When my son turned seven, I knew it was time to tackle the “rite of passage” that is learning to ride a bike. However, what I envisioned as a fun bonding experience quickly turned into a source of frustration for both of us!
He struggled with balancing, steering, and stopping (pretty much everything that comes with riding a bike). We even tried various bike brands, but they were all too heavy for him and awkwardly designed. After taking a few tumbles, he stopped wanting to try at all.
At that point, I was pretty desperate for a solution. That’s when I saw Guardian Bikes on Shark Tank! I felt like the company was pitching directly to me. It sounded like exactly what my son needed. Plus, I figured if Mark Cuban saw something special about these bikes, there must be something to them.
Discovering Guardian Bikes
Guardian Bikes stood out for several reasons.
Right off the bat, the company’s mission is to make biking safer for kids through innovative design and technology, which I absolutely love! The bikes are made with a patented SureStop Brake System, which prevents head-over-handlebar accidents. Given my son’s previous struggles with braking and his anxieties about falling, this feature alone made Guardian Bikes worth it to me!
And then there’s the bike itself. Every kid’s bike we tried before Guardian just seemed like a condensed version of an adult bike–they were heavy, hard to control, and overall just felt cheap.
As soon as my son got on his new Guardian bike, I could immediately tell it was completely different! Guardian’s bikes are designed with what they call “Kid-specific Geometry.” They’re way lighter, shorter distances between pedals, a lower center of gravity, and are just way easier for kids to control. It’s clear: these bikes are actually made specifically for kids learning to ride.
The Purchase and Assembly
Ordering the bike was straightforward! There were lots of colors to choose from and the Guardian Bikes website provided clear guidance on selecting the right size. But I’ll be honest: I was nervous about it being difficult to assemble.
That’s why I was so surprised when the box arrived and I saw how simple the assembly instructions were to follow. They even provided a video tutorial, and it only took less than 5 minutes to put everything together!
First Ride: I’ve never been more proud!
The true test came when it was time for my son to take his new Guardian bike for a spin.
To both of our surprise, he was balancing like a pro within minutes! I could tell the lightweight frame and low center of gravity made balancing 10x easier. As soon as he started pedaling, I could see his confidence growing. “See!” I said to him, unable to hold back my excitement, “this is how biking is supposed to be! I told you it’s fun!”
The most significant difference was in the SureStop Brake System. It worked exactly as promised, allowing him to stop smoothly and predictably. Unlike our previous attempts with other bikes, my son didn’t experience any sudden, jarring stops that threw him off balance.
The best part: There were no tears, and no tantrums. He just steadily improved over the hour of practice. Flash forward to two months later and, I kid you not, I can’t get him off his bike! Practically every other day we’re taking long rides around the neighborhood and our local parks.
Final Thoughts
What started as an impossible challenge has turned into such a rewarding experience for my son and me. Seeing the joy and the confidence he’s gained from bike riding, along with the bonding time we now spend outdoors (and away from his devices), makes me feel incredibly grateful to Guardian Bikes.
They definitely delivered on their promise of creating a safer, more enjoyable biking experience for kids. It’s not much of a surprise, but Mark Cuban knew what he was doing when he made a deal with this innovative company. I even bought my youngest a balance bike to start the learning process early, and he loves it! Safe to say, we’re a Guardian Bike family now.
If you’re a parent struggling to teach your child to ride a bike, I highly recommend giving Guardian Bikes a try. Their thoughtful design and commitment to safety makes a world of difference for kids. Guardian Bikes have transformed biking from a source of frustration into a favorite family activity!