When kids are learning to ride a bike, there are lots of things to consider once they get their very first bicycle, other than just the bike! Because of how much safety needs to be involved when our children are learning, you will, of course, be considering things like helmets and knee pads at the top of your list.
However, many people don’t consider that bikes need different features in order to help keep your kid safe. One of these features is bike wheel lights.
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Bike wheel lights have lots of benefits, both fun and practical, giving your child more freedom when riding around on their new mode of transport.
It’s important to note that bike wheel lights are not a substitute for front and rear lights when riding in dark conditions; they are meant to complement other safety features.
We have a guide here to different types of bike wheel lights you could consider for your child’s ride. We also summarise some of the key aspects you should look for when comparing and pricing up kids’ bike wheel lights to make sure you’re investing in the right product for you and your child.
Let’s take a look first at some of the leading brands of kids’ bike wheel lights.
Best Kids’ Bike Wheel Lights: Activ Life 2-Tire Pack
The main thing to get lights for is to provide visual awareness for your child so they’re spotted easily, especially if cycling during times when light is limited. Coming in a selection of different color choices, or even multicolored Activ Life is one of the most popular choices of kids’ bike wheel lights.
Your child will want to have a say on what colors are going to be implemented onto their bike, with their favorite colors appearing on their new favorite thing! This product definitely allows you to add some personal features to your child’s bike.
Being made with waterproof materials, these lights are designed to be used in lots of different conditions, withstanding any of the elements that are thrown at your child.
They are operated with a replaceable battery unit – your first batteries are included. You can expect 12 hours of use if they are constantly on, or up to 24 hours of use in flashing mode.
However, some have discovered that the product is fairly tricky to assemble and might cause the parent a bit of stress trying to make sure that lights are firmly attached to the bike.
Easiest Install Kids’ Bike Wheel Lights: Nite Ize Spokelit LED Light
If you’re looking for the coolest lighting effect for your kid’s bike, you need to look at Nite Ize Spokelit LED lights. Because of the way it sits on the wheel, you can see this light flying around at high speeds and creating a luminous pattern that kids are bound to love.
With regard to the color of the light, this product will give you a range of colors that are bound to strike a chord with your child’s personal characteristics and preferences. This product is also easy to attach, which makes the parent’s job easier.
Easy to put on and designed to be durable and withstand crashes and falls, these lights are perfect for those who are starting to learn and are bound to pick up a few scrapes along the way. Although, some have found that the light switch is hard to turn off and on, which can be frustrating at times.
You have a choice of two power sources; using replaceable batteries or rechargeable batteries. The replaceable battery option will give you about 20 hours in glow mode or 25 hours in flash mode, whilst the rechargeable batteries last around 6 hours and you’ll need a micro USB cable (not included) to recharge.
Longest Lasting Kids’ Bike Wheel Lights: WheelBrightz LED Bike Wheel Lights
Coming with enough LED lights to cover both wheels, WheelBrightz LED Bike Wheel Lights come in a wide range of colors that will give you the option to give your child exactly the color they’re looking for to brighten up their bike.
Even coming in ‘patriotic’ and ‘razzle dazzle’ patterns, this will let your kid brighten up even the darkest nights with the luminous aesthetics.
Designed to last for long periods of time (up to 48 hours), this product will let your kid ride for long periods of time before having to replace the batteries, which certainly makes your job easier as a parent. Do note, that this product doesn’t come with the 3x AA batteries you need to get started, so add this to your up-front investment.
Each strand is up to 7 feet, so it will fit from a small bike (starting at 20″) to larger adult bikes up to 29″ wheels. You can cut it to size on smaller bikes, or keep spiraling it around for an even cooler light effect on your kids’ bike.
However, some people have found that the switch to help light up your bike can be quite fiddly and hard to use at times.
Note that Brightz also makes frame lights and crossbar lights for added touches on fun on your bike.
What To Look For Buying Bike Wheel Lights
Although more a novelty than an essential safety feature for your kids’ bike, we still want a product that will last. Here are some important features to look for when selecting your kids’ bike wheel lights.
Durability
It’s important to ensure that the lights that you choose will withstand your child’s accidents and mishaps over time. You don’t want to invest in a product that will come apart after just a couple of months.
These crashes are bound to happen, so you need a product that will last the time that you need it and securely stays on your child’s bike.
Power Source
Anything that makes light needs powering somehow; is it a one-and-done product that you’ll need to dispose of once the batteries run out? Or easy to recharge and replace the batteries?
How quickly will it churn through batteries if they need replacing (I think we all know about kids leaving their battery-powered toys on all night, by accident, of course)?
Installation
Another thing to consider when choosing a kids’ bike wheel light is how easy it is to install. This can be very important if you’re installing them yourself. If you’re struggling to find the right spot to place the light, then you’ll most likely struggle to keep it secure every time your child rides.
If you’re planning on getting someone else to install it for you, make sure that they have experience in doing this type of installation.
Waterproofing
When purchasing a bike wheel light system, it’s important to ensure that it’s able to withstand water and other types of weather. Ideally, these lights should be able to be used in all sorts of weather without becoming damaged.
Kids will want to play in the worst of weather and your lights need to be kept safe from water.
Sizing
Not all products that seem like they are marketed to children will necessarily fit a a child’s bike. Make sure to choose a lighting product that can be adapted to the size of the spokes on a smaller bike if you’re buying for a child.
Color Options
As mentioned earlier, it’s vital to know that there’ll be an array of colors available to choose from.
If you’re not keen on the idea of white being your only option, then you’ll need to do some research into the various colors offered by each company.
Some may offer a rainbow of colors while others may only have one or two options. It’s really up to you what kind of kid you’ve got, but if you’re looking for something that has a lot of variety, then you’ll need products like these.
Price
Although we would recommend that you get hold of the best value for money when buying your bike lights, it’s important to remember that price isn’t everything.
A cheap product will never protect your child’s safety and could actually end up costing you more down the line. So, take a little time to compare prices and look out for deals where possible.
FAQs on Kid’s Bike Wheel Lights
There are no federal regulations in the US preventing the use of bike wheel lights. They should, however, never be used as a substitute for front and rear bike lights for riding safely in low light and at night.
Monkey Lights are a type of kids’ bike wheel lights, however, they look to be presently discontinued by the manufacturers. Reputable for having a great battery life of up to 40 hours and a huge range of colors, we do hope they return to the market soon.
Final Thoughts on Kids’ Bike Wheel Lights
There are lots of different bike wheel light products out there that are bound to be suitable for your child; however, this does mean that there are a lot of choices involved and that you’re bound to run into when looking for the perfect bike light.
Because of the high demand for these lights, there are lots of different forms and variations that you will find in lots of different colors and patterns, making it easier to find what your child wants.
On top of this, you need to consider different features that will inevitably need to be considered. Some of these can include the durability and longevity of the lights, so you don’t have to buy replacements regularly.
You also need to consider the price so you don’t end up forking out too much money, but you also need to ensure that the quality of the product is sufficient.
At the end of the day, your child’s safety and happiness are the main things to keep in mind, so we’re sure you’ll make the right decision!
How Do You Put a Bike Wheel Light On?
This can be the greatest challenge once you’ve actually purchased your bike wheel lights. A super-simple explanation here on how to correctly install your child’s Active Lites bike wheel lights.
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