The adage of by no means working with kids or animals could not be more true on this case. After three months of testing the Prevelo Alpha Zero steadiness bike, all my three-year-old has to say is, “It is quick as a result of it is purple like Lightning McQueen.” Lightning McQueen is a personality from the Disney movie, Vehicles, for the uninitiated. For many toddlers, that is probably all they’d wish to know, however let me reassure you mother and father, there’s extra to this little bike.
Prevelo is a high-quality kids’s bike model primarily based in California. It’s born out of the expertise of 1 man – Jacob Rheuban – instructing his youngsters to experience bikes. After observing his youngsters getting sooner, falling off and getting again up, Rheuban determined he wished to encourage extra confidence in his youngsters to wish to experience extra and push themselves. His strategy was to place geometry first, one thing that’s typically forgotten within the pursuit of low weight, rolling resistance, and aesthetics.
My very own background is in product administration; having as soon as labored on the Hoy youngsters’ bikes workforce and put vital time right into a youngsters’ e-bike mission at one other job, I used to be interested by placing Prevelo’s strategy to the take a look at.
So, given my son is already very proficient on his second-hand Vitus Smoothy steadiness bike, I believed it might be a great take a look at to see how he tailored to the geometry – extra on the way it differs, later – if he discovered to make use of a brake, and, in fact, if a purple bike actually was sooner than a blue one.
Building
Prevelo’s geometry first strategy centres round having a really low backside bracket, tall stack, steeper seat tube and slacker head angle than most children’ bikes have. If all of that appears like gobbledygook, what issues is that these options are designed to end in kids feeling extra grounded, with a centred weight distribution, which finally will increase stability for younger riders trying to progress their abilities.
The Alpha Zero makes use of a customized 6061 aluminium body and fork, which retains the load low at simply 3.5 kg/7.5 lbs. It’s fitted with a plethora of high-quality equipment together with WTB tyres, an aluminium V-brake actuated by a short-reach brake lever and a snug kid-sized saddle. Most notable is the one-piece aluminium bar and stem, which measures 390mm broad and encompasses a smaller-than-normal bar diameter of 19mm, designed to assist small palms get a great grip.
Get a grip with Prevelo’s 19mm diameter handlebar, designed for small palms
(Picture credit score: Future/Matt Ischt-Barnard)
The inner cabling routing of the rear brake cable is a pleasant contact and a nod to high-end grownup bikes however it isn’t there only for the aesthetic. It’s one of some options Prevelo designers have integrated to maintain youngsters secure. It does an awesome job of retaining the cable out of hurt’s method, together with the rounded-off axle bolt heads, flanged grips and naturally that rear brake, a characteristic hardly ever seen on bikes of this measurement.
The Zero claims to help riders from round 1 ½ years and up, with inseams from 30cm/12.5” to 42cm/16.5”. For reference, my three-year-old who could be very a lot prepared for a pedal bike and is diligently ready to see if Santa will deliver him one, is 105cm/41” with an inseam at 40cm/16” and is maxing out the saddle top. The a lot decrease backside bracket top of the Alpha Zero is the reason for this and would make it ultimate for youthful or smaller youngsters than him. As for color choices, it’s supplied in purple, blue, silver and pink.
I’m conscious that not all mother and father are as mechanically inclined as I’m, so you’ll be able to relaxation assured that the Prevelo arrives with little to no meeting required. As soon as unboxed, it is so simple as turning the bars, tightening the stem and becoming the entrance wheel. All of the Allen keys you want are offered. Disappointingly the lever attain wasn’t set for small palms. That meant I needed to modify the brake lever place and the brake actuation to compensate for this. It’s a small job and most bike retailers shouldn’t cost a lot or take lengthy for this service if wanted.
The Trip
Firstly, most of what I’m about to say is predicated on remark of my son’s using fashion. Naturally, I’ve not been capable of experience the bike and he isn’t capable of articulate the dealing with traits. From my observations, I imagine the geometry of the Prevelo has grown his confidence and kick-started his understanding of how you can deal with a motorbike. As I discussed, my son is three years outdated and has been scooting round on a steadiness bike since he was about 18 months outdated, capable of experience a lot of the native pump tracks.
I shortly seen he was leaning the Alpha Zero much more than his current bike. Contemplating there’s very minimal distinction in geometries between the 2, I can solely attribute this to the Prevelo being barely decrease and having a shorter wheelbase by 20mm. This, from my perspective, appeared to present him the sensation of being extra in management, most noticeable within the huge tight berms on the new Hove pump observe, the place he would usually look a contact scared or battle to carry a line. Examine that to now and that concern has been changed with smiles, exhilaration and extra accuracy. The trade-off was he struggled to hold pace out of the corners to rise up and over the following set of rollers.
The chainstays of the Alpha Zero make for good foot rests
(Picture credit score: Future/Matt Ischt-Barnard)
In case your youngster doesn’t but experience pump tracks how does what I’m saying translate to using to the nursery run or alongside bike paths and tracks? As I discussed, my overwhelming remark was how way more in management he appeared with the Prevelo, whether or not this was on stated pump observe, or passing folks and stopping at roads when utilizing it on the streets. Watching him carve from left to proper like a skier alongside the seafront, bolt off at excessive pace, then sluggish to a close to crawl with good steadiness to attend for me is a pleasure to observe.
A few of that is actually right down to the addition of the rear brake. His present steadiness bike isn’t outfitted with one and as his pace has elevated and he’s gained extra confidence, he was positively crashing extra typically. I’m not 100% positive how a lot he makes use of it or how efficient it’s however, I can actually see him pulling it. On the very least it’s permitting him to modulate his pace sufficient to present him the arrogance he’s in management.
Having him learn to use a brake was one of many huge causes we wished to check the Alpha Zero. With a pedal bike on the horizon, I hoped this is able to be the perfect center floor, the place he may isolate the talents of balancing, braking after which pedalling. On the very least he has discovered that huge skids are enjoyable and an awesome trick to impress your pals with. I apologise prematurely to the blokes at Prevelo who might have to exchange the rear tyre on return.
This chunky weld is well broken when the bike is inevitably dropped
(Picture credit score: Future/Matt Ischt-Barnard)
This leads me to my solely actual niggle with the Alpha and that’s the design of the single-arm chainstay. After a couple of rides, I seen that my son had scuffed the rear brake and chainstay a few occasions, leading to a frayed cable. It was clear he had been hitting it together with his foot when scooting. I discovered that swapping the V-brake pad washers round sat the brake arms contained in the chainstay, which principally solved this subject. After a couple of tumbles, I seen the place the drop-out is welded to the single-arm chainstay, the weld protrudes a good bit, leading to numerous scratching and harm to the paint. Youngsters’ bikes get broken, that may be a given. Nevertheless, contemplating the high-quality end of the Alpha Zero and its price as a possible hand-me-down bike, it’s a disgrace that the inevitable harm is essentially resulting from this design.
Worth and conclusions
At $239 or round £190 (primarily based on trade on the level of writing) this places the Prevelo Alpha Zero firmly within the premium steadiness bike market and up towards the likes of the Early Rider Charger at £199, the Woom 1 at $249/£229 and the massive model challenger from Specialised, the Hotwalk at $225. It’s significantly costlier than essentially the most comparable bike to my son’s Vitus Smoothy, the Hornet Airo 12” at £139.
Given well-known youngsters’ bike manufacturers, Early Rider and Woom, will inevitably have higher resale worth and the comparable construct high quality of his Vitus, which was initially solely £89.99, I believe the Prevelo sits in a little bit of a no-man’s land. The Hornit Airo is cheaper and claims to be lighter, whereas the Woom One and Early Rider Charger provide premium specs. If price or resale worth is a significant consideration I’d go for one of many ones talked about or search for a second-hand Isla, Frog or Vitus like I did.
(Picture credit score: Future/Matt Ischt-Barnard)
Nevertheless, the Prevelo provides excess of the specs listing mentions and its concentrate on geometry, which may encourage youngsters to experience extra and lengthy after a steadiness bike, it’s arduous to place a worth on. I believe the optimistic experiences my son has had with the Prevelo have performed an enormous half in his continued enthusiasm to experience even after I haven’t been capable of be a part of him resulting from a knee damage.
On the time of publication, the Alpha Zero isn’t obtainable through the UK distributor Windwave, however you’ll be able to order straight from Prevelo chances are you’ll nevertheless incur import prices. I’ve contacted Prevelo/Windwave to see if this may change sooner or later.
