Giant PRE rCarbon balance bike: Speedster for fast kids made from recycled carbon fibre
Jan Timmermann
· 26.03.2025
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The brand new Giant PRE rCarbon should not only amaze children, but also parents. When it comes to a children's balance bike made of carbon fibre, many bikers probably think of high prices and an unnecessary burden on the environment.
Carbon makes sense on high-quality mountain bikes for adults, but on a children's toy? Before shaking your head and dismissing the Giant PRE rCarbon with a "What rubbish!", it's worth taking a look at the small print. Weighing just 2.5 kilos and costing 599 euros, the balance bike is far more than just a toy and is full of surprises.
Giant PRE rCarbon in detail
- Field of application: Balance bike for children
- Wheel size: 12"
- Frame material: Carbon
- Weight: 2.5 kg
- Price: 599 Euro >> available here
- Special features: recycled materials in the frame, fork, seat post and handlebar/stem unit made of carbon as well as in tyres and plastic parts
Lightweight, age-appropriate & fast: Giant's new carbon-fibre children's balance bike
Anyone who takes the time to think about it quickly realises that a children's balance bike made of carbon makes perfect sense. Small children in particular have a low body weight. On their first outings on a balance bike, a heavy bike can quickly become unwieldy or sluggish and kill the fun right from the start.
The new Giant PRE rCarbon weighs just 2.5 kilos and achieves this dream weight thanks to its frame, fork, seat post, cockpit and even twelve-inch wheels made of lightweight carbon fibre. Giant promises high stability and a durable, child-friendly design.
The three-spoke wheels are fitted with 1.75-inch wide pneumatic tyres to enable youngsters to roll light-footedly on different surfaces. The low-resistance hubs should ensure little energy loss and still be stable enough for bumpy paths.
Lightweight and with intuitive handling, the Giant PRE rCarbon is designed to introduce kids to the thrill of speed at an early age. The world's largest bike manufacturer has given its new wheel a low centre of gravity and a geometry that puts the little ones at the wheel in an efficient, forward-oriented pushing position.
A balance bike has different riding dynamics than a children's bike for pedalling. That's why the developers wanted to adapt all contact points and angles to the needs of children. A steep steering angle, for example, should make cornering easier.
The carbon handlebars have a small, child-friendly diameter and are fitted with soft grips to give small children's hands a secure hold. A non-slip, ergonomic saddle should also ensure comfort if the family outing takes longer.
System integration on the children's balance bike
The fact that the Giant PRE rCarbon has a unique look and a low weight is also due to the efforts of the Taiwanese for system integration. The stem and handlebars are made from a single piece, as are the saddle and seatpost.
The fact that the carbon wheels are based on just three spokes reduces the number of small parts. This means that the children's wheel is not only durable, but can also be delivered 90 per cent pre-assembled in the box. Simply insert the front wheel into the fork and off you go!
Of course, parents know that children are not always careful with their material, whether it is made of carbon or not. Giant has therefore given the PRE rCarbon protective pads on the handlebar ends and on the stem. The latter should also minimise the risk of injury.
Recycled materials for more sustainability
In order to adapt to the increased challenges of the bike industry and to fulfil its own responsibility as the largest manufacturer of bicycles in the world, Giant is trying to make its products more sustainable.
Carbon is a fascinating material for bikes, but its production is particularly energy-intensive and therefore associated with a large CO2 footprint. The new PRE rCarbon may be a small bike, but it is making big waves in terms of future-orientation.
According to Giant, it is a real milestone in the production of environmentally friendly bicycle components. It is the first model in the world to be made almost entirely from rCarbon, patented by Giant. The Taiwanese have developed a way to recycle carbon fibres, even in longer strands.
A new type of resin formula and a special 3D melting mixture are used to realise high pressure with low cavity formation. Giant claims the same strength, the same weight but a reduction in CO2 emissions of more than 50 per cent.
However, Giant's sustainability approach does not end with recycled carbon. The PRE rCarbon children's wheel also uses what is known as rTPR. Recycled thermoplastic rubber is obtained from waste.
This is said to be characterised by elasticity, wear resistance and chemical resistance comparable to the original material, while saving over 11 percent of carbon emissions. For example, rTPR is used on the grips of the Giant PRE rCarbon.
Other parts of the new children's wheel, such as the saddle, are made of polypropylene, a thermoplastic polymer with high strength and heat resistance. Giant recycles polypropylene from everyday products and industrial products to produce rPP. This recycled plastic promises over 20 per cent less CO2 emissions.
The Giant PRE rCarbon also uses recycled ethylene vinyl acetate. This is a flexible, non-biodegradable plastic that normally ends up in landfill at the end of a product's life.
Giant looked for a way to reduce the amount of waste and developed rEVA, an ethylene vinyl acetate with similar properties to the established material. In the process, waste is washed, shredded and reheated. Despite this effort, the use of rEVA is expected to save 20 per cent of carbon emissions.
Recycled material is even used in the carcass of the Giant PRE rCarbon's tyres. Seawastex nylon is made from discarded plastics taken from the sea, which reduces the CO2 footprint by more than 11 per cent compared to virgin fibres and reduces plastic waste in the oceans without compromising on weather resistance and strength.
Jan Timmermann
Editor
