How to teach a 5 year old to ride a bike
- Thread starter rideswithmoobs
- Start date
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MickeyBlueEyes
Eat, Sleep, Ride, Repeat.
- Location
- Derbyshire
He's five.
Same as my boy.
Can I suggest the Raleigh Zero.
A surprisingly light, very well made bike.
Ian Jnr's first ride on it
Ditto.
Cheers.
He's not so adorable now
He's always loved riding his bike. He was on a toddlebike before he could even walk. he's the only kid that cycles to his school in a sea of micro scooters.
Children aren't all made equally. Some will not be able to learn without you holding on at first because they're terrified of falling. Some learn quickly, others learn slowly. Some have excellent co-ordination, some are borderline or even clinically dyspraxic. These will take a lot longer and because they will not feel in control will be more nervous and need more holding. Don't assume that because child X took half an hour child Y will. My children inherited my poor co-ordination and although they were all riding by 5 or 6 it took them quite a long time and several weeks of running behind holding a hand on the saddle. If I took it away, they screamed and crashed and wouldn't touch the bike again for days.
Globalti
Legendary Member
BrumJim
Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
- Location
- Selly Oak, Birmingham
Two things:
What motivates your child to do something?
How do they learn?
My 2.5 year old learned to ride his balance bike by:
1) Being inspired by his Dad to get on his bike. Seeing him come home every evening on his bike, and a desire to be like him, made getting his bottom on the saddle very easy.
2) Watching clips on YouTube, and letting him try on his own. Running and holding, and giving instructions were getting us nowhere.
What motivates your child to do something?
How do they learn?
My 2.5 year old learned to ride his balance bike by:
1) Being inspired by his Dad to get on his bike. Seeing him come home every evening on his bike, and a desire to be like him, made getting his bottom on the saddle very easy.
2) Watching clips on YouTube, and letting him try on his own. Running and holding, and giving instructions were getting us nowhere.
MickeyBlueEyes
Eat, Sleep, Ride, Repeat.
- Location
- Derbyshire
Cracking vid & great cadence displayed
I'll have a look at one of these tonight, cheers bud.
MickeyBlueEyes
Eat, Sleep, Ride, Repeat.
- Location
- Derbyshire
[QUOTE 4002832, member: 45"]
View: https://youtu.be/mwXAZBHgA4g[/QUOTE]
Love this, especially the point where you see it twig, 'ah, I'll lift my legs up'.
View: https://youtu.be/mwXAZBHgA4g[/QUOTE]
Love this, especially the point where you see it twig, 'ah, I'll lift my legs up'.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Heres m crew ATM,littlest is 3 and half lads bike is something a neighbour gave him and is a bit big and. Bso but he loves the gears.
I took the pedals off my little ones bike and we used it like a balance bike, gentle slope, getting confidence etc. He is a very cautious/nervous type so we had the seat right down so he could get both feet flat on the floor to begin with then (as someone else mentioned!) sneaked the seat up a tiny amount at a time without telling him.
We also had a trailgator that fixed our bikes together - not sure if you're familiar with these but if not its a bar that goes from the adults seat post to the front of the kids bike, picking the front wheel off the floor so they're not steering but back wheel on the floor so they can still pedal. It's not perfect, it's not the most stable thing in the world but then how can it be?! This really helped get my son in to cycling, we used the bikes joined together to go on adventures, go to the park, go shopping, visit people, drop off at after school activities etc so it was just the normal thing to do.
Without realising it he picked up lots of road knowledge about junctions, signalling etc and is now a very safe, competent 7yr old rider.
The thing that matters most with kids is motivation, they have to WANT to be able to do it, otherwise you're fighting a losing battle!
We also had a trailgator that fixed our bikes together - not sure if you're familiar with these but if not its a bar that goes from the adults seat post to the front of the kids bike, picking the front wheel off the floor so they're not steering but back wheel on the floor so they can still pedal. It's not perfect, it's not the most stable thing in the world but then how can it be?! This really helped get my son in to cycling, we used the bikes joined together to go on adventures, go to the park, go shopping, visit people, drop off at after school activities etc so it was just the normal thing to do.
Without realising it he picked up lots of road knowledge about junctions, signalling etc and is now a very safe, competent 7yr old rider.
The thing that matters most with kids is motivation, they have to WANT to be able to do it, otherwise you're fighting a losing battle!
MickeyBlueEyes
Eat, Sleep, Ride, Repeat.
- Location
- Derbyshire
[QUOTE 4002989, member: 45"]The best bit is his big brother coming into shot to show that he can get his legs up.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, that's the point I thought your little one took inspiration from.
Yeah, that's the point I thought your little one took inspiration from.
LoftusRoadie
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Herts
Yep. When my then 5 year old first rode his bike with no help he should out "Dad, this is gonna change my life forever!" Unforgetable.
