{"id":185879,"date":"2023-03-27T10:40:01","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T17:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=185879"},"modified":"2026-02-27T16:51:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T00:51:48","slug":"first-look-co-op-cycles-kids-bikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/first-look-co-op-cycles-kids-bikes","title":{"rendered":"First Look: Behind the Co-op Cycles REV line of Kids’ Bikes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

\u201cGosh, he\u2019s growing up so fast.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t help but think in clich\u00e9s as I watch my 6-year-old pedaling up the dirt path. I let him set the pace as we ride over small rocks and dodge bigger ones on the Marshall Mesa bike trail near our Boulder, Colorado, home. As the trail steepens, Charlie twists his shifter to his easiest gear and rises to stand on the platform pedals, wobbling slightly as the extra-wide tires bump over a slab of sandstone. A few minutes later, breathing hard at the hill\u2019s crest, he pauses a second to turn and grin at me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems like only yesterday that my son was riding the same trail (though a much smoother section) on his balance bike, toddling along, occasionally mustering enough courage to pick his feet from the ground and glide. Soon he had graduated to pedals and was riding laps (and yes, skinning his knees) in our cul-de-sac on an orange two-wheeler. Now, watching him race downhill on his geared 20-inch bike, I know to savor the moment. It will be the blink of an eye before he\u2019ll size up again, pedaling a 24-incher and cruising even more confidently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Co-op Cycles<\/a> design team had users like Charlie (and cycling parents like me) in mind when creating its line of REV kids<\/a>\u2019<\/a> bikes<\/a>, which range from 12-inch balance bikes to 24-inch geared rides. The collection offers nine kids\u2019 bikes for every rider at every stage, from those learning to balance or pedal for the first time to older kids ready for gears and trail adventures. Kids can size up to the next bike as they grow or gain skills. Meanwhile, parents who are REI Co-op Members may appreciate the convenience of being able to trade in those gently used REI bikes through a used gear program<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Bikes That Last <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The designers recognized that fast-growing kids put their two-wheelers through the paces, both on dirt trails<\/a> and city streets<\/a>. They also knew that parents don\u2019t want to replace parts\u2013much less entire bikes\u2013every season. They wanted to make a bike line that was durable enough to perform for multiple little rippers in a pass-it-down process that benefits both the buyer (less money spent) and the planet (fewer resources used).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe world needs bikes to be used well over one person\u2019s learning cycle,” says Joe Gray, lead designer with Co-op Cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Co-op Cycles team set out to create the REV line of kids\u2019 bikes in 2016, designers knew there was potential to produce something different\u2013and much better\u2013than what mass-market bike manufacturers offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

REI already had decades of experience building kids\u2019 bikes for the Novara\u00ae line. Still, its bike experts dove into researching human biomechanics and the anthropology of human teaching practices to update their sense of how young bodies move and how they learn. The designers then reviewed anecdotes on parenting blogs to understand the conditions in which kids start to ride bikes, whether they use common tools like training wheels, for instance, and at what ages they reach milestones like using hand brakes and gears. Next, the team interviewed parents whose kids are accomplished mountain bikers in order to better understand how they instilled a love for riding. Through it all, the team also kept in mind their own experiences as parents and their own efforts to share the joy of riding bikes with their children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI got to look not just back at what my son did when he first learned how to ride a bike,\u201d Gray says, \u201cbut also look forward to what\u2019s going to happen soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of that beta guided the team toward three guiding principles for the REV lineup design process: durability, quality and cost-effectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prototypes are put through rigorous third-party testing to ensure they meet or exceed both regulatory and voluntary standards. Why? Because kids are tough on stuff. \u201cEven on a small, little sidewalk bike, we assume that these bikes will be ridden hard, and can still be passed down to other riders,\u201d says Karl Schumacher, development manager for Co-op Cycles. \u201cWe plan and test for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Durability was one area, the team realized, where the REV line could really stand apart from the competition. The Co-op Cycles team chose quality materials like aluminum (known for its strength-to-weight ratio and being lighter than steel) for the frame and opted to work with reputable brand names like Shimano for base components. During the design process, the team factored in not just the size of the riders but also their strength when it comes to pushing on pedals and gripping brakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All About Design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But what about its aesthetics? After all, kids want a cool bike. With help from the REI color and pattern design team (Yep, there\u2019s an entire department<\/a> dedicated to how the gear looks), Co-op Cycles strategized paint colors. Gray and his team knew they didn\u2019t want limiting blue and pink options; nor would they offer bikes with licensed characters and images as many of their mass-market competitors do. Instead, they saw an opportunity to modernize the color scheme, adding hues like Desert Sage<\/a>, Blue Nights<\/a> and Pencil (pictured below left). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
From top left: Co-op Cycles REV 12 Kids’ Bike<\/a> in “Pencil”, $239; Co-op Cycles REV 20 Kids’ Bike<\/a>, $3299<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Such attention to detail hasn\u2019t gone noticed. \u201cWe got [the] green color and [the] finish is matte, which looks premium,\u201d says one customer reviewer of the Co-op Cycles REV 20<\/a> bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The designers also picked colors for the REV line that took cues from adult-focused Co-op Cycles lines like the earth-toned DRT mountain bike collection<\/a> and the steely CTY urban collection. \u201cWe appealed to the sense of connection that a parent might have with their kid when they\u2019re riding bikes together,\u201d Gray says. \u201cThe bikes are not the same color, but they\u2019re in the same family. They look like they belong together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the entire design process, the team also considered cost. \u201cPrice is a huge barrier for people getting their kids into bikes, especially quality bikes,\u201d says Heather Henderson, senior product manager for Co-op Cycles. \u201cWe\u2019re super sensitive to that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As bike designers, the REI team knew that kids need to ride a bike that fits them properly in order to have the best experience. As parents, they knew that guardians want to spend money on new bikes as infrequently <\/em>as possible. \u201cWe know that kids are growing and they\u2019re not stopping that anytime soon,\u201d Gray says. \u201cIf you can eke out just a couple of months more, that\u2019s a useful thing for a parent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To that end, the designers aimed to make each bike fit the widest possible range of riders while still ensuring that kids are comfortable on the bike. As an example, by reducing the size of the bike frame (by shortening the seat tube or lowering the top tube), each model can fit riders on the smaller end of the spectrum. Conversely, by lengthening the seat post, the saddle height can be extended higher to accommodate longer legs as the rider grows. \u201cThis user is changing their body size rapidly,\u201d Gray says. \u201cThey\u2019re not going to fit this bike for that long if we don\u2019t make it adjustable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such thoughtfulness in so many areas adds up to quality, REI believes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A child rides the Co-op Cycles REV 12 Kids’ Balance Bike<\/a>, $169<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Trading in Your REI Bike<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn a mass-market bike, something is going to break and you\u2019re going to pay as much to fix it as you did to buy the bike,\u201d Grays says, whereas the REV bike might cost a little more upfront, \u201cbut your kid will beat the heck out of it and they\u2019ll still be able to ride it. And then when they\u2019ve outgrown it, you\u2019ll be able to swap up for a bike that does fit them. It\u2019s a long-term play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

REI facilitates that long-term play with its Bike Trade-In Program<\/a>, which provides an avenue for co-op members<\/a> to get a great deal on a gently used set of wheels and to trade-in gently used kids’ bikes. The program also ensures that each REV bike has a second (or third or fourth) life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Back on the dirt trail at Marshall Mesa, Charlie zips along a flatter stretch with Eldorado Canyon and the iconic slabbed rocks, the Flatirons, rising in the distance. I pedal behind him, watching as he confidently navigates the ruts. I grin at Charlie, just as he grinned at me moments before. I\u2019m thankful for the beauty in the world, for the joy my little boy brings, and for the bike that made this moment possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

REI kids’ bike trade-in program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How do I trade in a kids’ bike? The trade-in process is simple. Bring an eligible Co-op Cycles kids’ bike<\/a> into any REI store<\/a> and trade it in for up to 40% of the original price in the form of an REI gift card. No appointment is needed but you must be an\u00a0REI Co-op Member<\/a> to trade in gear. You can also start a trade-in online before bringing the bike to a store by using the online\u00a0product trade-in catalog<\/a>\u00a0to see if your bike is eligible and how much it could be worth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bikes must be traded in by the original purchaser within three years of the original purchase date. Eligible bikes must be complete with no missing components and all components must be functional. Bikes cannot have major structural damage or mechanical defects. While bikes may show visible signs of use, such as wear, scratches, scuffs, stickers, or other cosmetic flaws typically incurred during ownership, they must still meet the above criteria. Read specific\u00a0terms & conditions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initiate your trade-in online.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find an REI store near you.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Shop All Kids’ Bikes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Ready to get your little one off and riding? Check out our handy guides about <\/em>how to choose a kids’ bike<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>when to upsize your <\/em><\/a>kid\u2019s<\/a><\/em> bike<\/em><\/a>. When you\u2019re ready to make a purchase, our helpful <\/em>Bike Finder<\/em><\/a> tool will point you in the right direction. Or better yet, head to your <\/em>local co-op<\/em><\/a> and have your kiddo take a test ride.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cGosh, he\u2019s growing up so fast.\u201d I can\u2019t help but think in clich\u00e9s as I watch my 6-year-old pedaling up the dirt path. I let him set the pace as we ride over small rocks and dodge bigger ones on the Marshall Mesa bike trail near our Boulder, Colorado, home. As the trail steepens, Charlie […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9145,"featured_media":186370,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1812,730,2120,724,1044,1538],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-185879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cycle","tag-co-op-brands","tag-co-op-cycles","tag-first-look","tag-gear","tag-kids","tag-new-products"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/first-look-co-op-cycles-kids-bikes","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"First Look: Behind the Co-op Cycles REV line of Kids’ Bikes","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/first-look-co-op-cycles-kids-bikes","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/first-look-co-op-cycles-kids-bikes"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/Kingman_120521_6288.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/Kingman_120521_6288.jpg?fit=2000%2C1000"},"articleSection":"Cycle","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Phuong Le"}],"creator":["Phuong Le"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["co-op brands","co-op cycles","first look","gear","kids","new products"],"dateCreated":"2023-03-27T17:40:01Z","datePublished":"2023-03-27T17:40:01Z","dateModified":"2026-02-28T00:51:48Z"},"rendered":"