We bought the Early Rider Belter 20" for our daughter and were initially very impressed. The build quality is excellent, it's lightweight, and the design is beautiful — exactly what you'd expect at this price point.
Unfortunately, the gearing system is a major letdown. The amount of force required to shift gears is far too high for a child. Our daughter simply cannot change gears on her own, which defeats the purpose of having a geared bike entirely. It’s incredibly frustrating, especially since the rest of the bike is so well designed.
We expected better ergonomics and usability from a brand that claims to make high-end children’s bikes. Until the shifting system is redesigned or improved, we can’t recommend this bike. It’s a great concept that fails in practice.