Best Bike for a 2 Year Old
Most 2 year olds should start on a balance bike. Balance is the hardest part of learning to ride, and a balance bike teaches it without the distraction of pedals, so most kids move to a pedal bike later without ever needing training wheels.
- The Alpha Zero is a balance bike, for learning to balance and steer before pedals.Fits a 12½ to 16½ inch inseam (riders about 33 to 43 inches tall), weighs 6.8 lbs.
If your child is on the bigger side, the Alpha One fits a 14 to 17½ inch inseam.
$50.00 offAlpha ZeroWheel Size: 12 in
Age: 1½ + years
Type: Balance bike
$209.00$259.00Note: Age is just rough starting point for determining bike size
We built these pages by age because that's how most parents start looking. You know your child's age by heart, but few people know their child's inseam. The catch is that kids the same age can be inches apart in height, so two 4 year olds may need different size bikes.
Inseam is the most accurate way to size a kids' bike. It tells you whether your child can put their feet down comfortably and handle the bike with confidence. To measure it, have your child stand against a wall in socks, slide a hardcover book up between their legs like a bike seat, and measure from the top of the book to the floor.
Then enter it in our Bike Chooser, which matches your child's inseam to the right Prevelo size.
Alpha Zero at a glance
Spec Alpha Zero Type Balance bike Wheel size 12 inches Ages 1½ + Inseam 12½ to 16½ inches Rider height 33 to 43 inches Weight 6.8 lbs Gears None (balance bike) Brakes Rear hand brake with Kid Sized Brake Lever Frame Lightweight Butted 6061 Aluminum Price $209 $259Inseam matters more than age. When your child is between sizes, the smaller wheel is easier to handle and the larger one gives more room to grow. For a size matched to your child's inseam, try the Bike Chooser.
Still not sure? Tell us your child's inseam and height and our team will help you choose.
Alpha, Zulu or Bravo?
Choose Alpha for neighborhood riding, paved paths, and light trails. Choose Zulu for technical trails and mountain biking. Choose Bravo for pump tracks and dirt jumps. Every Prevelo is designed from the ground up around children's proportions, with low geometry, appropriately sized controls, and lightweight construction.
| Series | Best for | Rider level | Available sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | Streets, paths and light trails | Beginner to advanced | 12 to 26 inches |
| Zulu | Trails and mountain biking | Beginner to advanced | 14 to 26 inches |
| Bravo | Pump tracks and dirt jumps | Confident to advanced | 16 to 24 inches |
Common questions
Should my child start on a balance bike or a pedal bike?
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.
Are training wheels available for Prevelo bikes?
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 does a kids' bike's weight matter?
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.
Which size bike fits my rider?
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.
Do Prevelo bikes have hand brakes or coaster brakes?
All Prevelo bikes are equipped with hand brakes to ensure effective stopping power. Below is a breakdown of the braking systems for each model:
Model-Specific Braking Systems
Alpha Zero: Rear hand brake only.
All Other Models: Front and rear hand brakes.
How much assembly is required?
Prevelo bikes come almost fully assembled. Here are the complete assembly requirements for each bike:
| Bike | Assembly steps |
|---|---|
| Alpha Zero | (1) attach handlebar to steerer tube, (2) adjust seat height |
| Alpha One and Alpha Two | (1) attach handlebar to steerer tube, (2) attach pedals, (3) adjust seat height |
| Zulu One | (1) attach handlebar to stem, (2) attach pedals, (3) adjust seat height |
| Alpha Three | (1) attach handlebar to steerer tube, (2) attach front wheel, (3) attach pedals, (4) adjust seat height |
| Zulu Two, Alpha Four, Alpha Five, Zulu Three, Zulu Four, Zulu Five | (1) attach handlebar to stem, (2) attach front wheel, (3) attach pedals, (4) adjust seat height |
You can view assembly instructions for all bikes here: Assembly Instructions
