LIKEaBIKE UK
Cycle Stories is the sole UK distributor for LIKEaBIKE: the original and best children's balance bikes.
A family business in Roetgen, Germany, LIKEaBIKE is ran by Rolf, Alfred and Beate Mertens. In the 90s, having realised that 'normal' children's bikes with stabilisers actually made it harder to learn how to ride, it was Rolf who had the idea to build a wooden bike without pedals for smaller children. Development began in 1997 and eventually the first balance bikes ever made available for retail were born.
In 2003, under our Cyclesense banner, we became the sole UK distributor for LIKEaBIKE - becoming the first company to bring balance bikes to the UK market.
Every decent balance bike today has been heavily influenced by LIKEaBIKE, in particular the comfortable and confidence inspiring geometry, and we're very proud to have been their home in the UK for over 20 years.
From launch LIKEaBIKE balance bikes were made only from the highest grade of European marine plywood. Their truest sign of quality is that we're regularly replacing small parts on 20 year old wooden LIKEaBIKEs which are being handed down to the children of the generation which learned to ride on them originally.
We stock a full range of spares and accessories for these bikes on our website here at Cycle Stories, and if there's anything you need for your wooden LIKEaBIKE which isn't listed on our site please don't hesitate to get in touch and we'll see what we can do.
Balance Bike Spares Contact UsLIKEaBIKE Balance Bikes
In terms of balance bikes the focus is now on LIKEaBIKE's lightweight aluminium Kokua Jumper. Kokua is Hawaiian for the practice of helping another and showing kindness, which is exactly what the Jumper seeks to do for little ones.
The ultimate balance bike, the Jumper is lightweight at just 3.4kg but it's much more than that. It boasts a removable steering limiter (always innovative, LIKEaBIKE were the first brand to do this!) so that the child cannot oversteer and jackknife the bike, premium Schwalbe Big Apple or Black Jack pneumatic tyres and its coolest feature: a unique suspension elastomer under the seat tube which provides some micro suspension to the rider, making it a supremely comfortable and confidence-inspiring ride over paved and unpaved surfaces.
The Jumper is available in two sizes; a 12" wheel model for 2-5 year olds, and the 14" wheel model for taller children. Check our size guide for more info on which would be best for your child.
Jumper 12
The standard
Jumper model is typically suitable for ages 2 - 5 and weighs just 3.4kg. It comes supplied with a removable steering damper to stop the child from oversteering, an adjustable elastomer behind the seat post to provide some rear suspension, and beefy premium Schwalbe Big Apple 12" tyres.
Jumper 14
The Jumper 14 is the big brother of the Jumper. Suitable for children aged 3 - 7, the Jumper 14 comes with everything supplied with he Jumper 12 as well as a rear brake - ideal for teaching kids' how to use a brake before their transition to a pedal bike.
Shop nowLIKEtoBIKE Pedal Bikes
The LIKEtoBIKE range is based on the successful and confidence inspiring geometry of LIKEaBIKE's balance bikes. A comfortable upright sitting position paired with a lightweight, low stepthrough frame makes it an accessible and easy to ride option.
Its low stepthrough frame makes it somewhat unique in the lightweight children's bike world - there are no others that we know of boasting this type of frame in the UK that we'd also qualify as lightweight and easy to ride. This makes the LIKEtoBIKE a superb option for those who want to ride in a dress/skirt, or children with movement issues which makes lifting their leg over a traditionally shaped frame very difficult.
Available in 2 different sizes with a whole bunch of possible accessories, the LIKEtoBIKE range often sizes a little larger than other brands because the frames are larger. Please check our comprehensive size guide for which size you might need.
Browse LIKEtoBIKE Pedal Bikes