Watching your child go through the phases of bike-riding — from figuring out a balance bike to coordinating pedal pushes to speeding down the block on a big-kid bike — can be as joyful as it is terrifying. Likewise for the kids, and especially for the 18-month-olds who now, thanks to the miracle of balance bikes, can start learning to ride just a few precious months after learning to walk. (It’s no wonder training wheels once seemed like a good idea: It may have taken them longer to learn, but everything seemed so... in control.)

Having the right gear for your kid — the best frame and type of bike for their size and riding level, and a well-made, well-fitting helmet — can improve the joy-to-fear ratio for all. Unfortunately for parents’ wallets, this tends to change almost every year, as kids outgrow this stuff fast. Now that it’s spring, it’s time — once again — to check out the best bikes and helmets for little riders.