no need for training wheels (for most kids). It’s pretty amazing to watch!
Prevelo Alpha Zero
Meet the Prevelo Alpha Zero, in a lovely gently sparkly purple. We love this brand from California, they make excellent bikes (we have the Alpha Three and Four).
Park Bikes Balance Bike
This newer Canadian company is up-and-coming on the lightweight, high quality bike scene, including this little balance bike!
Strider
Striders are a classic option and easy to find in pink. This is the run bike our kids both used, although there are even more choices now than back then!
Frog Tadpole series
Pictured is the Frog Tadpole, in pink. They also have a smaller version (the Tadpole Mini) and a slightly bigger version (the Tadpole Plus), depending on what age your child is keen to start figuring out a balance bike. All models are available in pink.
Read this article for everything you need to know about picking the right balance bike.
12 or 14″ First pedal bikes
If they understand balance, most kids will be ready for their first pedal bike around 3 years old, give or take. From their balance bike, they understand balance (and possibly basic braking, depending on their balance bike model). Now, you add braking and pedalling! Pretty exciting times! If you want to break it down a bit for them, take off the pedals (or even the whole crank set/bottom bracket) and they can use their new, bigger bike as a run bike until they’re ready to add pedals. Our kids each did this for about a week which gave them a chance to get a feel for the new bike size, plus learn how to brake with their hands as their run bike did not have a brake. Small bikes are easy to throw on the back of a Chariot-type stroller when out walking, so your kid can ride pressure free and have a place to stash it if needed.
Prevelo Alpha One
The Prevelo Alpha One in purple is gorgeous. Plus, this lightweight bike will give your kid a fantastic start on life with pedals (and brakes). Great geometry, easy to handle. This company knows what they’re doing.
Guardian 14″ Ethos
Not the lightest option out there, but a great upright stance at a more affordable price point, plus easy-to-use SureStop brakes.
Woom 2
Woom bikes have my heart, and their 14″ wheeled bike in purple haze is no exception! Can’t go wrong with these bikes for littler learners.
Frog 40
The Prevelo Alpha One in purple is gorgeous. Plus, this lightweight bike will give your kid a fantastic start on life with pedals (and brakes). Great geometry, easy to handle. This company knows what they’re doing.
Cleary Gecko 12″
Cleary went rogue and designed their starter pedal bike with 12″ wheels and it totally works, especially since they used nice beefy tires on such a cute lil’ bike.
Spawn Yoji 14″
My kids both rode Spawn for their first pedal bike, so I always recommend this Canadian company without hesitation. Sturdy, durable, stable, and great geometry that inspires confidence. Love them and their knobby lil’ tires!
Need more information on this size of bike? Read here.
Girls’ bikes: 16 inch
Or boys’ bikes. Like I said, it doesn’t matter, just get them a good bike, especially to start. Bigger kids might successfully start learning to pedal on a 16″ bike (or a kid learning later), but for most keen kids, a 16″ wheeled bike will be their second pedal bike. There are many great choices in this category, same brands as above. Choices of pink or purple, plus some aqua mixed in, too, if that’s their jam!
Woom 3
Super light and very upright, can you go wrong with Woom? Don’t think so. Our friends all love theirs.
Prevelo Alpha Two
A great little trail bike for the kid who loves purple. Prevelo is ultra light and very well made.
Spawn Yoji 16″
We used the Furi for this wheel size, the predecessor of the Yoji and it was awesome.
Guardian 16″ Airos (or Ethos)
The Guardian Airos 16″ is a solid lightweight choice, or its less expensive sister the Ethos 16″. Guardian’s signature is their SureStop braking the equally distributes braking across both wheels, helping to stop bikes with less skidding or risk of going over the handlebars.
Frog 44
This UK company makes great little bikes. One of the original companies behind the lightweight children’s bike movement, they know what they’re doing and this single speed is no exception.
Priority Start 16″
Not pink! Instead a crisp white or turquoise are your options with Priority! These slick little belt drive bikes are easy to maintain (no chain! no grease stains!).
Here is a complete guide to buying a 16″ bike.
Girls’ bikes: 20 inch
20 inch bikes are when gears first appear! Single speed models are still available, but most have a basic array of gears, which helps propel these strong kids to-and-from school and friends’ homes, plus even ride trails and pathways with their family for fun!
Woom 4
Woom is lightweight and upright, which is especially great for kids who are less confident riders.
Prevelo Alpha Three
This bike is awesome, we love it. my 5 yo transitioned seamlessly from her 16″ Spawn to this bike, without changing the seat height but giving her both a bit more room in the cockpit and gears!
Guardian 20″ Airos (or Ethos)
Both of these 20″ bikes are available in either a smaller sized frame (single speed) or larger size, as pictured here, with gears.
Frog 55
Frog offers a couple of frame sizes that correspond to this wheel size. They have a smaller framed single speed model (Frog 52s) as well as a geared version (Frog 52), plus the one pictured here, the larger framed Frog 55 — the first geared bike my eldest rode for a couple of years. I love Frogs for the city, especially since it’s easy to mount fenders and a rear rack on them. My daughter used this bike touring in The Netherlands as well as on little bikepacking trips closer to home, in the Canadian Rockies, not to mention commuting back and forth to school most days, year round. A great choice, for sure.
Priority Start 20″
Seriously, ultra violet purple is gorgeous! Belt drive, no chain to lube! 3-speed internal hub, low-maintenance!
Cleary Owl 20″
Cleary’s 20″ Owl comes as either a single speed (pictured) or an internally geared 3-speed (linked to). Personally, I’d opt for the 3-speed model. A lovely, simple and high quality bike.
Need more info on buying 20″ bikes? This is probably the first geared bike you will have. Check out this comprehensive guide on buying 20 inch bikes.
24″ girls’ bikes
Once you get into this size bike, you likely know what kind of rider your kid is or they know what kind of riding they would like to do. Perhaps they want a bike that can get them back-and-forth to school, a mountain bike, a bike they can take on adventures? There are lots of options for kids that still lean towards pinks and purples.
Prevelo Alpha Four
My eldest is riding this bike and loves it. She uses it in the city, to go to-and-from school, hit the odd trail, and even bike toured along the Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper, Alberta in September 2020 with her dad. Room for fenders or you can mount a rear rack if you’re creative (need to secure it to the seat post). This bike is light and well made.
Woom 5
Woom continues to make one of the lightest bikes for kids, even in this size range. The quality is superb. Makes a great bike for the city or bike touring.
Guardian 24″ Airos (or Ethos)
Guardian is a great option here, either their lighter weight Airos or the less expensive Ethos. They’ve opted for a light blue frame with white and purple dots for older kids.
Frog 62
Frog is a fabulous option, especially if you want to be able to mount both a rack and fenders.
Need more options? Check out this guide to 24″ bikes that I wrote when selecting a bike for my eldest.
Budget tips to pink a bike
Sometimes buying new or the most lightweight is not an option. Or perhaps you had kids first who were anti-pink and now you have a kid who just loves it and won’t ride the hand-me-down bike unless it’s pink? Bling that bike! I don’t recommend all of these moves for a super nice bike (because it will kill the resale value of it), but if you’re working with what you got and you gotta do what you gotta do:
- spray paint (consider removing the wheels, handlebars, and cranks before spraying)
- stickers
- new pedals (pink or purple, heart shapes are fun, too)
- a lightweight basket for the front
Cycling is empowering
Get that kid in your life riding their bike, whatever it takes. That is why I wrote this piece.
Cycling can be so empowering for children and I believe that is especially important for girls. It’s good for them to feel independence and their own strength. Help them learn the safest route to school, work with your kid’s school to help promote active travel. Give your kids the gift of freedom by teaching them how to ride a bike.
