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TECH NEWS

Van Nicholas launches £1000 titanium balance bike that it claims could "help children to ride better"

The brand says the carbon-fork-equipped Ventus Jr. will serve generations of children…

Dutch titanium bike manufacturer Van Nicholas has brought out a titanium balance bike, the Ventus JR, which the brand says “might even help children to ride better, and faster, much quicker, and for longer”.  

Without scientific research to back up the claim, admits Van Nicholas, the brand supposes that its balance bike, which comes with a full titanium frame, carbon wheels, carbon fork, and unsurprisingly, a hefty price tag, gives a head start for kids that want to achieve “cycling expertise”. 

> Best balance bikes 2023 — the perfect starter bike for your little ones

2023 Balance Bike Ventus Jr - Perspective Right

Van Nicholas is not the first brand to think that youngsters should ride something more like what the adults have. Just a couple of years ago Specialized launched the Hotwalk Carbon, a full carbon balance bike with a price tag of £999. 

“Titanium’s lightweight but robust nature makes it the perfect material for very young riders because it is light enough for them to control easily, but tough enough to handle the rough treatment it will inevitably receive!” Ralph Moorman, General Manager of Van Nicholas, says. 

2023 Balance Bike Ventus Jr - Perspective Top

The bike’s frame, handlebars and stem are made of the same Aerospace Grade 3AL/2.5V Titanium as Van Nicholas' adult bikes. The rubber grips are smaller to ensure a secure grip for smaller hands, there is a padded saddle for comfort and the saddle height is adjustable so the bike grows with the rider. The foot platform is integrated to offer a space for the feet when freewheeling. 

> Video: Teaching a child to ride

The whole bike weighs 2,322g and is suitable for children aged between three and five. And the cost... well, it is just a notch over a grand at £1,006.

If you really want to spoil a future cycling champion, can order one from Van Nicholas' website now.

Suvi joined F-At in 2022, first writing for off-road.cc and then road.cc and ebiketips too until August 2024. She contributed to all of the sites covering tech news, features, reviews and women's cycling content. A lover of long-distance cycling, Suvi is easily convinced to join any rides and events that cover over 100km, and ideally, plenty of cake and coffee stops. 

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8 comments

Avatar
ktache | 1 year ago
2 likes

This makes some sense as the parent will spend a huge amount of time carrying the thing.

It's a thing of lovelyness, though I would have made the footrests a bit bigger.

There are rich people in the world, better the spend it on things that generate employment rather than hoarding it in tax havens.

Avatar
JustTryingToGet... | 1 year ago
0 likes

I want to see it after a month of a 2yr old going nuts 😄

Avatar
KDee | 1 year ago
0 likes

Well, at least it won't rust when it's left outdoors in some of our lovely Dutch sideways rain. 

Avatar
BonerFide | 1 year ago
1 like

Silly money for what it is, but regardless, a thing of absolute beauty as usual from Van Nicholas.

I'm sure it'll find homes precisely because of the price, the world we live in I suppose.

 

Avatar
cyclisto | 1 year ago
0 likes

If you see £5000+ bicycles on the road, don't act surprised if you see such an expensive balance bike. Especially when the price difference and the expected increase quality of such a bike will make mostly dads happy, not the 2 year old toddlers that may literally try how the balance bike tastes.

Avatar
OldRidgeback | 1 year ago
2 likes

The woonden balance bike my sons used cost a fraction of this and did remarkably well. It's still in the loft and may well end up being used by their kids. It wasn't heavy as it was made using plywood (as used in DeHavilland's wooden wonder). 

Avatar
I love my bike | 1 year ago
1 like

With no brake, it doesn't help children ride as good as they could! Instead, it forces them to wear out their shoes. Looks nice though.

Avatar
eburtthebike | 1 year ago
2 likes

£1,006 for a balance bike?  Perhaps the chauffeur could ride it for the kids.

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