Some bikes are made for quick rides around town. Others are made for mud, bumps and small forest adventures.

Early Rider designs award-winning balance bikes, first pedal-bikes and kid’s bikes that inspire confidence, independence, and adventure.

We tested two Early Rider bikes with two six-year-old riders: Sophie on the Belter 20 and Finn on the Seeker 20.

About Early Rider Bikes

Early Rider is a British bike brand that focuses on high quality children’s bikes with a grown-up level of design. Their bikes are lightweight, durable and built using quality components. What we like about Early Rider is that the bikes are designed for children who really enjoy riding. Whether it’s a weekend family ride, exploring forest trails, cycling to school or spending the afternoon at the local pump track, these bikes are made to encourage kids to get outside and keep exploring.

Living in Switzerland, we are spoiled with beautiful places to ride. From lakeside paths and village streets to forest tracks and mountain trails, there are endless opportunities for family bike adventures. What we like about Early Rider bikes, is that they have different bikes for different types of riding, whether your child prefers cruising through town or heading off the beaten path.

The bikes are beautifully finished, lightweight for children to handle and built with durability in mind. Rather than adding lots of unnecessary extras, Early Rider focuses on thoughtful design, quality materials and components that are made to last, so the bikes can grow with your family. Early Rider bikes are not the cheapest option, but they are made for families who want a high quality bike that lasts for years and can be shared with or passed on to siblings, friends, or neighbors.

The Belter 20 and Seeker 20 are available in four beautiful colors: Brushed Aluminium, Sage Green, Violet and Nordic Blue, making it easy to choose a style that suits your young rider.

The City Bike: Early Rider Belter 20

Sophie tested the Belter 20 around Basel, especially along the Rhine and through the city. The Belter 20 is made for children aged around 6 to 8 who already enjoy cycling and want a bike that feels smooth and easy to handle.
It is a lightweight, elegant bike, with a sleek design.

What is special about this Early Rider bike, is that the Belter 20 doesn’t have a traditional bike chain—it uses a carbon belt instead. That means there’s no greasy chain to oil, and there’s much less maintenance to think about. It also runs very quietly and keeps little hands and trousers cleaner. As parents, we really liked this simple, low-maintenance design because it means more time riding and less time looking after the bike.

What we particularly liked is how practical it feels for everyday life. The bike is beautifully designed and feels very well made. It works well for family rides along the Rhine, cycling to school or visiting friends, and you can easily add a basket or accessories to personalize it.

You can find more information on the Belter 20: Here

The Adventure Bike: Early Rider Seeker 20

Finn tested the Early Rider Seeker 20 in the hills, riding along forest paths, mud, and down little slopes. This is the more adventurous bike of the two: a lightweight 20-inch mountain bike with gears, hydraulic disc brakes and tires made for rougher ground.

What we particularly liked is that he could really use it like a trail bike. He did not have to avoid puddles or slow down as soon as the path became bumpy.

The Seeker 20 is Finn’s first bike with gears, and we were curious to see how quickly he would get the hang of it. It turned out to be much easier than we expected. He learned to change gears after just a few rides and soon started shifting naturally as the terrain changed. Before long, he was choosing the right gear without us having to remind him, leaving him free to focus on the fun part — finding the next path or mud puddle.

The bike feels stable and robust, giving him the confidence to explore more challenging terrain. After only a few rides, he’s already asking every day after school if we can go out again (sun or rain!), and keeps telling us he wants to race through the mud.

Our next adventure will be taking the Seeker 20 into the mountains, where he is excited to ride alongside Dad.

You can find more information on the Seeker 20: Here

“This bike is so cool because I can ride straight

through the mud.”

What Parents Should Know About Early Rider Bikes

Both bikes are exceptionally well built, durable and high quality. They feel like bikes that are designed to be ridden often and enjoyed for many years. Their lightweight frames also make them easier for children to control and more enjoyable on longer family rides.

The Belter 20 is the better choice for everyday riding in the city, school runs, family outings and relaxed adventures. The Seeker 20 is better suited to children who want to ride off-road, climb, descend and explore rougher trails or pump tracks.

Early Rider bikes are premium bikes, so the price is higher than many children’s bikes. However, if your child rides regularly or the bike will eventually be passed on to a sibling, the quality and durability make the investment worthwhile.

What We Love about Early Rider

• Lightweight yet exceptionally durable construction
  
  
• Premium build quality and thoughtful design
  
  
• Stable handling that inspires confidence
  
  
• High-quality components that feel built to last
  
  
• Beautiful color choices: Brushed Aluminium, Sage Green, Violet and Nordic Blue

Where to buy an Early Rider Bike in Switzerland?

The Early Rider Belter 20 and Seeker 20 are available through the Early Rider Switzerland website.

For families who would like to see and test the bikes in person, there are also authorised Early Rider dealers across Switzerland, including in the cantons of Basel, Zürich, Geneva and Vaud, where you can view and test the bikes before buying.

Check out the website: ch.earlyrider.com/

Is your family relocating to Switzerland and looking for a Private or International School?

The Summit Family Guide is your go-to resource for all information around private education, international schools, and family life in the cantons of Basel, Zurich, Geneva, and Vaud.

Our latest issue features

• A complete directory of all licensed private schools in the cantons of Basel, Zurich, Geneva, and Vaud in Switzerland.
• School portraits and interviews with educators about school choice
• Features on family life in Switzerland

Our school year 2026 / 2027 editions of SUMMIT are available, here:


Canton Basel — Read SUMMIT Magazine here


Canton Zurich — Read SUMMIT Magazine here


Canton Geneva / Vaud — Read SUMMIT Magazine here

Read more: BLIS, ELA, And ISB On How To Choose A School In Basel

Disclosure: Early Rider kindly provided the Belter 20 and Seeker 20 for us to test. They did not pay us for this review, and all opinions and experiences shared in this article are entirely our own.