Kit

What goes in a kids' cycling kit?

Three things, mostly. A helmet, which is the one non-negotiable; stabilisers, which bolt to the rear axle of a 12in to 20in bike and usually come off within a season; and protection — knee and elbow pads, sometimes wrist guards, generally sold as a boxed set. Balance-bike riders skip stabilisers entirely and often ride in nothing but a helmet.

Should you buy a child's helmet second-hand?

Not if you can avoid it. The foam liner crushes once, a dropped or crashed lid can look perfect from the outside, and with a used one you are taking a stranger's word for its history. Children's helmets are among the cheapest safety kit sold and are outgrown on a predictable schedule, so this is the item to buy new and size properly.

What is worth buying used for kids?

Stabilisers and pads. Stabilisers are pressed steel arms and plastic wheels — check the arms are not bent out of line, that the bracket threads are clean, and that both wheels still spin rather than being worn flat on one side. Pad sets are worth having if the velcro still grips, the elastic has not gone slack and the plastic caps are scuffed rather than cracked.

How do you size a child's helmet?

Measure around the head about a centimetre above the eyebrows and buy to that number rather than to the child's age. Toddler lids typically start near 44cm and junior sizes run into the mid-50s, where they meet the small end of adult sizing. The helmet should sit level, roughly two finger-widths above the brows, and should not rock forward when the child nods; if the retention dial is already wound out to its limit, the shell is too small.

How much should you pay for used kids' kit?

Stabilisers and pad sets that have seen one child usually change hands for a few pounds, and anything close to the price of a new set is not worth the postage. Kit is often bundled with a complete bike, which is generally the better buy — price the bike as though the helmet were not included, and replace that separately.