Tandems & kids

[maillotpois]

My eight-year-old daughter still can't ride a bike without training wheels (and isn't all the comfortable riding her bike WITH training wheels -- too nervous about falling, I think).

I wonder if I rented a tandem and took her out on that a few times it would help her learn to get over some fears. And I wonder if it would help her at all with the skills needed to ride on her own without training wheels.

Or is riding a tandem such a totally different experience from riding solo that it wouldn't help her learn to ride at all?

Any thoughts?

I don't know that a tandem or trail a bike would help her learn to ride without training wheels. The way we finally got Em on 2 wheels (after years of trail a bike) was using a bike that was WAY too small for her (basically like a clown bike) so she could put her feet down and get a feel for balancing. She got it in one night at her aunt's house (aunt's idea and bike).

The tandem will help her get an idea of what you should be doing when you ride in the road - riding on the side, taking the road when necessary, paying attention for cars. She will be the one to call "car back" when we're on the bike. It might also help her get over fears of riding, in general - the speed, balancing, etc.


But for getting her out of training wheels I can't recommend a "too small" bike enough. Borrow one from smaller friends or something.

[Rakekay]

But for getting her out of training wheels I can't recommend a "too small" bike enough. Borrow one from smaller friends or something.

Well, at this point her bike pretty much IS too small for her. So maybe I just need to get her out again. Thanks for the advice.

[maillotpois]

Well, at this point her bike pretty much IS too small for her. So maybe I just need to get her out again. Thanks for the advice.

Well, but it has to be so small it's silly. So she can put her feet flat footed on the ground. Maybe even take the pedals off and have her scoot along using her feet.