On a gravel drive or a sandy path the training wheels dig in, the bike lurches to one side and the child stops pedalling. It reads as a bad bike when it is really the wrong surface.

Both training wheels unbolt from the rear axle, and the 2.1 inch air tires are the part that actually handles a rough path. Keep the stabilisers for concrete and asphalt, and pull them once balance is there.

The look of it

Pink over a low step-through frame with brown grips and a brown padded seat. The white basket lifts off the bars in a second. Training wheels sit either side of the rear hub on short brackets.

The numbers that decide the fit

41 inches long and 20 inches across the bars, with the handlebar between 26 and 28.5 inches. The table under it gives ages 3 to 5, a rider height of 37.5 to 43.5 inches and an inseam of 18.5 to 22.5 inches.

Stopping at this age

The coaster brake is the one most three year olds reach for first, because back pedalling takes no grip. The front hand brake has a short lever pull for when their hands grow into it.

What you do before the first ride

The maker ships it 95 percent built. Handlebar, pedals, basket, bell and training wheels are the pieces left. Set the saddle, then go round every bolt and check the tire pressure.

Four inches of travel, quick release style adjustment at the seat post clamp.

Raise the bars along with the seat to keep the back upright.

Two 4 inch stabiliser wheels on the rear axle, off with a spanner when ready.

Worth measuring against the boot of the car and the space behind the garage door.

A removable white basket for the ride home and a bell on the bar.

2.1 inch pneumatic rubber in five layers, more forgiving over bumps than solid foam.

Ships from a Canadian warehouse, so there are no customs charges and no cross-border delays. Free shipping on orders over $150, a flat $18.90 below that, and tracking by email as soon as it leaves.

Return within 14 days of purchase, unused and in the original condition and packaging.

Covered directly by the manufacturer under their warranty terms for material and manufacturing defects.

Spotted the same pink 14 inch cheaper at a Canadian retailer? Send the link and we will match it.

The maker's band for this wheel size. Measure the leg before you shop by age.

41 inches long is a published figure, so you can check it against a hallway or a car boot first.

Stabilisers work best on hard, flat ground. Gravel and sand are where they fight back.

What we stand behind

• The age band, rider height, inseam, saddle height, handlebar height, overall length and 99 lb seat limit are the manufacturer's own published figures.
• No helmet is included. A helmet belongs on every ride, and eight Canadian provinces have helmet legislation, three of them for riders under 18.
• This is a bike for supervised riding on paths, driveways and parks, never on a road.
• No safety certification mark is shown on this size's own listing, so we claim none.
• Ships from a Canadian warehouse, free shipping over $150, and 14 day returns unused in the original packaging.

Will it fit a four year old?

Usually, but measure rather than assume. The maker asks for a rider height of 37.5 to 43.5 inches and an inseam of 18.5 to 22.5 inches, and the saddle starts at 20 inches.

How long is the bike?

41 inches long and 20 inches across the handlebar. Handy to know if it has to live in a hallway or travel in a car.

Can the training wheels come off?

Yes. Two 4 inch training wheels bolt to the rear axle and come off with a spanner. Coaching guidance is that they prevent a bike leaning, so they teach balance less well than riding without them.

Which brake should we teach first?

Most children at this age use the coaster brake first, since it works by pedalling backwards. Bring in the front hand lever once they can squeeze it firmly.

What needs doing out of the box?

The maker states 95 percent pre-assembled. Fit the handlebar, pedals, basket, bell and training wheels, set the saddle, then check the bolts and the tire pressure.