Hornit Airo – The Lightweight Bike
When I was 5 years old my father determined it was time for me to learn to ride a 2-wheeler. His friend told him that he had a proven plan for teaching kids to ride a bike. It was called the “magic rope.” One Sunday this neighbor came over to my house and tied the “magic rope” to the back of my new 2-wheel bicycle. I started riding down a hill with this guy holding the rope until I looked back and realized he was no longer holding the rope. I was riding all by myself and going pretty quickly at that.
I used the same “magic rope” method to teach my own children to ride a bike, as well as about half a dozen neighborhood kids. I always felt the “magic rope” was the end all-be all for getting kids off the training wheels. That is until I discovered the Hornit Tuvalu balance bike. This product truly helps children learn to ride a bike on their own. So, is it time to burn the “magic rope?” I had a chance to test out the Airo and see if a neighborhood kid could learn to ride by using this little bike that has no pedals.
Weighing in at only 6.5 pounds, the Airo (which comes in many colors) makes it absolutely simple to teach little ones to balance on a bike without training wheels. The base of the Hornit Airo’s frame features grip-taped footplates, making it useful for children when they’re up to speed on the flat or whizzing down a slope.
According to the Hornit website, the frame sits on 12.5-inch black aluminum wheels with sealed bearings, and the tires are decent, chunky, 2.25-inch Compass Lites – much better than the foam or plastic options that come with cheaper balance bikes.
The six options include the Tuvalu Turquoise, Flamingo Pink, Magma Red, Orca White, Hammer Yellow and Mavericks Blue. The finish is a stylish matte that looks great and will make little kids want to get on this balance bike and try it out. Of course, there’s no braking system on this bike because it’s not meant to ride like a normal bike, but rather to teach kids to trust their balance on the bike.
The company claims the balance bike is suitable for riders with 30-46 cm inside legs. Some kids might be a little frightful to get on the balance bike and give it a try, but once they do, they’ll find that balancing isn’t so challenging and they will be able to quickly transition to a regular 2-wheel bike. The bottom line is that the Airo will allow younger kids to learn how to ride a bike. Rather than waiting until they are at least 4 years old to use a method like the magic rope, the Hornit Airo allows for younger kids to get the hang of it. Not to mention, if they do fall, it’s a very short distance to the ground!
