TRAX BALANCE

Have you ever dreamed of being a child again?

Well, the team at TRAX BIKE has too, and we designed the TRAX BALANCE after waking from that dream!

At first glance, the design of the TRAX BALANCE might seem casual or merely aesthetic. But when we talk about paying attention to every detail, we mean all the principles we have set ourselves to create “the balance bike we dreamed of when we wanted to be chil dren again”. 😉

When designing the frame, as well as seeking the optimal geometry to make the TRAX BALANCE as functional as possible, we’ve aimed for a look that resembles an adult bike, because not only does it look absolutely stunning, but all kids love riding a bike just like the ones their role models ride.In addition, the design has been based on the following principles, which are explained below: a weight of around 3 kg, wheel clearance for tyres up to 2.3 cm wide, the option to fit a rear V-brake, internal brake cable routing, a footrest mount, and an a-headset with an anti-crossing system.

The choice of this tyre width is not merely a matter of aes thetics (though that is a factor too), but is driven by other, far more important reasons:

Fisiological: On a balance bike, there are only two points of contact between the bike and the child: the handlebars and the saddle. And during the preliminary design study, we realised that there are cases where problems arise due to the child’s frequent contact with the saddle. In some cases, this was merely discomfort, but in others, a doctor’s prescription was required to temporarily stop using the balance bike to allow an injury caused in this area to heal.With 2.25-inch tyres inflated to the correct pressure, you get a cushioning effect that helps prevent this sort of discomfort and injury.

Functional: The TRAX BALANCE has been designed for children who want to broaden their learning experience during the initial phase of getting to grips with two wheels. The 2.25-inch tyre, inflated to the correct pressure, allows the 12-inch wheel to handle all terrains much more smoothly. This is particularly true when we start tackling off-road terrain or kerbs and kerb edges on everyday routes.

We have fitted a rear brake to the TRAX BALANCE for two main reasons:

Introduction to braking: From around the age of 3, children begin to understand the concept of ‘braking’ and can therefore start to learn how to use the brake to stop the balance bike. This is a new skill they can practise before making the transition to a pedal bike.

New adventures: What’s more, thanks to its design and tyres, the TRAX BALANCE lets you start venturing down some off-road slopes, and in this case, the rear brake becomes your perfect ally.We opted for a V-brake system because it strikes a balance between braking power and safety. During the design phase, we considered incorporating disc brakes but ruled this out due to the risk of children cutting their fingers when playing at being mechanics with the Balance.

A balance bike with internal cable routing might seem like we’ve gone a bit too far in the design process, and in a way that’s true – we mainly did it because we thought it looked cool – but once it was incorporated, we realised it serves a very useful purpose in keeping the cable and brake components securely in place and protected from accidental tampering.

We have opted for an A-headset steering system, just like on an adult bike, to ensure the steering works properly and is durable. What’s more, this provides the necessary stiffness so that even the most adventurous mums and dads can hop on the bike and show off their skills to their children!

We consider the footrests on the TRAX BALANCE to be essential, as once little ones start to master their balance (around 2 years old), they can immediately begin to lift their feet and even ride standing up on the BALANCE. This is a vital skill that budding mountain bikers are sure to put to good use!

We have incorporated a system into the steering mechanism to prevent the handlebars from turning more than 90°. This system prevents the brake cable from becoming tangled in the steering mechanism.

We have chosen the softest possible foam for the saddle, as on this type of bike the main points of contact between children and the bike are the handlebars and the saddle. Just as with the first point regarding the choice of high-volume tyres with inner tubes, we felt it was important to give this aspect careful consideration for medical and safety reasons.

The grips chosen are also specially designed for young children. The side protection prevents the child’s hand from hitting the ground first, as they have not yet developed the reflex to let go of the handlebars in the event of a fall.

What does the TRAX BALANCE include?

· 95% pre-assembled and 100% adjusted bike.
· Allen key for front wheel assembly.
· Trax Balance World coloring book.
· Foam protector for the stem.