Low-to-the-ground and featuring a comfy seat, it’s got specs that are really accommodating for toddlers. Your kid could literally ride in this for hours, because the seat has a comfy sculpted shape that she can sink into. Plus, it’s got a customizable fit — the seat adjusts into five different lock-in positions for growing legs or different siblings or family members. “Trikes are really the first tool that give kids the sense of moving forward,” says Judy Wang, a physical therapist based in Los Angeles. They also help develop a child’s visual processing abilities while in motion.
I also interviewed product designers, marketers, and owners at four companies that make tricycles, among them a trike designer at Fisher-Price and the VP of product development at Radio Flyer. Beyond the glitz, we found that the Roadster provides a smooth, stable ride, especially compared with similar low-riders made of plastic (like the modern version of the beloved Big Wheel). The Roadster’s size and weight makes it better balanced than our pick, even in fast turns.
The bike is rated to 50 pounds, 6 pounds more than the Joovy (many kids don’t hit 50 pounds until they’re 7 or 8 years old). I spent seven hours researching tricycles, starting by identifying popular models used in schools and recreation centers. Both Wang and Talmud work with tricycles in teaching pedaling and balance to kids. I used the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s database to see which trikes had been recalled recently and why. And I called two bike shops to see what models they recommend to parents looking for a first tricycle for their child.
It’s also easier to steer than other push trikes we tested, including the Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike, a clearly inferior model that’s similar to the Joovy (and easily mistaken for the Deluxe Steer & Stroll). With a wide rear wheel position, the Meridian tricycle provides more stability than a bicycle so riders of all experience levels can get around easily. The low standover aluminum frame makes it easy to get on and off, while the extra-large seat and ergonomic grips offer superior comfort on every ride. The low standover aluminum frame makes it easy to get on and off, while the extra-large seat offers superior comfort on every ride. For bigger kids, the Schwinn Roadster 12-inch Trike is a shiny, gorgeous tricycle that’s fast and fun to ride. It’s low to the ground, with more of a Big Wheel style than you typically see in a metal trike.
Best suited for easy-going rides around the neighborhood, just give the reliable 3-speed shifter a twist to smoothly shift gears and make pedaling easy on gentle hills. A rear expander brake and front alloy schwinn mountain bike linear pull brake deliver reliable speed control and secure stopping power. Plus, a locking brake lever acts as a parking brake to keep the tricycle stationary on flat ground for easy loading and unloading.
The Roadster features a shiny red and silver metal body, black tassels on the handlebars, a bell, and a wooden deck in back—a platform where a friend can hitch a ride. The molded plastic seat slides back on a track to be adjustable for bigger kids. It took a little longer for my son to get moving on this trike than on the Joovy, but the ride was smooth once he got up to speed. Though schwinn bicycles the Deluxe Steer & Stroll won’t work like the Joovy for the youngest kids, it’s still a good option to use as a stroller alternative with older toddlers. The parent push handle extends as far as the Joovy’s, though unlike that trike’s push bar it is not adjustable. We found that this trike was just as easy for a parent to steer as the Joovy, and easier to steer with one hand.