Kids' bike 12-inch Trek Precaliber 12 pink for 0.86 to 1.02 m, stabilisers, 6.84 kg

Trek Precaliber 12 Flamingo Pink: a gentle first pedal bike

The Trek Precaliber 12 eases the move from a balance bike or tricycle to a real bike: 12-inch wheels, removable stabilisers and a parent handle under the saddle so you can steady your child while they ride. It weighs 6.84 kg according to Trek and suits children from 86 to 102 cm. Its Flamingo Pink colour is a bright flamingo pink, easy to spot along a park path.

Technical specifications

Who is it for?

For 3 and 4 year olds who want to pedal like the big kids, and for parents who would rather keep a hand on the bike for the first few weeks. It also suits little ones who started early on a balance bike and are ready to move on to pedals before their friends.

The LVR workshop view

Alpha Silver aluminium, a grown-up frame on a 12-inch bike. Alpha is the name Trek gives to its aluminium alloys, and the Silver version is also used on its adult Marlin mountain bikes. On this Precaliber 12, it forms a small frame that will not rust, paired with a steel fork that shrugs off falls and kerbs. The 24-tooth chainring is hidden behind a chain guard, so fingers and trousers stay well clear.

In other words: a 6.84 kg first pedal bike with no brake lever to operate, plus stabilisers and a saddle handle to help your child along. Trek recommends it for 3 and 4 year olds.

The handle tucked under the saddle makes life so much easier for parents: you walk alongside with a hand on the bike, without breaking your back holding the frame. The day your child finds their balance, you simply let go, and they carry on without even noticing.

Braking is done with a coaster brake: your child pedals backwards to slow down, with no lever to squeeze with small hands that are not yet very strong. It is the most natural reflex at this age. The wide, well-inflated 2.25-inch Bontrager XR1 tyres give good grip on the gravel paths of the Plateau des Poètes as well as on the garden lawn.

Which Precaliber should you choose?

Our take: at 6.84 kg, the Precaliber 12 stays easy to handle for a 3-year-old. The Precaliber 16 (8.35 kg) takes over from around 99 cm with two hand brakes; there is no point buying it too early, as a bike that is too big slows down learning.

Your questions

Why buy from LVR Cycles? In Béziers, we fit the stabilisers at the right height, set the saddle to your child's height and raise it at every visit as they grow.