As you know, my little guy just turned two. He amazes me everyday with the new skills he's acquiring and how much he grows. Every morning when he wakes up, I feel like he's a little taller or something! I'm also amazed at his seemingly endless energy level. That's why I'm always looking for more toys that will encourage physical activity - he gets much needed exercise and I get a worn out toddler at the end of the day - we all win! When I laid eyes on the Joovy Bicycoo Balance Bike, I knew my Wubba would love it. As a Joovy Mom, I trust the quality of their products, so I was thrilled when Joovy sent me a Bicycoo and a Noodle Helmet (at no cost) to facilitate a review.
Right out of the box, I noticed a few things about the Bicycoo. First, it wasn't going to take much to assemble this balance bike. Most of the assembly was already done and I just had to attach a few pieces together. It was easy and we had it put together within 5 minutes. The second thing I noticed was the quality. The bike felt sturdy, but not terribly heavy, and the wheels weren't the cheap plastic ones like I'd seen on other brands. The third thing was the style! I looked at quite a few bikes before the Bicycoo, and none are as stylish. The modern, signature bold look of Joovy products is alive and well in the Bicycoo.
Isn't she a beauty?! The Bicycoo comes in three awesome colors: red, white, or black. The black and white are sort of similar, with mainly the wheel color being different. I chose the white and absolutely adore the way it looks. The frame of the Bicycoo is crafted from aluminum, which makes it heavy duty, yet lightweight at only 8.75 pounds. Assembled dimensions are: 33.50L x 16.25W x 21.50H. I'm super impressed with the quality of this bike. Many bicycles and toys for kids just aren't made all that well since they're only used for a limited period of time, but the Bicycoo is the same quality as most adult bikes. I don't know why this surprised me - I haven't met a low-quality Joovy product yet!
The Bicycoo is designed for ages 3 and up and was created to grow with your child, thanks to the adjustable cushioned seat, which goes from 14 to 15.25 inches from floor. Now, I know I said my little guy was only two, but I'd heard from other moms that their children started using the Bicycoo before they turned 3, and since my little guy is in the 90th percentile for height, I thought I'd give it a shot.
The Bicycoo features refillable, air filled (pneumatic) 12 inch rubber tires to provide suspension and a comfortable ride for your little one. This was a big selling feature for me as I'd seen lots of plastic wheels out there and they didn't look particularly safe or appealing to me. Once those cheap, plastic tires get worn out, that's pretty much it. As you can see in the photo above, there's also a hand brake on the handle bars to control the rear tire. Not many other balance bikes have that feature and I love it for down the road when my little guy gets a little bigger. I think it will give him a good sense of control. Speaking on getting a little bigger, the Bicycoo gives your child plenty of room for growth since it can accommodate children up to 55 pounds.
My little guy has really been enjoying his time on the Bicycoo. He's working on his form and learning how to balance while sitting on the seat. He's not old enough to understand the concept of braking just yet, but he isn't really moving fast enough to need the brakes. We're still working on the basics, but he's having a great time! I just love how sturdy and well made this bike is and I know it will last for years to come.
You can't ride a bike without protecting your Noodle, right? Joovy has you covered (literally) with their Noodle helmet which meets CPSC standards. Designed for kids ages 1-4 with a head circumference of 18.5 - 20.5 inches (47-52 cm) , the Noodle demonstrates to your child that it's never too early to learn about playing it safe. As a former trauma and neurosurgical nurse, I can't tell you how many times I saw injuries that could have been avoided if the person was wearing a helmet.
With an extended visor, the Noodle is designed for maximum protection. Of course, the Noodle is sleek and stylish, like all Joovy products. It comes in 6 fun, bright colors too! The Noodle features 14 air vents with integrated bug mesh in the front vents for adequate ventilation on hot days. It also has plenty of padding for comfort and an adjustable dial so you can get the right fit for your little one. The chin strap has a great pinch guard too.
Unfortunately, my tall two year old also had a very large head (in the 95% percentile) so the Noodle is just a bit too small for him. His head circumference is 21 inches so it just wouldn't fit. Luckily, he's not moving very quickly on the Bicycoo yet and his new helmet should be here soon.
I think this Noodle should find a good home though, so I'm going to give it to one of you!
Enter for your chance to win below!
Connect: You can connect with Joovy on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Buy it: You can purchase the Joovy Bicycoo on their website for $149.99. You can purchase the Noodle for $29.99. You can find a Joovy retailer using the Store Locator. You can also purchase the Joovy Bicycoo on Amazon.
Win it: One lucky person will WIN the Black Joovy Noodle pictured above.
Open to the US only, ages 18 and up. Ends 7/31/14 at 11:59 PM ET.
Disclosure: I am a Joovy Mom brand ambassador. I received the Joovy Bicycoo and Noodle at no cost in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own and may differ from yours. Amazon links are affiliate links.
Christine Watts says
My son would love the Race Car Ride-On.