I was out playing basketball yesterday when I happened to notice a child, no more than two years old riding a bicycle. I sat there for a few minutes shocked. Finally, my curiosity peaked and I ran over to ask the mother what was going on.

She informed me that Zach, not yet two, was riding a Skuut, which is a cute wooden balance bicycle without pedals. Zach, who could barely speak full words let alone sentences, was having no trouble wheeling up the little incline and zipping down the hill on his Skuut.

"After a year or two on the Skuut, most kids are easily able to upgrade to a real bicycle, without the terror of the training wheels," his mom informed me.

At a hundred dollars, the Skuut isn't so cheap, but it has an adjustable seat that allows it to be used for a few years at least. For families who love biking in the outdoors but have a younger child who can't ride a bike yet, this is a great way to speed up the learning process while allowing the child to participate in family outings and develop a love of bike riding.

Want a balance bike for your child? Check out Skuut, at their website, or LIKEaBIKE, another brand which has an even wider variety of models.