The adage of by no means working with youngsters or animals could not be more true on this case. After three months of testing the Prevelo Alpha Zero stability bike, all my three-year-old has to say is, “It is quick as a result of it is pink like Lightning McQueen.” Lightning McQueen is a personality from the Disney movie, Automobiles, for the uninitiated. For many toddlers, that is seemingly all they might wish to know, however let me reassure you mother and father, there may be extra to this little bike.
Prevelo is a high-quality youngsters’s bike model based mostly in California. It’s born out of the expertise of 1 man – Jacob Rheuban – instructing his children to experience bikes. After observing his children getting quicker, falling off and getting again up, Rheuban determined he needed to encourage extra confidence in his children to wish to experience extra and push themselves. His method was to place geometry first, one thing that’s usually 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 children’ bikes workforce and put important time right into a children’ e-bike undertaking at one other job, I used to be considering placing Prevelo’s method to the take a look at.
So, given my son is already very proficient on his second-hand Vitus Smoothy stability bike, I believed it could be a superb 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 pink bike actually was quicker than a blue one.
Development
Prevelo’s geometry first method 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 lead to youngsters feeling extra grounded, with a centred weight distribution, which finally will increase stability for younger riders trying to progress their expertise.
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 comfortable kid-sized saddle. Most notable is the one-piece aluminium bar and stem, which measures 390mm extensive and incorporates a smaller-than-normal bar diameter of 19mm, designed to assist small palms get a superb grip.
Get a grip with Prevelo’s 19mm diameter handlebar, designed for small palms
(Picture credit score: Future/Matt Ischt-Barnard)
The interior cabling routing of the rear brake cable is a pleasant contact and a nod to high-end grownup bikes nevertheless it isn’t there only for the aesthetic. It’s one of some options Prevelo designers have included to maintain children secure. It does a fantastic job of protecting the cable out of hurt’s means, together with the rounded-off axle bolt heads, flanged grips and naturally that rear brake, a function hardly ever seen on bikes of this measurement.
The Zero claims to assist 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 may 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 peak. The a lot decrease backside bracket peak of the Alpha Zero is the reason for this and would make it best for youthful or smaller children than him. As for color choices, it’s supplied in pink, 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 supplied. Disappointingly the lever attain wasn’t set for small palms. That meant I needed to alter 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 Journey
Firstly, most of what I’m about to say relies on statement of my son’s driving model. Naturally, I’ve not been in a position to experience the bike and he isn’t in a position to 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 methods to deal with a motorbike. As I discussed, my son is three years previous and has been scooting round on a stability bike since he was about 18 months previous, in a position to experience many of the native pump tracks.
I shortly observed he was leaning the Alpha Zero much more than his present bike. Contemplating there may be 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 massive tight berms on the new Hove pump observe, the place he would usually look a contact scared or wrestle to carry a line. Examine that to now and that worry has been changed with smiles, exhilaration and extra accuracy. The trade-off was he struggled to hold velocity out of the corners to stand up and over the subsequent set of rollers.
The chainstays of the Alpha Zero make for good foot rests
(Picture credit score: Future/Matt Ischt-Barnard)
In case your little one doesn’t but experience pump tracks how does what I’m saying translate to driving to the nursery run or alongside bike paths and tracks? As I discussed, my overwhelming statement was how way more in management he appeared with the Prevelo, whether or not this was on mentioned 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 velocity, then gradual to a close to crawl with excellent stability 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 stability bike isn’t outfitted with one and as his velocity has elevated and he’s gained extra confidence, he was positively crashing extra usually. 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 velocity sufficient to present him the boldness he’s in management.
Having him learn to use a brake was one of many massive causes we needed to check the Alpha Zero. With a pedal bike on the horizon, I hoped this could be the best center floor, the place he may isolate the talents of balancing, braking after which pedalling. On the very least he has discovered that massive skids are enjoyable and a fantastic trick to impress your folks with. I apologise upfront to the blokes at Prevelo who might have to switch 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 number of rides, I observed 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 challenge. After a number of tumbles, I observed 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. Children’ bikes get broken, that may be a given. Nevertheless, contemplating the high-quality end of the Alpha Zero and its value as a possible hand-me-down bike, it’s a disgrace that the inevitable harm is essentially because of this design.
Worth and conclusions
At $239 or round £190 (based mostly on alternate on the level of writing) this places the Prevelo Alpha Zero firmly within the premium stability bike market and up towards the likes of the Early Rider Charger at £199, the Woom 1 at $249/£229 and the large model challenger from Specialised, the Hotwalk at $225. It’s significantly costlier than probably the most comparable bike to my son’s Vitus Smoothy, the Hornet Airo 12” at £139.
Given well-known children’ 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 feel 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 value 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 record mentions and its concentrate on geometry, which may encourage children to experience extra and lengthy after a stability bike, it’s laborious to place a value on. I feel the optimistic experiences my son has had with the Prevelo have performed an enormous half in his continued enthusiasm to experience even once I haven’t been in a position to be part of him because of a knee damage.
On the time of publication, the Alpha Zero will not be out there through the UK distributor Windwave, however you’ll be able to order straight from Prevelo chances are you’ll nevertheless incur import costs. I’ve contacted Prevelo/Windwave to see if this would possibly change sooner or later.
