Paul’s Yard Boomer Kids Bike

Recently, I was fortunate to be asked to review this Paul’s Yard 2 in 1 Boomer balance bike. I asked for a pink bike for my little princess Ms C.

What is a Boomer Balance Bike?

It is made of steel, has a front and rear coaster brake, adjustable handle bars and seat. With it’s tough as nails stainless steel frame it transforms from a balance bike to a complete 12 inch children’s bicycle which they recommend from 3 years of age or for the child to have an inside leg measurement of at least 40 cm to ensure the firm footing and safety. It comes in four different colours: Red, Pink, Blue and Green.

The Boomer allows the child to master balancing, and when ready for pedalling, the bike allows for a simple attachment of pedals and chain on a bike they are already comfortable riding on. This avoids the purchase of the “next stage” bike which can often be too cumbersome and heavy resulting in a confidence dip and possible requirement of stabilisers. The Boomer therefore is unique to the “ordinary” balance bike as it speeds up the learning process, has a longer life span (pedals can be removed again for younger siblings) and is therefore very economical. In my previous blog post, I have blogged about how to build a Paul’s Yard balance bike and convert it to 12″ bike.  Please click this link to view the instructions and video.

Why would I choose Paul’s Yard bike to any other balance bike or pedal bike?

The reason is quite simple.  Why waste money to buy a balance bike and later on you have to buy a pedal bike?  By getting this Boomer kids bike, you can save money, space and pass it on to your younger children.

Features:

1. Saddle with parent handle

I love how well padded the saddle is and with the parent handle it is a plus point.  I can easily hold on to it while helping my daughter to learn how to balance the bike. In future, when she learns how to ride a bike, I’m sure the handle will prove to be very useful.

2. Quick release saddle

Having a quick release is so useful. Why don’t other manufacturers use this more? It is annoying to have to get get the spanner every time you need to make small adjustments to the saddle as your child grows.  By using this quick releasing tools, it is so easy to readjust for different growth stages or for another child in the house.

3. Comfortable handle

I like how the handle bar is covered by the soft grip rather than those plastic cover.  It is very comfortable to grip for those little fingers.

4. Easy to build

It is quick and easy to build the balance bike and the instruction manual is very easy to follow.

As for building the 12″ bike, this was not so quick and easy.  I have two tips that I would like to share.  Firstly, it is to use a bread knife to lift up the plastic cap from the bottom of the seat tube.  Secondly, have a soft mallet on hand as some of the screws can be a bit tight to remove by hand and it is also useful for pushing the pedal assembly in which you can see in my video.

5. Clear plastic chain guard

Having a clear cover made it easy to view if the chain need to be oil or if it needs a clean. But I do feel that the plastic chain guard is too thin and it might crack easily. So far it is alright, but not sure how well this will last.  This is the only downside but overall, I think this is a great bike.

I would highly recommend Paul’s Yard Boomer Kids Bike to any other parents.  It is a very unique and made of good quality. There are obvious benefits to the child for having the same bike when moving from the balance bike form to pedal bike form.

I rate this bike 4.5 stars out of 5 star. It is currently great value at only £95 with free posting (usual price is £130).

This is my video review: https://youtu.be/Ihum_4nUt6g

Please note that this bike is recommend from three years of age or for the child to have an inside leg measurement of at least 40 cm to ensure the firm footing and safety. Although Ms C is nearly four years old, she is struggling to push herself along with her feet. Compared with other three year old children, she is small for her age and is only 82 cm tall. This bike was tested by Mr K, 5 and he is 102 cm in height. He is able to use the 12″ bike comfortably. He is still able to use the bike for at least one year or more. There is plenty of room to make further adjustments as he grows.

Disclosure: We received the sample for the purposes of writing this review, however, all thoughts and opinions remain our own. Image used with permission.