FC Porto x Cycle Champs: The Journey!
Cycle Champs x FC Porto: A Winning Partnership
After three exciting years of planning, designing, and collaborating, Cycle Champs is proud to announce the FC Porto Partnership With Cycle Champs Balance Bikes. . What started as a simple conversation in 2022 has grown into a ground-breaking collaboration that celebrates sport, family, and fun. From the very first phone call to stadium visits, design meetings, and product testing, every step has been about building something lasting. The partnership is more than merchandise—it’s about creating a product that inspires the next generation of cyclists and football fans, connecting them emotionally to their club before they’ve even kicked a ball.
It all began back in 2022, when FC Porto first reached out. After phone calls, meetings, and even trips to Porto’s world-famous stadium, we finally crossed the line. In September 2025, our official FC Porto balance bikes went live on the club’s website - FC Porto Balance Bike.
It’s been an incredible ride—and we’re only just getting started. Go Porto (currently top of the Portuguese league)!
Why FC Porto Chose Cycle Champs
FC Porto is one of Europe’s most decorated clubs, with millions of supporters worldwide. But they’re also forward-thinking when it comes to engaging young fans and building family-friendly initiatives.
So why Cycle Champs?
Expertise in Balance Bikes: With years of experience designing safe, durable, and fun balance bikes, Cycle Champs already had a reputation for quality.
Alignment with FC Porto’s Values: Both organisations value community, youth development, and inspiring the next generation.
Unique Merchandising Potential: The club wanted something fresh for its youngest fans—a product that goes beyond shirts and scarves.
This shared vision is what made the partnership possible.
The Journey: Step by Step
Partnerships like this don’t happen overnight. Here’s how the last three years unfolded:
2022 – First Contact
It all began with a call. FC Porto’s merchandising team reached out to explore the idea of branded balance bikes. Initial discussions were about feasibility, design, and whether such a product could meet safety regulations.
2023 – Building Designs
The creative stage was exciting but demanding. Our design team worked closely with FC Porto’s brand managers to incorporate club colours, logos, and identity. Multiple prototypes were tested for safety and age suitability. Each adjustment was about getting closer to the perfect product.
2024 – Approvals & Logistics
This was the year of fine-tuning. We tackled licensing agreements, merchandising approvals, and EU safety certifications. Our production team also began preparing for scale, ensuring we could meet demand once the bikes launched.
2025 – The Big Launch
In September 2025, the FC Porto balance bikes finally appeared on the club’s official website. Fans immediately embraced the idea—proof that the hard work had paid off.
The Benefits of Balance Bikes for Young Fans
Balance bikes aren’t just fun—they’re backed by research showing strong developmental benefits. That’s why they’re a perfect fit for sporting clubs looking to inspire healthy lifestyles from the very beginning.
Faster cycling progression: Children who use balance bikes transition to pedal bikes 6–12 months earlier than those using training wheels (Forbes).
Improved motor skills: Balance bikes help kids master coordination and stability, key foundations not only for cycling but also for sports like football (MDPI).
Boosted confidence: Learning to balance independently builds resilience and self-belief in young children—traits that benefit them on and off the pitch.
Healthier habits: Active children are more likely to carry those habits into adulthood, helping reduce obesity risks and promoting long-term wellbeing (Health.gov).
👉 Dive deeper in our dedicated article on the [benefits of balance bikes](/blog/benefits-of-balance-bikes).
Balance Bikes and Football: A Natural Connection
Football is about movement, balance, and coordination—all skills a child develops on a balance bike. By combining these two worlds, clubs like FC Porto give young fans an early sense of belonging to the team while supporting their physical development.
Think of it this way:
A balance bike teaches a toddler balance and coordination.
Football builds on those same foundations with agility, footwork, and teamwork.
Together, they create a path toward confident, active children who grow up loving sport.
This alignment is what makes balance bikes such a natural extension of football club merchandise.
Challenges We Faced
Of course, this journey wasn’t without its hurdles:
Branding: Reproducing Porto’s iconic colours and badge perfectly on a balance bike frame took careful testing.
Safety Compliance: Children’s products require rigorous checks to meet EU safety standards—no shortcuts allowed.
Logistics: Coordinating production, international shipping, and merchandising launches took months of planning.
Market Education: Many fans had never seen a branded balance bike before. Communicating its value was key.
Overcoming these challenges strengthened the partnership and made the final launch even more rewarding.
What Other Clubs Can Learn
The FC Porto Partnership With Cycle Champs Balance Bikes isn’t just a success story for us—it’s an example for other clubs worldwide.
Adding balance bikes to merchandise can:
Engage families and young supporters from day one.
Promote health and wellbeing through active play.
Differentiate a club’s product range with something truly unique.
Strengthen brand loyalty, as children associate their earliest play experiences with their favourite club.
Interested in exploring this for your own club? Visit our CycleChamps store page to see what’s possible.
Looking Ahead
This launch is only the beginning. Cycle Champs and FC Porto are already discussing future designs, potential limited editions, and even in-stadium events where young fans can try the bikes for themselves.
We also see huge potential for more clubs across Europe and beyond to join this movement. Imagine every major football team offering branded balance bikes as part of their merchandise lineup—it could transform the way children connect with sport from their earliest years.
Final Thoughts
The FC Porto Partnership With Cycle Champs Balance Bikes proves what’s possible when vision, collaboration, and creativity come together. It’s more than just a commercial deal—it’s a chance to inspire families, promote health, and strengthen bonds between clubs and their communities.
For CycleChamps, this marks a proud milestone in our journey. For FC Porto, it’s another step in being not just a football club, but a family club. And for sporting organisations everywhere, it’s a clear sign that innovation in merchandising can create impact far beyond the store shelf.
The journey continues—and we can’t wait for what comes next.
