by Jennifer Fontaine – What do you get when you cross an award-winning industrial designer with newfound fatherhood? WOOM bikes.

Christian Bezdeka’s love for cycling came early in life, zooming across finish lines by the age of 13. Through high school, even while following in the footsteps of his father’s bio-medical education, Bezdeka had already begun creating a cache of original design projects. After graduation, realizing industrial design offered him an ideal way to express both his talent and a profound love for bicycles, he literally switched gears.

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Feeling the tug of passion, Bezdeka dusted off a burgeoning design portfolio and was accepted to Vienna’s prestigious University of Applied Arts on the first attempt. Here, surrounded by 1,800 classmates from 49 different countries, he was finally free to form visionary ideas with as they applied to the sport of bicycling.

As a surprise to no one, Bezdeka started his own design firm and gained industry-wide acclaim for high-end mountain and race bike design, but with the birth of his first, then second son, his attention turned to matters closer to the heart. “I wanted to give them the best available, and because I couldn’t find one on the market, I had to design them myself,” he says. Enter WOOM Bikes.

The Birth WOOM Bikes

Attention to detail was at the forefront of Bezdeka’s mind, and when pen first touched paper he knew it would be an arduous, yet worthwhile endeavor. His checklist of must-have components read like that of a fortune 500 company; low carbon footprint, sustainable business practices, locally-sourced, non-toxic parts, and ergonomic designs for each stage of a child’s developmental growth.

In stark contrast to manufacturers who assemble bikes on conveyor belts amidst a sea of other plastic trinkets, Bezdeka set out to create a thoughtful line of bikes that would perform with comfort and durability. He spent four years researching, designing and redesigning prototypes, and then tested the products until landing on the winning combination, featuring WOOM bikes signature extended wheelbase, ultralight alloy frame, and a low center of gravity, allowing for expert maneuverability.

With a completed body designed specifically for young people, Christian began fine-tuning the details; rust-free spokes, thinner handlebar grips and a special “smallhand reach” brake lever so tiny palms can learn to stop effectively at an early age. “Children have different challenges or requirements just based on age and height,” Bezdeka said. “We have specifically designed our bikes thinking of beginner geometry.”

WOOM Bikes Is A Very Green Bicycle

WOOM bikes plans in hand, Bezdeka traveled the globe to seek out production sourcing and manufacturing facilities that would not only carefully craft his creation, but do so in an environmentally-friendly manner. He inherently knew that it was feasible to manage WOOM bikes cost effective production and the project’s footprint all while keeping the price point attainable for families.

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Leading with a notion that even small startups can act in an environmentally responsible way, Bezdeka went further, offering customers an opportunity to upcycle outgrown WOOM bikes. With a one-time “opt in” fee, customers to the WOOM bikes upcycle program save up to 40% off the retail price of upgraded purchases, and used WOOM bikes are refurbished and resold instead of ending up in a landfill.

WOOM Bikes: In It For The Long Haul

With the aim of garnering a top-in-class excellence rating across Europe, Bezdeka looked to partner Marcus Ihlenfeld, for his expert business sense. Director of Marketing for European motor vehicle giant Opel Austria, Ihlenfeld had a vested interest in WOOM bikes success when he, too became a father, and so commenced a cooperative launch of WOOM Bikes into production, in 2014.

“In German our slogan is ‘The better kid’s bike’ which doesn’t work well for the US, but that’s really how we feel,” Ihlenfeld said. “We took all of this extensive research and experience and built it into our bikes.” And WOOM bikes did just that. With a robust line of bikes ranging from the WOOM 1, a balance bike for toddlers, all the way to the WOOM 5 designed for nine to 13 year old kids, the company covers the entire range of products, five in all.

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With their European success in hand, WOOM bikes now had the USA in their sights. In December of 2014, Bezdeka and Ihlenfeld added Mathias Ihlenfeld, financial manager, avid cyclist and brother to Marcus, to supervise distribution of their bikes stateside and they are already zooming into the hearts and minds of conscientious consumers from Alaska to Florida.

WOOM bikes also offers kids an assortment of accessories to ensure safety, along with an added flair of style. Biking gloves are a refreshing example of fashion and function, combining a no-stitch approach for added strength and flexibility, a silicon palm for gripping power, and a lycra-faux leather upper to ensure a snug fit without the need of bulky Velcro.

Get The Low Down On WOOM Bikes

Hassle-Free Assembly: WOOM bikes employs an Austin, TX based team of qualified mechanics to prepare and quality check each bike prior to shipment. All tools and easy-to-follow in-home assembly instructions are included.

WOOM Bikes Key Features: Light-weight aluminum frame, long wheel base for stable and safe straight-away riding, optimized for an upright riding position, quality air-filled tires, quick release seat post clamp.

Woom 1 Balance Bike 12″
Price: $199.00*

• First experience on two wheels: The Balance Bike is the perfect introduction to the concept of two wheels. Designed for ages 18 months to 3.5 years or overall height 32″-39”
• Safety: The balance bike teaches the most essential element: Learning to use the break at an early age will ease the transition to a pedal bike and will reduce the risk of accidents
• More safety: Our woom steering limiter is an important safety feature and it prevents oversteering of the handlebar. It also promotes straight-riding and limits swerving
• Key Features: Light-weight aluminum frame, long wheel base for stable and safe straight-away riding, optimized for an upright riding position and quality air-filled tires

Woom 2 Pedal Bike 14″
Price: $339.00*

• The 14” Woom 2 provides an easy transition from balance to pedal bike. Weight: 12.3 lb; Designed for ages 3 to 4.5 years or overall height 37″-43”. Bell and kickstand are pre-installed
• Easy to learn: The beginner friendly geometry is the centerpiece of the bike. It is designed to make riding bikes child’s play. Teach your child to ride without training wheels!
• Safety: Front & rear hand V-Brake plus coaster/foot brake. Our color-coded proprietary brake levers are designed specifically for children. A separate freewheel kit is available for purchase

Woom 3 Pedal Bike 16″
Price: $369.00*

• The 16” Woom 3 is the perfect bike to improve riding and handling skills. Bike Weight: 12.7 lb;
• Designed for ages 4 to 6 years or overall height 41″-47”. Bell and kickstand are pre-installed
• Cranks: Narrow and child-proportioned Q-factor. The length and width of the WOOM bikes cranks are purposefully designed to match the ergonomics of a child. Optimal gearing ratio covers all riding styles and uses
• Handlebar designed for small hands with a 0.74 inches diameter

Woom 4 Pedal Bike 20″
Price: $449.00*

• The 20” Woom 4 takes bike riding to the next level. Bike Weight: 16.9 lb; Designed for ages 6 to 9 years or overall height 45″-51”. Bell and kickstand are pre-installed
• Bike: This all-terrain bike introduces kids to gears. With 8 gears and light Kenda off-road tires, it is perfect for exploring and longer rides
• Shifting gears: The SRAM X4 8-speed shifters boost the joy of riding and expand the rider’s range.
• The gear ratio is designed to handle any terrain, from steep climbs to long descents
• Safety: Mini V-Brake with levers suitable for small hands. The reach can be easily adjusted with adjustment screws. The levers are ergonomically designed for small hands and effortless braking

Woom 5 Pedal Bike 24″
Price: $499.00*

• The 24” Woom 5 takes bike riding to the next level. Bike Weight: 18.8 lb; Designed for ages 7 to11 years or overall height 49″-57”. Bell and kickstand are pre-installed
• The Woom 5 offers riding characteristics of adult bikes. This all-terrain bike is equipped with 8 gears. It is the perfect companion on and off the road. The off-road tires guarantee a fun and safe experience
• Shifting gears: The SRAM X4 8-speed shifters boost the joy of riding and expand the rider’s range.
• The gear ratio is designed to handle any terrain, from steep climbs to long descents
• Key Features: Multi-butted Light-weight aluminum frame, all-terrain Kenda Small Block 1.5″ tires, the quick release front and rear skewers make transporting and changing a flat tire a piece of cake

WOOM Bikes Upcycle Program

By opting in to WOOM bikes Upcycle System with a one-time program membership fee of $59, customers are eligible to receive 40% off a bike purchase price when additional WOOM bikes are purchased within 24 months of the original purchase, and if the bike is returned in “normal” condition.

Also, check out our top 10 kids bikes under $100!

NOTE: WOOM Bikes provided products and purchased ad space for the content of this article. ~OFM editorial staff

Jennifer Fontaine is founder of Outdoor Families Magazine and publisher of MommyHiker.com, a blog dedicated the the joys of nature and small children. She lives in California with her husband, a professional photographer, and daughter.