Leg&go: this wooden wheel is a quick-change artist

My daughter is three years old and very much in love. But we can't really talk about "heavy" here: Her crush is a lightweight. Slim, but with natural curves. Financially demanding, but uncomplicated and agile. Leg&go, as he is called, is supposed to grow with her. A lofty promise that many a couple has failed to keep.

Balance bikes

349.– CHF

Leg&go 3in1

16

Balance bikes

349.– CHF

Leg&go 3in1

16

It's love at first sight when the big box with the stylish balance bike made of birch plywood arrives on our doorstep. If it were up to my daughter, the first date would take place today. We parents put the brakes on her, because the Leg&go still has to be assembled. And with such an expensive wheel - it costs 349 Swiss francs - special care is called for.

The following weekend, we get down to business. Eight minutes later, the bike is ready to go on our forecourt. We are all surprised at how quickly it went. Just a quick check of the size adjustment, and it's right. Let's Leg&go!

That was a bit too fast for you? Understandable, one thing at a time.

The build: four elements in eight minutes

Four elements were in the cardboard box: a main frame with rear wheel, a front fork with front wheel, a middle section with saddle plus handlebars. "Balance Bike 3in1" is the name of the model - accordingly, we had three options for screwing the components together. A "baby version" with a lowered saddle or a classic "balance bike version" for more advanced riders and a "bouncy version" for more action. We opted for the balance bike and decided to test the bouncy option later on.

The three assembly options contribute to the promise that the bike grows with the child. But that's not all: there are also several drill holes for flexible adjustment of the height and size of the bike.

• There are four drilled holes on the main frame for the appropriate front fork position.
• You get the best saddle position by adjusting one of the six holes on the saddle bracket.

This sounds complicated at first, but in practice it was relatively self-explanatory and intuitive to adjust. We didn't need any tools, apart from the enclosed Allen key and the two screws. Illustrations in the operating instructions helped us to check the setting we had chosen at the end. We were astonished to discover that we had now almost exhausted the size of the running bike.

First score

Growing along? Only if the daughter was named Benjamin Button and would soon age backwards. Well, for her three and a half years she is relatively tall at 104 centimetres. But the "balance bike version" actually promises use for five-year-olds - and it will still be a while before then. On the website of the Latvian manufacturer, I looked for a size indication and found two for the corresponding model. Once 115 centimetres, a few lines further 110 centimetres. I sum up: the wheel is suitable for five-year-olds of short stature at best. The Leg&go has already scored this minus point.

But it also has some plus points. What immediately stood out was that it is very light. The scales show 3.3 kilograms. For comparison: the "Kokua Jumper" from Like a Bike, on which my daughter usually whizzes around, weighs 3.8 kilograms. The "Bonsai" bike from Early Rider, which is also made of wood and was rated "good" in the recent test by Stiftung Warentest, weighs 3.75 kilograms. Definitely a strength of the Leg&go - because less is more when it comes to finding the balance.

The differently sized inflatable tyres also contribute to better controllability: The front wheel has 14 inches, the rear wheel only 12 inches. I haven't seen this on any other wheel. Extra point for the bike for giving the rider extra support.

The handlebars are noticeably narrow and the steering radius small due to a steering angle limit to protect against sharp turns. But perhaps too small for riding pleasure? We'll soon see.

The first ride: over hill, dale and dale

It's off towards the pump track in the village. The path leads over asphalt and cobblestones, which daughter and bike master effortlessly. The wooden frame absorbs the shocks, which is not only visible but also audible. Or to put it in the tester's words: "Mummy, it makes a sound." She quickly gets used to the quiet creaking of her new friend, however, and its flexibility gives her all the more riding pleasure for it. Incidentally, according to the manufacturer, the source of inspiration for the wooden construction was the Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto, who in the 1930s was the first to use the natural spring effect for his iconic chair Paimio.

On the pump track, the steering angle limitation soon turns out to be a safety aid to stay on track. It could be removed for other terrain and sharper curves, but here it doesn't bother and even becomes an advantage. My daughter is speedy and squeals with delight as she speeds over the pumptrack waves, and I run alongside (and soon behind) her, filming (and gasping).

After half an hour, we convert to the "bouncy version". The transformation is a piece of cake and takes around two minutes - just like the re-transformation, which we soon do. The daughter doesn't want to go to the next relationship level, the jumping around is too much for her. She's on strike until she gets her balance version back.

She likes it all the more and tests it extensively during the following days of testing. Meanwhile, she leaves her old "Kokua Jumper" behind. The attraction of the new.

The additional parts: swing to sledge

However, if at some point everyday relationship life sets in even with the Leg&go, it's time for a breath of fresh air. Or: the pedals. Our daughter can already do a few decent laps on her big sister's bike. But for routes away from our front yard, we have so far stayed on the safe side with the running bike. With the Leg&go, we would have the option of buying a pedal attachment for 149 francs, so we wouldn't need another bike for the time being. Theoretically. But because the frame size will soon be exhausted anyway, this feature would probably remain a nice but not worthwhile gimmick. So we'd rather go back to the sister's 16-inch bike.

The other add-ons, however, should actually keep the cohabitation exciting. A footrest with brake, for example, which turns the bike into a downhill version. A luggage rack for a tricycle version. Or an elephant swing for first balance experiences. And soon, the "Polar Bike" module will even take the bike to the snow.

For my daughter, however, the Leg&go remains a short-lived life partner. They are already parting ways again. She's just too big for the bike already. The age difference was then too big after all. She has fond memories of it, however, and looks back wistfully on the short time they spent together: "Mega casual", she says, was the running bike.

Conclusion: Great is expensive

Plus points:

• Lightweight
• Size adjustability
• Wooden design with spring effect
• Various wheel sizes
• Exciting add-ons

Minus points:

• Price

• Soonly too small for pedal option

  No question, the Leg&go is a great companion for your child. Especially if you take advantage of its benefits at an early age. For toddlers who are still at the beginning (baby bike) or before (swing or tricycle) of their running bike career, it's worth digging deep into your wallet. After all, the bike is stable in value and, with the right care, can still be sold on after a few years.

  How long does it last?

By the way, the manufacturer tested how long it would last: It sent it on a virtual world tour, with a pressure cylinder imitating the role of a 30-kilogram child on the saddle. The vehicle drove 300 days in a row over imitated bumpy roads and covered more than 40,000 kilometres - in other words, it rolled once around the world. The best prerequisites for a long-term partnership (or partnerships).