Prevelo makes three series, each designed for a different kind of riding. All share Prevelo's low, kid-specific geometry and lightweight build.

• Alpha is the all-purpose series for streets, paved paths, and light trails. It is the best starting point for most kids, from the Alpha Zero balance bike up to the 26-inch Alpha Five. Best for beginners through confident everyday riders.
• Zulu is the trail and mountain-bike series, with air forks, wider tires, and trail-ready gearing. Choose Zulu if your child rides singletrack, dirt, or the mountains. Beginner to advanced.
• Bravo is the dirt-jump and pump-track series, built tough for jumps and skateparks. Best for confident to advanced riders.

Not sure? Start with Alpha for general riding, Zulu for trails, and Bravo for jumps. Compare models on the Alpha, Zulu, and Bravo pages, or use the Bike Chooser.

Sizing is based primarily on your child's inseam (inner-leg measurement), which is more reliable than age. When a rider falls between two sizes, the smaller wheel is easier to handle and the larger gives more room to grow.

Recommended inseam ranges differ by model, and we keep them current per bike, so use the Bike Chooser for an exact, up-to-date recommendation matched to your child's inseam.

See the Bike Chooser.

It depends on age and experience. A balance bike teaches the single most important cycling skill, balance, without the distraction of pedaling. Kids learn to glide, steer, and catch themselves, which makes the move to a pedal bike much easier and usually skips training wheels entirely.

• About 18 months to 4 years, or a child who has not ridden before: start on a balance bike such as the 12-inch Alpha Zero.
• Already balances confidently, or is about 3.5+ and eager to pedal: a pedal bike such as the 14-inch Alpha One is a great first pedal bike.

Prevelo does not recommend training wheels, a balance bike builds real balance faster. Many Prevelo pedal bikes are BALANCE-TEC compatible, so you can remove the drivetrain to run it as a balance bike first, then convert it back once your child is ready to pedal. See sizing to match a bike to your child.

Weight matters more on a kids' bike than on an adult's, because a child is a much smaller share of the total bike-plus-rider weight. A heavy bike is harder for a small child to balance, pedal, turn, and pick up after a fall, which saps confidence and makes riding less fun.

Prevelo bikes are built light on purpose, with triple-butted 6061 aluminum frames, kid-specific components, and no heavy add-ons. For example, the 16-inch Alpha Two weighs about 12 lbs. A lighter bike is easier to learn on and easier to love.

The exact weight of every model is listed in its specs. See the Alpha, Zulu, and Bravo lineups.

We believe that the best way to teach children to ride is to prioritize teaching balance. Balance is the most difficult part of learning to ride a bike and the skill that training wheels are poor at teaching.

We do not offer training wheels for our bikes. And because of the design of the rear drop out on Prevelo Bikes (where the rear wheel attaches to the bike), it would be challenging to fit training wheels on our bikes

Our recommended teaching method is to let children learn balance by practicing without the pedals on that bike (so the child is running with the bike underneath them). After some time doing this, your child should learn to coast for short distance by sitting in the seat and lifting her feet off the ground.

For more information on this:

Why Kids are Better Off Without Training Wheels

Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike with the Balance Method

All Prevelo bikes come with a 30 day Money Back Guarantee. Try it out the bike on a dry surface and if for any reason you don't love it, you can return it to us within 30 days.

Just make sure to hold onto the original packaging until you know it's right.

To learn more about the 30 Day Money Back Guarantee or to return an item, go here: Returns

Every Prevelo comes with the Prevelo Bikes Five Year Limited Warranty. The frame and rigid fork are warranted against defects in material or workmanship for five years from the original date of purchase, to the original owner. Paint finish and all other original components are warranted for one year. Normal wear, and damage from crashes, misuse, neglect, or improper assembly, are not covered.

See the full terms: Prevelo Bikes Five Year Limited Warranty.