Comparison Qplay Nova Max vs Qplay Nova+ Rubber

— Ages 1 to 3. The youngest age group. This group consists exclusively of tricycles (see "Type"), and the design often includes additional features that ensure safety and allow parents to use the bike as a stroller. Some of these features include, in particular, safety belts, bumper, canopy (see "Package") and a parent handle (see below).

— Ages 2 to 4. This group may include all 3 types of bicycles (see "Type"). However, tricycle models typically resemble strollers less and are more suited for a child's independent movement than those in the previous group; for bicycles with two wheels, side wheels are necessary (see "Package"). Balance bikes are almost all designed for children aged 2-4 years.

— Ages 3 to 6. For children in this age range, tricycles have become uninteresting, and their physical development is adequate to learn riding on two wheels. Therefore, this category mainly includes bicycles with two wheels (see "Type") and must include side wheels in the package (see "Package").

— Ages 5 to 8. Bicycles for kids in early school years closely resemble adult models: only two-wheeled bikes belong here, and side wheels (see "Package") are not mandatory, though they can sometimes be found.

— Ages 6 to 10.... Models for the older age group offer the ability to ride like adults. This category includes bikes with 20-inch wheels. Some examples for this age already feature a hand brake and some additional functions. However, selecting such bicycles requires considering the child's readiness for independent riding.

— Ages 8 to 10. The age group from 8 to 10 years encompasses children's bicycles with truly "adult" equipment. This includes models with 20-inch wheels, multi-speed transmissions, handlebar-mounted brake levers (including advanced disc brakes), and other attributes of genuine adult bikes, but in a smaller format. Essentially, bicycles in this age range are a transitional link between children's and teenage models.

The limits of age groups are quite arbitrary, but it is not recommended to greatly exceed them. It is important to consider not only the age range specified by the manufacturer but also the child's overall level of development. Additionally, children of a certain age may have different heights and body builds — when choosing, it is worth considering not only the age group but also the maximum load (see below).

The maximum rider weight that the bike can normally carry. This point is directly related to the age group (see above), however, bikes with the same age recommendations may differ in maximum load.

Of course, it is impossible to exceed the load specified by the manufacturer: even if an accident does not happen immediately, it can happen at any time. And ideally, you should choose a bike with a margin of weight — both in case of emergency situations, and taking into account the fact that the child will grow.

Bicycle wheel diameter is traditionally indicated in ". The overall height of the bike directly depends on this parameter, so each age category has its own wheel size - in accordance with the height of the young cyclist. However, cars of the same type and age group may differ in wheel diameter; this is especially pronounced among two-wheeled bicycles. In such cases, it is worth considering the following point: larger wheels behave better on rough roads and allow you to coast for a long time, but they are reluctant to accelerate and require more effort on the pedals; small wheels - on the contrary, they spin without much effort, but they hold speed worse and are more sensitive to pits and potholes.

Tricycles predominantly have a wheel diameter of 10 ", balance bikes - 12 ". In two-wheeled models, there are sizes in 14, 16, 18 and 20 ". Larger diameter wheels are no longer used in children's, but in teenage bicycles (they are listed in our catalog in the section with older bikes).

The design of the wheels fitted to a bicycle and the materials used for the tyre/rim.

— Inflatable rubber. Wheels with inflatable rubber tires — the same as those on full-size adult bicycles. Such wheels are quite demanding in terms of maintenance: their condition must be monitored and pumped up if necessary. In addition, even a small puncture in the tire makes it unusable and requires repair. On the other hand, this is the most advanced type of wheel in terms of performance: they perform well even on uneven roads, smooth out vibrations, provide good traction and are suitable for fast, dynamic riding. And servicing inflatable tires can be a good training for a young cyclist before switching to a teenage bike. That is why two-wheeled models for older age groups are mainly equipped with inflatable tires. However, this option can also be found in other varieties, including balance bikes and even three-wheeled ones (see "Type").

— Rubber. Wheels with a solid rubber tire. Unlike the inflatable ones described above, such tires do not need to be inflated, and they are completely resistant to scratches and punctures. On the other hand, solid rubber wheels are less suitable for uneven roads and high loads. Therefore, they are found mainly among bicycles for the smallest, and in the age category from 5 to 8 years, such wheels are not used at all.

— Polyurethane. In design, such wheels...are similar to solid rubber ones (see above), they differ only in the tire material — polyurethane (elastic synthetic material). Polyurethane is noticeably harder than rubber, so it is used mainly in tricycles, not designed for fast driving and uneven roads.

— Plastic. Wheels made entirely of plastic. The main advantage of this material is its low cost; in addition, it can be given almost any color. On the other hand, plastic is hard and not very durable, it is not suitable for uneven roads and high speeds. Therefore, such wheels are used only in tricycles and some balance bikes (see "Type").

— Plastic with rubber. A slightly improved version of the plastic wheels described above. In this case, the hard plastic is supplemented with a kind of tire analogue — a narrow rubber strip around the rim, where the wheel touches the ground while driving. This helps to soften the vibrations that inevitably occur even when driving on smooth asphalt, but this is essentially where these wheels differ from purely plastic ones — plastic with rubber is also used only in tricycles, where the wheels are not designed for significant loads.

In the context of children's bicycles, alloy wheels refer to monolithic wheels made by injection molding. This is where they differ from traditional wheels, where the rim and hub are connected by spokes. Alloy wheels are typically stronger and more resistant to damage, and with fewer moving parts, they are easier to maintain.

— Pedal. A variant used mainly in two-wheeled models (see "Type"). To brake, you need to press the pedals in the opposite direction; the braking itself is provided by the pads inside the rear hub. Pedal brakes are simple, inexpensive, do not require maintenance and are quite reliable, which is why they are extremely popular in children's bicycles. Their main disadvantage is that if the chain falls off, the bicycle loses the rear brake; however, the probability of this is not so high that this moment is critical.

— Rim mechanical. A brake in the form of a pair of pads, which are pressed against the wheel rim by pressing the handle ( manual type of brake); the force from the handle is transmitted by mechanical traction in the form of a cable (hence the name). Such brakes, unlike the pedal brakes described above, work even with a chain that has come off. At the same time, they are more complex, more expensive and require periodic maintenance, which is why they are rare, mainly in fairly advanced models of the older age category.

— Disc. A brake in the form of a pair of pads, which, when pressed on the handle, are pressed against a special disk fixed on the wheel hub. The force from the handle to the pads is transmitted through mechanical traction, as in rim mechanical ones. However, disc brakes are considered more advanced — they are more powerful, more e...fficient, and less sensitive to dirt and rim curvature. On the other hand, such systems are more complex and more expensive than rim ones, which is why they are used extremely rarely — mainly in high-end two-wheeled bicycles of the older age category.

— Trigger sleeve. A type of brake that combines the features of the two types described above: the pads are located inside the drum in the rear sleeve (like in pedal brakes), but the braking force is transmitted to them not from the pedals via a chain, but from the handle on the steering wheel via a cable (like in rim mechanical brakes). Due to this, such brakes can be installed on balance bikes (see "Type"), where pedals are absent by definition; in fact, trigger sleeve systems were created specifically for balance bikes.

— Pedal and rim. Bicycles equipped with both a pedal and rim rear brake. For more information on each of these types, see above; and their combination is used to increase the efficiency and safety of braking. Thus, a bicycle with such equipment is not afraid of a chain falling off: the pedal brake will fail, but the rim brake will remain functional. And the simultaneous use of two brakes can be useful for an emergency stop. On the other hand, such a combination significantly affects the price of the bicycle, despite the fact that in practice it is not needed so often. Therefore, this option has not become very widespread.

— Handbrake. A type of brake used exclusively on tricycles. It looks like a lever, usually mounted to the side of the seat; when this lever is raised, special stoppers are lowered onto the rear wheels. Note that tricycles are not designed for high speeds, and to brake, it is often enough to slow down the movement of the feet on the pedals. In light of this, the handbrake is provided more for “just in case” than for regular use; in some models, it can be used as a parking brake.

— Parental. A variant used in the youngest age group of tricycles, equipped with a parental handle (see below). As the name suggests, in such models the brake is controlled by the parent leading the bicycle — for example, by pressing a special lever on the parental handle.

The ability to lock the front wheel of the bike in a straight position. This feature is found exclusively in three-wheeled models (see "Type") with a parent handle (see above): with the handlebars locked, the bike practically turns into a sidecar, and only the parent controls it. Features of the lock may vary from model to model: in some cars, the steering wheel is also fixed motionless, in others, the child can turn it, but this does not affect the position of the wheel.

The ability to “disconnect” the pedals from the wheel so that they do not rotate while the bike is moving. This function is found in three-wheeled models (see “Type”) and is useful when used as a stroller - it eliminates the risk that the baby’s feet will hit the rotating pedals (and this can be fraught with bruises and even injuries).

The ability to tilt the back of the child tricycle allows for a more comfortable position for the child. This solution is primarily justified for models with a parental handle, when the bike is used as a stroller — to transport the baby by the parent. Naturally, during such walks, the child may get tired and want to sleep. And leaning back to take a nap will be more comfortable for him.