“Bicycle” extension for the FSC wooden convertible balance bike

Once our child has mastered controlling speed, balance, and direction with their balance bike, this add-on will transform it and give them their first introduction to cycling.

Its position on the balance bike is adapted to the child’s natural posture and physiology.

This add-on provides both traditional pedals and, most importantly, a coaster brake system, giving our children complete control over their speed using their legs.

This intuitive system allows them to focus their coordination on steering with their arms and controlling their speed with their legs. Children under 6 often don’t yet have the strength to fully operate the brakes or the reach to use the brake levers, not to mention the coordination and strength needed to maintain their direction while holding the handlebars with only part of their hand.

In addition, the coaster brake system provides effective braking in all weather, greater longevity, and less maintenance.

Features

• Lightweight: At 3.3 kg, one of the lightest on the market, weighing around 20% of the average weight of children old enough to use it (the standard for adult bikes, compared with 50% for most children’s bikes/balance bikes).
• Helps develop your child’s balance, proprioception, movement coordination, and independence.
• Adapted to the child’s natural, physiological posture.
• Supports children as they learn to ride a bike, at their own pace
• Exceptional durability: tested to ride around the world on bumpy roads (40 075 km) - tires need replacing, but the frame is still like new!
  
• Made from birch wood: a lightweight, impact-resistant wood with a very fine grain and a fairly light color.

LOOVE Certifications

• Sustainable sourcing: FSC-certified Finnish birch wood ensuring wood traceability, biodiversity conservation, and respect for local communities.
• European manufacturing: In Latvia.

Technical specifications

• Colors: Natural birch wood. 
• Material:
  • Pedals: Finnish birch plywood and polyamide.
  • Rear wheel: alloy hub, metal tension spokes with alloy rim, inflatable rubber tire.
  • Belt: Rubber.
• Finish: EN71-3 certified varnish.
• Wood: From sustainably managed forests, FSC Controlled Wood certification.
• CE certified and compliant with EN 71: Product meets European toy safety requirements.
• Rear wheel diameter: 14 inches (35.56 cm).
• Braking system: coaster brake.
• Q factor (outside distance between the 2 crank arms): 15.8 cm.
• Saddle height: 42 - 51 cm, depending on the adjustment.
• Product weight: 4.9 kg assembled as a balance bike.
• Manufacturer's recommended age: 3 years+.
• Packaging: Cardboard boxes, a plastic pouch (small parts), and Kraft paper or plastic tape depending on the parcel's weight.
• Made in: Europe (EU), Latvia
• Warranty: 5 years

Care

• Easy to clean with a damp cloth or with soap and water. Wipe dry after cleaning. 
• Storing the product in a dry place will ensure its longevity. Never leave it out in the rain or snow after playtime.

Assembly

• Assembly instructions: Included in the packaging, in French.
• Easy to assemble yourself (1 person).
• 30 minutes to assemble.

Safety

• To maximize child safety, adult supervision is required when the product is in use. 
• The bike has no brakes; use it only on flat ground.
• Check tire pressure regularly and make sure it is 1.4 bar.
• Regulations prohibit the use of toys on public roads. Do not use on the road.
• Wearing a helmet and protective gear is recommended.

Manufacturing partner

Like many craft businesses, Atis's relies on a team of experienced carpenters, a family tradition, and a love of wood passed down from generation to generation. 

The attention to detail and constant pursuit of innovation inspired by the ingenious work of Atis's father have led this team based in northern Latvia to win multiple awards and now offer products that are simultaneously forward-thinking, focused on child development, environmentally friendly, and durable—qualities built into the specifications of every item that leaves their workshop and can be passed down to future generations.

What is the educational value of this product?

Allowing children to learn at their own pace is one of the most fundamental concepts shared by active educational approaches, alongside other major principles such as free play, developing independence, and openness to the outside world and nature in particular. Each of these principles is represented in what this extension offers.

In terms of developing motor skills, it is the discovery of the body through movement, so characteristic of the Pikler-Lóczy approach, that is encouraged. 
Learning to stay on course, turn, and gain speed through the alternating and repeated movement of the feet, as well as using them to learn to slow down and stop, allows children to learn to control their movements and coordinate their actions. 
In the Montessori approach, this is a sensitive period that children go through between approximately 18 months and 4 years of age.

Children can grow by discovering the world around them and nature, and spend plenty of time outdoors, as recommended by the Reggio, Waldorf, Freinet, and Mason approaches (the latter recommends at least 6 hours outdoors every day until the age of 6).
With this extension for the adjustable balance bike, children experiment, practice, make mistakes, and start again at their own pace, following the learning process described by Célestin Freinet, Maria Montesori, and others.

 

What are the benefits from a neuroscience perspective?

• Contributes to sensorimotor development (*Through balance, movement coordination, speed, and proprioception).
• Strengthens neural pathways through the repetition of movements and experiences.

What is sensorimotor development?

Sensorimotor development is the process through which children develop their senses and learn to perform, control, and coordinate their movements.

The senses include the best-known ones: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, as well as balance (through the vestibular system) and proprioception (the position of the body in space, provided by the somatosensory system). 

These different senses work together and in conjunction with the motor system.

In terms of motor development, two broad categories of motor skills can be distinguished:

• gross motor skills, which refer to movements of the whole body or the body's larger limbs and muscles (legs, arms, torso, head),
• fine motor skills, which refer to movements involving smaller muscles and limbs (fingers, hands, wrists, feet, ankles, toes, lips, tongue).

What age range is it suitable for?

This extension can be used as soon as your child begins to master balance and speed on their balance bike (approximately 3-4 years old), and until they are ready to move on to a bicycle intended for riding on the road (approximately 6 years old).

What are the benefits of this product in summary? 

• Discover the world around them.
• Develop their motor skills, coordination, balance, and proprioception.
• Learn to be independent.
• Build self-confidence.

Shipping

• Shipping costs are: Free
• This product is shipped from Latvia by our artisan partner Atis.
• Delivery takes 7 to 10 business days.
• Shipping is handled depending on the circumstances by DHL, FedEx, DPD, UPS, TNT.
• Once your package has been shipped, a tracking number will be sent to you by email.

Returns 

Have you received your item but it is not suitable for you? Don't worry, you have 14 days from the date you receive your package to return the product concerned. 

As a small family business, we are unfortunately not yet able to cover postage costs, and return costs are the responsibility of the customer, with returns to be sent to the country from which this product was shipped, Latvia.

To be eligible for a return, please ensure that the following conditions are met :

• The product must arrive in its original and complete condition (packaging, accessories, instructions).
• The request must not concern custom-made products for which the customer provided personalization details (for example, a cutting or manufacturing dimension).

Please understand that we cannot accept assembled, used, or worn items because they cannot be put back on sale. 

Return process 

Send your return request, including your order number and the product you wish to return, to our Customer Service by email at the following address: bonjour@monloove.com 

⚠ Please note that a return received without prior contact may result in the loss of your right of withdrawal. 

Refund 

The refund will be issued within 14 days after receipt of the products, for the full amount of the returned products, using the same payment method as the one used for the order. 

Help 

For more details, you can consult our FAQ and our terms and conditions. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you cannot find an answer to your questions: bonjour@monloove.com