any advice to help child learn to ride?

[singletrackmind]

I am working on teaching JB (5) as Eden describes. His bike has coaster brakes so we had to be careful of hills because he couldn't stop without pedals. We're up to pedals back on, seat high enough to pedal comfortably yet still touch the ground easily, and a bar I've attached to the back so I can hold the bike while he pedals. I only keep him from crashing, he has to balance and, unless he's going to get hurt, stop himself. He's gotten to where I can take my hands off the bar (but keep them close to grab it when needed) for several seconds. Usually he doesn't even notice I'm not hanging on. It's going ok.

[sarahkonamojo]

Taking pedals off is key. No training wheels.

The idea is that the rider just pushes the bike along and learns to balance on two wheels. When she is ready you can add pedals.

There are actual bikes made this way, i.e. the Strider. They have no drive train and no pedals.

sarah

[Irulan]

Taking pedals off is key. No training wheels.

The idea is that the rider just pushes the bike along and learns to balance on two wheels. When she is ready you can add pedals.

There are actual bikes made this way, i.e. the Strider. They have no drive train and no pedals.

sarah

yep and just make sure the seat is low enough so that they can put their feet down.

training wheels are the devil.

[spokewench]

I do not believe that training wheels are the devil. It gives kids a chance to get used to being on the bike, using the pedal brake, and being comfortable before they have to do the whole thing together at once. It gives them a chance to get into riding without as much fear and with more confidence. Then they have to leave that behind but that is the way of learning new things.

[kie_fujo]

that's what we have been doing. the whole no pedals thing. but she is still terrified. she will pick her feet up just a touch and start screaming as soon as she teeters. our grass is so bumpy that i think that would almost be worse! thanks for the suggestions though.

[Irulan]

I see a lot of kids become overly dependent on them and then fearful of taking them off. I also see that the small bike-no pedals-feet touching the ground facilitates learning without training wheels for many many kids.

just my two cents, you can do it any way you want.

[bike4ever]

kie_fujo -

Kids will ride when their friends are riding. Unfortunately it's the beginning of peer pressure. I

s there a small grassy hill near you? A small hill is a nice place to practice the balance. I also am a fan of using a baseball field. You can push them (but remember to release, do not hold them) and let them glide easily on the dirt. A baseball field is also a nice place for them to learn to pedal since it is actually easier to pedal through than a yard.

[Biciclista]

When she's ready she will ride. At 7, I was hysterical, terrified of the bike, the training, the training wheels, everything. At 9, my father gave me a 2 wheeled bike; rode it in a circle, gave it to me, and I rode it in a circle. Just like that.
Be patient.
It will come.