Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). In 2019, we tested a new grow-with-me style tricycle, the Doona schwinn tricycle Liki Trike S5. We used the trike while shuttling a three-year old around the neighborhood, and took it to the park for some testing with babies and toddlers, trying out all configurations and modes of the trike. We’ve updated broken links in this guide and changed cost details for our upgrade pick, the Angeles Midi, which has more than doubled in price since we first recommended it.
In our tests, the Classic Red was harder to ride than the Joovy or any of our other picks. Once a child is able to reach their feet to pedals—generally between ages 1 and 2—you can begin training. Pediatric physical therapist Rebecca Talmud suggests starting with a riding toy to practice climbing on and off, forward movement and steering and navigating around obstacles.
We also tested our picks with a dozen riders in a local park. We had an even mix of boys and girls ranging in age from 1 (pushed, in trikes with a baby mode) to 7, a wide range that gave us a feel for how the trikes would handle for lots of different kids. The trike gang tested the options on cement paths, grass, and small hills, and offered some feedback. I then spent 18 hours evaluating the tricycles in everyday conditions with my two sons, using each trike for several strolls around the neighborhood and the top contenders for a dozen or more walks. We tested each trike on grass, pavement, and bumpy broken concrete surfaces, paying attention to how the wheels performed on each surface and how long it took to get the bike going. For the combo grow-with-you models, I assessed how difficult and time-consuming it was to convert the trike from baby mode to toddler mode.
We found that bigger kids could more comfortably ride the Midi than the other picks, which you could say is a good reason the higher price tag is worth it. This tricycle has the largest footprint of any we tested. The platform on the rear wheels is wider than the one on the Angeles, making this trike the easiest of any we tested for a second kid to stand on.
Personally, I’m a science writer with more than a decade of experience interviewing experts in countless fields, including health, parenting, and child development. I’m also the mom of two small guys who were schwinn tricycle 1½ and 3½ when I was initially reporting and testing for this guide. I’ve pushed, pulled, rolled, and cajoled kids on tricycles for countless after-dinner strolls and park dashes over the past three years.
Overall operation runs fine and on peddle assist I can run it up to almost 28 mph however, it doesn’t take long until the battery starts losing its charge by a few bars. I only got caught in a storm moment once at the last 1/4 mile to home. They claim they are good for 20 miles on a charge yet, I went on a 14 mile jaunt to and from beach which I live only 7 miles away. The battery ran down to 2.5 bars which was expected. Yet, now it shows a considerable drain after a 5 or maybe 8 mile run.
I have one of the best mountain bikes ever built and it’s only been on trails two times. The other “downside” is its range, though, I’ve never run out of power while riding. I pedal a lot without the power, using it on uphills only. With two, 40 miles would be easy even if using mostly with the power on with hardly any pedaling. And with a second battery it still would cost less than any other e-bike with comparable components.
We added a bell with that classic ring to the Meridian Deluxe for a fun, charming way to alert others on the road. They are easier to pump and attach, and will pump your tires up much
quicker than a hand pump will. Some come with gauges, which eliminate 1) the need to switch back and forth
between a pump and standalone gauge, or 2) if you’re really lazy, outright guesswork. Because nothing in life is ever as simple as it should be, we’ve included a few more things to ponder when it comes
to making sure everyone’s tires are in good shape for their next ride. Every tire has a recommended psi printed on its side close to where it touches the rim. This is usually
written as a range (for instance, “90 to 115 psi”) since there are reasons why you’d want to be on the higher or lower
end, which we’ll get into shortly.
Tires with too
much air lead to too much bounce, making for a jolty ride. Lower pressure helps with shock absorption while also
giving you more traction since more of the tire comes into contact with the ground. MTB manufacturers recommend
between 30 and 50 psi on most of their bikes since this is a nice balance between on-road (closer to 50) and off-road
(closer to 30) riding.