At some point in their lives, all children ask for that special Christmas or birthday present: a new bike. From the first tricycle to the latest mountain bike, this will become one of their favourite possessions – and possibly one of the greatest headaches for most parents!

Most children start their cycling adventures with a tricycle and this teaches them the first steps in learning to ride. Indeed, many children learn to ride a tricycle even before they learn to walk. They can learn the valuable lessons of steering and pedalling, under supervision, in the safety of their own house or garden. As soon as they become more proficient they are eager to progress to small childrens bikes with training wheels or stabilisers.

If you are interested in getting into cycling, but are confused about all the jargon surrounding bikes, joining a bike forum could be your solution. You will meet like-minded people who will give you the benefit of their opinions and advice (not always impartial, admittedly, but you can be fairly sure it will be honest).