Your Cart is Empty
Given we run a company selling bike products, it seems only right that we get the youngerst member of the team (James, age 5) out on his cycle.
We've opted for a regular pedal bike (as opposed to a balance bike) but want to swerve the stabiliser stage, and get him zooming around on just the two wheels.
We do have the stabilisers (bought but not attached... yet) and we also bought a long handle to hold him from the rear (again, not yet attached). But we're a bit clueless as to whether either of these are the right way to do this.
We tried running around a field behind him but holding on to his seat for balance. As we are a little old, slightly unfit and much taller than him it wasn't comfortable or easy to hold him whilst running so we got nowhere with that approach.
In which case, we want to know either how you started cycling (we can't remember back that far!) or how you've helped someone else to ride a bike for the first time.
Should we go the stabiliser route or stick with the bike as it is?
Top tips please! We'll report on our/James's progress...
+1 Balanced bike first and then on to the kids bike (no stabilisers).
My son started on balance bike first for good few months and then when he got his first bike he literally stated riding on it with in a day all by himself.
Take off the pedals and find a flat smooth surface. Get James to start ridding it like a balance bike using both feet at the same time and then one then the other like walking. Try and get James to glide for longer and longer between each push and in no time he will be balancing. Once he can balance just put the pedals back on and he should be away. A slight downhill on a smooth surface can help at this point. Avoid grass it won’t help as it makes pedelling harder. I’ve taught lots of kids to ride like this and no bad back.
Take off the pedals and find a flat smooth surface. Get James to start ridding it like a balance bike using both feet at the same time and then one then the other like walking. Try and get James to glide for longer and longer between each push and in no time he will be balancing. Once he can balance just put the pedals back on and he should be away. A slight downhill on a smooth surface can help at this point. Avoid grass it won’t help as it makes pedelling harder. I’ve taught lots of kids to ride like this and no bad back.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Danny
July 30, 2019
Fully agree with Shaun, I’ve taught my kids and grandchildren in much the same way. I also fully agree with staying off of grass, it won’t help with James’s balance or enthusiasm if he finds it difficult to peddle.
On the subject of training in general, I think it should be compulsory to ‘train’ children to ride a bike at a suitable but young age eg. Cycling Proficiency Test (CPT). Not only does it make them safer and more aware on the roads it gives children a sense of achievement when they pass. I have trained many children in CPT and the best part is seeing the enthusiasm and joy at passing this very important activity. Finally, on a daily basis you will see cyclists of all ages flaunting the law and safety rules and they will continue to do so until the police take some action to stop it locally.