This tiny cyclist deserves to go viral!

[limewave]

What a cute video! That kids excitement and enthusiasm is contagious!

I've heard that it also helps when you set them going down a small hill.

I did everything wrong when I taught DD. I tried doing some of these suggestions (like taking the pedals off, lowering seat, etc) but DD is so hard-headed. She knew our bikes had pedals and, therefore, her bike needed pedals too. She has a unique personality. She doesn't respond to encouragement and she fights us tooth-and-nail if we try showing her how to do something. I finally figured out the best way for DD to learn to ride a bike was to let her figure it out herself. I sat outside sipping lemonade while DD tried riding over and over and over again. If she asked for help, I gave it, otherwise I kept my mouth shut and my rear planted.

[zoom-zoom]

I did everything wrong when I taught DD. I tried doing some of these suggestions (like taking the pedals off, lowering seat, etc) but DD is so hard-headed. She knew our bikes had pedals and, therefore, her bike needed pedals too. She has a unique personality. She doesn't respond to encouragement and she fights us tooth-and-nail if we try showing her how to do something. I finally figured out the best way for DD to learn to ride a bike was to let her figure it out herself. I sat outside sipping lemonade while DD tried riding over and over and over again. If she asked for help, I gave it, otherwise I kept my mouth shut and my rear planted.

I think just knowing a kid's personality, like that, and working within the bounds of that is key. We just plain never pushed our son to learn to ride a bike until HE pretty much taught himself. He is 10 and still refuses to learn to tie his shoes. We haven't fought him on this, either...because, heck, except for running shoes *I* never wear shoes with laces, either. Dane has 0 patience and loves the shoes with the elastic toggle device, like a lot of trail shoes and Keen sandals have. If we forced shoes with traditional laces on him I am pretty certain he would simply refuse to tie them and would end up tripping himself and breaking his face.

The stubborn is strong with that one.

[pll]

Of all places, the video was linked from an article about doping in the Tour de France in VeloNews... http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/...-podium_176880

<poor kid, that's one bad association>