Being part of the fast-paced world of today, it’s safe to say technology is what makes it go round. Though it’s helped us in oh so many aspects in life, it’s also turned certain things upside down as we can see from the increasing number of people who’ve adopted sedentary lifestyles. The worst of all is letting this affect our kids, so instead of letting them have more fun and games that involve physical activity, they copy us and prefer to stick to spending time with their electronics.

Growing up as an active child myself, scrapes, cuts, and bruises were often part of my childhood days, particularly as I never wanted to part from my bike. Since it was a BMX, I’ve always associated this brand with making long-lasting memories. Wanting to provide the perfect dose of fun and physical activity for my kids, it’s needless to say bikes were the first option that came to mind. However, taking the wide range of choices nowadays, I couldn’t decide between 20 inch Bmx bikes, and MTB (mountain bikes), so I had to do some comparison, taking their advantages and disadvantages into account.

The BMX, particularly this size, 20 inches, is considered the traditional, a classic if you will. Even though BMX first appeared about 50 years ago, it continues to be a cycling trend, which isn’t difficult to see why. First of all, 20 inch Bmx bikes are lightweight, and compact, so kids can carry them. Second, they are solid build and that makes them durable, and they are simple, without gears, which is why they are easy to operate. Third, they can be found in a variety of colours, and features (pedals, grips, hubs).

Then again, even though basically one-sized (there are now other models, like 22, 24, and 26”) and known to be suitable for kids aged 6, up to teenage years, they are ideal for grown ups too who want to have more rides with easy manoeuvring, and tricks, so the drawback would be parents might end up borrowing their kids’ bikes every once in a while. And, of course, there’s the BMX versatility when it comes to the terrains, like race tracks, concrete skate, and parks, so kids have the chance to ride around the city, and socialise at local cycling clubs.

As opposed, the mountain bikes are sturdy, and the name itself implies they are suitable for forest tracks, and hills. This is possible thanks to their gearing, which makes them versatile in the sense fitting the correct size for your kid wouldn’t be a problem. Yet, that’s exactly where a problem lies: gearing can be tough to deal with for kids, as it’s more complicated, and its derailleurs can easily be damaged. Oh, and I forgot to say these bikes would cost you more too.

To let you in on our choice, in the end, we opted for the BMX, unanimously, and I couldn’t be more pleased. Now I get to recall my childhood, and join in on their fun, having the peace of mind they get enough exercise. A word of advice is if you want to get your kids to enjoy cycling, make sure you let them do the pick.