Kids Bike Size Guide — Find the Right Fit
The right kids bike isn't about age — it's about inseam. Measure from crotch to floor (shoes off, feet flat), then match it below. A bike that fits builds confidence fast; a bike to "grow into" mostly builds frustration.
Quick size chart
| Inseam | Wheel size | Typical age | Our pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12–17″ | 12″ balance | 1.5–3.5 yrs | Woom GO 1 balance bike |
| 15–19″ | 14″ balance | 3–4.5 yrs | Woom GO 1 Plus / GO 2 |
| 16–20″ | 14″ first pedal | 3.5–5 yrs | Woom GO 2 |
| 17–21″ | 16″ | 4–6 yrs | Woom GO 3 (or the AUTOMAGIC with self-shifting 2-speed hub) |
| 19–24″ | 20″ | 6–8 yrs | Woom GO 4 · EXPLORE 4 for gravel & gears |
| 22–26″ | 24″ | 7–11 yrs | Woom EXPLORE 5 |
| 25″+ | 26″ | 10–14 yrs | Woom EXPLORE 6 |
Why weight matters more than anything
An adult riding a 30 lb bike is carrying about 20% of their body weight. A 40 lb kid on a 30 lb big-box bike is carrying 75% of theirs — imagine pedaling a bike that weighed 130 pounds. Woom bikes run roughly half the weight of department-store bikes, which is the single biggest reason kids actually ride them.
Skip training wheels
Balance bike → pedal bike is the fastest path to riding. Training wheels teach pedaling but delay balancing — the hard part. Most kids who start on a balance bike ride a pedal bike on day one, no running-alongside required.
Riding a Cleary today?
Cleary has wound down production — we were proud to sell them for years, and we still service them. When your rider outgrows theirs, the Woom lineup above is the closest match in spirit: lightweight, kid-proportioned, built to be ridden hard. Woom's upCYCLING trade-in program gives you credit back when you size up.
Why buy from Clever Cycles
- Built by mechanics, not shipped in a box — every bike assembled, tuned, and safety-checked
- Test rides welcome at our Portland shop
- No Oregon sales tax
- We service what we sell — including your old Cleary
