Son Afraid to Ride Bike...

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Originally Posted by tulip

He'll let you know when he's ready.

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+1.

Okay, I read this on another board but I have no idea where so I can't give credit where credit's due. But a guy told how he taught his son to ride a bike -- w/o training wheels.

He took off the training wheels and the pedals and crankshaft, and lowered the seat so the kid could put his feet on the ground. He let him push that around for awhile with his feet.

Then he took him to a parking lot and told him, "I'm going to push you, and you see how far you can roll without putting your feet down."

At first, the kid would put them down and stop himself immediately. (Obviously the goal isn't to push hard!) Then he'd roll a little farther, and a little farther, until the dad could push him and he'd keep his feet up and roll all the way across the parking lot until the bike stopped and he put his feet down.

In other words, he learned to balance/roll ... and after that, it was just a matter of putting the pedals back on and he was off.

Sounded like a good plan to me.

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Originally Posted by pooks

Okay, I read this on another board but I have no idea where so I can't give credit where credit's due. But a guy told how he taught his son to ride a bike -- w/o training wheels.

He took off the training wheels and the pedals and crankshaft, and lowered the seat so the kid could put his feet on the ground. He let him push that around for awhile with his feet.

Then he took him to a parking lot and told him, "I'm going to push you, and you see how far you can roll without putting your feet down."

At first, the kid would put them down and stop himself immediately. (Obviously the goal isn't to push hard!) Then he'd roll a little farther, and a little farther, until the dad could push him and he'd keep his feet up and roll all the way across the parking lot until the bike stopped and he put his feet down.

In other words, he learned to balance/roll ... and after that, it was just a matter of putting the pedals back on and he was off.

Sounded like a good plan to me.

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you are assuming the child isn't laying on the ground kicking and screaming "I DON"T WANT TOOOO!!!!!!"

Well. There's that. :o

Pooks, they actually sell a bike that adjusts to teach your kid to ride like this which is what I got him for his bday: http://cgi.ebay.com/Kids-Bike-16-Chi...QQcmdZViewItem

My problem is that he doesn't even want to get on this most of the time. If he does feel like getting on it, he doesn't like to pick up his feet and coast (I think that's the fear part). He'll get there eventually - I'm thinking about the trail a bike option - that might make him more comfortable.

Well, give him time! It's all new to him. The trailing bike does sound like a good idea, because it will give him a chance to see how much fun it is to ride!

The 4-year-old I know just moves her feet back and forth which means she's constantly putting on the brake. She hasn't figured out how to go in circles yet! She's also not highly motivated, so they aren't pushing it, figuring she may be more interested in another month or two.

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Originally Posted by mtbdarby

My problem is that he doesn't even want to get on this most of the time. ...

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I think you hit the nail on the head. Who's problem is it? If he doesn't want to ride a bike, why force the issue?

Of course, you love him just for being there, just make sure he gets that message loud and clear.