How to teach a 5 year old to ride a bike

[rideswithmoobs]

How did you guys and gals teach your little ones ? I tried the balance bike and he gets it but still wobbles and looses balance. Went the stabiliser route and not progressed off them, so how did you help them along, any tips, places best to take them to try, etc etc etc
I know it's down to them and when they want to they will but he looks to me for help and I'm looking for ideas
Thanks all

 

[Citius]

Mine learnt balance on a scooter. Then jumped on a bicycle and rode off. Nothing to it.

 

[ianrauk]

Keep with the balance bike. Patience is needed. They will get it in their own time, not yours. Forget the stabilisers. Just give him lots of encouragement. Don't show any frustration or exasperation.
Find a park with a grass slope. Get him practicing rolling down the hill. like this.

A few times like that and I guarantee he will soon get the hang of it.

 

[Cold]

My two both had Balance bikes then I bought them ones with pedals after a few goes of me holding them as we went along and them pedalling I let go and they were doing it on their own think it was around 20 minutes it took both of them to get it.

 

[Markymark]

I took the pedals of her bike so it became a balance bike. stick with it. Stabilisers delay learning imo.

 

[Andy_R]

Bin the stabilisers. Nasty, useless, horrible bits of kit that teach bad habits.

 

[sight-pin]

Or try one of these

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmwphWoAez4

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Another vote for balance bike

 

[rideswithmoobs]

Trouble is he has out grown his stryder balance bike.
Park seems a good idea on a slope.

 

[Markymark]

Trouble is he has out grown his stryder balance bike.
Park seems a good idea on a slope.

Pedals off bike. It works.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Pedals off bike. It works.

And, as a bike will be larger than a balance bike, saddle down so that the kid can almost get their heels onto the ground. It'll be slightly higher than the balance bike so take the saddle height increase slowly so that it's not a completely different experience, and don't do it until the pedals, added one at a tme, are mastered. (My step granddaughter really didn't like the idea of me raising the saddle so I did it bit by bit when she wasn't there.) Get them to try the two-footed kick off to get them going - there's a bit more stability in speed - and they can spend more time actually balancing as they go.

 

[cyberknight]

Mini ck 1 went the stsbilizer and dad following route,mink ck 2 has balance bike and whizzes along,she's 4 next year so I'm hoping to get her riding properly.

 

[Globalti]

That video above is exactly how NOT to do it; running along behind them holding the saddle will slow down the process of learning how to steer to balance.

Pedals off the bike and drop the saddle then give them a gentle slope.

 

[xxDarkRiderxx]

That video above is exactly how NOT to do it; running along behind them holding the saddle will slow down the process of learning how to steer to balance.

I have to disagree with @Globalti on this one, This is exactly how I taught my 4 year old how to ride. It took all of 45 minutes for him to learn and within 2 hours he was cycling in circles and very confident. The moment you let go and they balance effectively on there own is priceless. You could hear my whoop of joy almost a mile away.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

I took Mini Me down the balance bike and slope in the park route, worked a treat. I'm on the lookout for his next bike now.