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Early Rider Velio Balance Bike Review

If baby biker gangs existed, they would all be riding the Early Rider Velio. Bold in style and unique in function, the Velio unapologetically puts babies in the driver’s seat while still providing the help and support they need to balance on two wheels.

Designed for babies aged 10 to 18 months, the Velio is the only baby bike we know of that actually teaches tiny toddlers how to balance on two wheels! As a result, Velio graduates are likely to have a significantly shorter learning period when moving up to a traditional balance bike compared to graduates from other baby bikes.

Curious on how this little bike works? From fit to function, this review covers everything you need to know about the Early Rider Velio.

baby on the Early Rider Velio

Early Rider Bella Velio Overview

RATING: Exceptional
MSRP: $199 – Bella Velio, $199 – Super Velio
BEST FOR: Babies 10 months to 18 months. Non-walkers can still use the Velio.
SEAT HEIGHT: 8.5″ – 9.6″ (saddle has 4 positions to adjust for child’s height)
WEIGHT: 6.17 lb. (both models without push bar)
USER MANUAL: Bella Velio Manual, Super Velio Manual

PROS:

  • Unique Active Balance System: Actively teaches toddlers how to balance on two wheels.
  • No Walking Required: Its unique design allows non-walking babies to comfortably sit and begin riding.
  • Eye-Catching Design: Clean, modern look available in six different color options.
  • Safety Features: Rounded edges and no sharp points protect little ones in case of falls.
  • Stable Spherical Foam Tires: Provide added stability for tiny riders who have not yet mastered walking.
  • Included Parent Push Bar: Helps parents assist little ones in learning how to use the Velio without having to lean over.
  • Non-Marking EVA Foam Tires: Ideal for indoor use as well as on outdoor surfaces (dirt, gravel ok, but must be flat for safety).

CONS:

  • Limited Fit Window: Ideal for children aged 10 to 18 months.
  • Pricey: Higher cost, but likely to retain good resale value.

Super Velio vs. Bella Velio

Early Riders offers two Velio models: the Bella and the Super Velio. Both bikes are designed to fit the same size child and offer the same functionality. The primary differences between the two lie in the frame and handlebar design.

Comparison image of the Super Velio and the Baby Velio
  • Bella Velio: Features a wood frame and a more upright handlebar. This design is better suited for more timid babies, providing a stable and comfortable riding experience. The Bella Velio is available in five different color options: pink, green, blue, black, and white.
  • Super Velio: Built with a magnesium alloy frame and a lower-set handlebar with multiple positions for holding on. This design is ideal for adventurous, fearless babies who may benefit from the additional holding positions. Currently, the Super Velio is only available in black.

What age is the Velio for?

The Velio is designed for toddlers from about 10 to 18 months. The saddle height ranges from 8.5″ to 9.6″, with a total of four different seating heights. For a child to ride the Velio comfortably, their inseam should be at least 9″ to allow their knees to bend while sitting on the saddle. Babies do not need to be able to walk to use the Velio.

For toddlers on the higher end, Early Rider sets the maximum age at 3 years and weight at 44 lb. Due to the very small size of the bike, we would recommend getting a traditional balance bike for toddlers older than 18 months.

Early Rider Velio Review – Bella Model

Our young tester was barely 10 months old when we introduced him to the Bella Velio. Despite not being able to walk yet, his active crawling skills allowed him to quickly climb onto the bike and start bouncing up and down on the seat.

Young rider sitting on the Velio

With the parent push bar attached, his mom gently moved the bike forward, and his eyes lit up with excitement! Although he didn’t yet have the coordination to sit and walk on the bike, his bright smile and laughter showed that he was thrilled and eager to engage with it.

After a month of testing the bike, he is still in exploratory mode, but we will keep this review updated as he progresses. In the meantime, check out the Velio in action in this Instagram post.

What makes the Velio different from traditional balance bikes or other baby bikes?

Three unique features make the Velio ideal for the smallest riders:

(1) its large spherical wheels
(2) the Active Balance Control tension system
(3) and the parent push bar (optional but included)

Spherical Wheels

The Velio features two spherical foam wheels. Both wheels are puncture-proof, with the front wheel slightly larger (10” diameter) than the rear wheel (8”).

Why spherical? The magic of the spherical-shaped wheels is that they enable the bike to smoothly tilt from side to side without reaching a “drop-off” point, where traditional bike tires would cause the bike to tip over.

Difference in tire contact patch between a balance bike tire and the Velio tire

While our young tester could not yet walk on his own, he could sit independently on the Velio and tilt it back and forth without the bike falling over.

Even if a smaller traditional balance bike were small enough to fit him, its narrow tires would prevent him from sitting unsupported without falling over. Other “baby bikes”, like the YBike Pewi, solve this problem by having 4 wheels, but as a result, it doesn’t teach kids how to balance on two wheels.

Active Balance Control

Another unique feature of the Velio is its patented Active Balance Control (ABC) system. The ABC system is an adjustable tension system between the frame of the bike and the rear wheel. While complicated to understand, the ABC system is beautifully intuitive and effective in action.

If you’re not up for learning the details of this ingenious system (outlined next in the review), just know that the ABC system reduces the likelihood of a child falling over while providing tactile feedback to help tiny riders learn how to balance on two wheels. Thanks to the ABC system, the Velio is uniquely equipped to help the smallest riders get an early start to biking and have a blast while doing so.

Image pointing to the active balance control system in the Bella Velio

The goal of the ABC system is to help little ones learn how to balance a bike on two wheels. The ABC system accomplishes this by:

1. Preventing Falls by Forcing the Bike to Turn into a Fall: The ABC system automatically initiates a turn when the child loses balance on the bike. This is accomplished by allowing the frame of the bike to pivot away from the rear wheel, essentially “catching” the child before they fall over. 

Turning into a fall is the exact same motion all bike riders make when they lose their balance on a bike. By steering into a turn, riders are able to recenter their weight on the bike and continue riding forward. The same applies with the Velio, but since young toddlers haven’t yet learned to turn into a fall, the Velio does it for them.

What does this look like? In the image below, notice how the frame rotates around the rear wheel when tilted. The rear wheel remains pointing forward (red arrow), while the frame rotates around it (yellow arrow). The friction between the ground and the rear wheel helps to keep the rear wheel from moving while the frame rotates around it.

Bella Velio upright versus tilted at an angle

2. Providing Resistance to the Tilted Frame: When tilted, the ABC system applies resistance to the frame. This resistance helps kids upright the frame and encourages them to keep it upright.

Our forthcoming video review will show this process in better detail, but for now, you can quickly see this process in Early Rider’s Velio video. After the bike’s frame tilts at 0:03, you can quickly see how the ABC system provides tension between the rear tire and the frame to help upright the bike.

3. Adjustable Tension for Progressive Learning: As the child progresses on the Velio and masters balancing on their own, the tension of the ABC can be increased. By increasing the tension, the bike is less likely to pivot away from the rear wheel to “catch” the child as they fall.

As a result, the child can naturally learn to turn the bike by leaning (the bike’s handlebars do not turn the front wheel). More advanced riders can also learn to drift on the bike.

The ease with which the rear tire can pivot is adjustable via a dial knob on the back of the bike. Early Rider recommends setting the knob to the least resistance (towards the -) at the beginning and increasing resistance (towards the +) as the child progresses.

adjustable dial of the Bella Velio Active Balance Control system

Tiller Bar (Parent Push Bar)

To help stabilize and encourage young riders, the Velio comes with a tiller bar that attaches to the back of the bike. The bar allows parents to help young children balance while moving on the bike. Our 10 month old tester could sit and balance the Velio on his own from day one, but the tiller was needed to help him walk on the bike.

The tiller bar is extendable and collapsible, keeping it out of the way when not in use. As the child progresses, the bar can be removed, enabling independent riding.

Tiller bar on the Bella Velio up and down

Velio’s Small Size

The Velio is considerably shorter in height and length than a traditional balance bike. For example, the Islabike Rothan balance bike, shown below, is set to its minimum seat height of 11”, while the Velio is set to its almost maximum seat height of 9.4”. 

The difference of the bike’s wheelbases is even greater. The Velio is significantly shorter front to back than a traditional balance bike, making it much easier to maneuver for the tiniest of riders.

Size comparison of a regular balance bike and the Bell Velio

Even the smallest traditional balance bike, the woom 1, has a minimum seat height of 10.1”, but its wheelbase is still the same length as the Islabike above.

Comparable to traditional “baby bikes”, the Velio minimum seat height of 9.4” is in the middle of the pack. The Hape Scoot Around has a minimum seat height of 8.75” while the YBike Pewi’s is 10.13”.

Additional Features of the Bella Velio

Simple, yet complex, there’s more to the Velio than meets the eye!

Adjustable Seat

The seat of the Velio adjusts between 8.5″ and 9.6″ with four different height settings. Two Allen bolts secure the saddle directly to the bike’s frame, and multiple holes along the frame’s body allow for different height positions. A food-safe silicone cover with 15mm of foam padding goes over the metal saddle once it is screwed into place.

Adjustable seat of the Bella Velio

To better accommodate growing riders, higher saddle positions are achieved by moving the saddle farther back and up over the Velio’s rear tire, increasing both the reach and saddle height of the bike.

Handlebars

The handlebars on both the Bella and Super Velio models are stationary; they do not twist or rotate and are not attached to the front wheel.

Stationary handlebars of the Bella Velio

The Super Velio’s handlebars differ from the Bella’s as they offer multiple hand positions. The lower position on the Super Velio allows babies to lower their body weight on the bike, making it easier for advanced riders to lean into turns and “drift” the bike.

Tires

The Velio features non-marking EVA foam tires. The foam is hard enough to provide ample traction indoors and out, but soft enough to prevent injury if a baby falls on it. Each tire is covered by a large, tightly fitting fender to protect curious fingers.

foam tires of the Early Rider Velio

While the tires are capable of riding outdoors, the bike should only be used on flat surfaces, away from any risk of the bike rolling away.

Early Rider Velio Bottom Line

Not just a cool-looking baby bike, the Early Rider Bella Velio is one awesome little machine that will bring hours of independent riding fun to your tiniest toddlers. Recommended for ages 10 to 18 months, the Velio is as unique in style as it is in function. Unlike other toddler bikes and “pre-balance bikes,” it allows little riders to ride independently while still helping them learn how to balance on two wheels.

FTC Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this review.  No monetary compensation was provided for this review, however, the reviewed product was supplied by the manufacturer or distributor to help facilitate this review. All opinions and images are that of Two Wheeling Tots LLC.  All content and images are copyrighted and should not be used or replicated in any way. View our Terms of Use.

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