Teaching children to cycle.

[LosingFocus]

My son has had his little bike a while and is still using stabilisers (my fault, been too lazy to remove em).

Anyone have any tips and trick on teaching a a youngster to ride "properly"? He's got good balance on his scooter and can cycle fine, just need some ideas on how to move him away from the stabilisers.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Hi LosingFocus,

My 6-year old duaghter was the same and 2 months ago I took her to the local park after removing her stabilisers.
Nearly had a coronary running alongside her while holding onto the scruff of her jacket and she didn't really seem to get it initially.
2-weeks later when she was annoyed I hadn't fitted her stabilisiers, we took her to the park again and after a few tries she started to get it and was able to get around 10 metres on her own.
Now, she can start off herself and rides off into the distance. We are now also looking for a 1st "Proper" bike for her

 

[LosingFocus]

Cheers, so it really just a case of running along side and keeping them upright until they "get" it?

 

[calibanzwei]

Someone asked a similar question last week <scoots off to find link>

Got it!
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/help-get-son-2-going.101485/

 

[Linford]

I will be getting a balance bike for my granddaughter when she is a bit older. They look very good.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I've been doing some volunteering for the Sustrans ''bike it'' campaign. The basic routine is to get the bikes together, take any stabilisers off, take both pedals off and lower the saddle as far as it will go, so that the children can reach the ground with both heels. Get them to push off with both feet side by side, i.e. not a walking movement, more of a horizontal frog jump - this gets them safely centred to start balancing. Once they've got the hang of that, put one pedal back on. At that point, they can only scoot one-footed with the other foot resting on the pedal. And then, surprisingly quickly, they're soon ready to get the second pedal back on and, once the confidence and balance is there, bring the saddle back up. Many children will find it difficult to set off at first so there's a little bit of pushing them to get them started at first.

If Mice visits this thread I'm sure she'll fill in more of the details, because I'm just an unqualified volunteer, but those are the basics. And it works! Very fulfilling for all concerned - and it must be even more fulfilling with your own kin.

 

[LosingFocus]

Excellent, thanks all. Thats this weekends plan sorted then!

 

[biggs682]

it took me ages to get mine mobile , but got there in the end and even did a stint of just 1 stabilizer then just raised it enough so it was not resting on floor .

now regular pillion rider on tandem so much easier

 

[Sara_H]

Can't help with advice - when I took my sons stabilisers off we drove to the local park, got bike out of boot, closed boot, looked round - son was peddaling off into the horizon as if he'd been doing it all his life!

Try it!

 

[LosingFocus]

Well, as an update. I took his 'lisers off and he was away like a rocket, no looking back. So worry over nothing.

He is already asking when he can come out with Daddy...

 

[Arch]

Seems like it's all sorted, but I'd add a vote for the pedals-off-scooting method. And it works for all ages. I've taught a middle aged man to ride that way - just told him what to do, and sent him off to scoot at his own pace. Within an hour, he was riding unaided, and delighted that now he and his wife would be able to go out and ride cycle paths together. So it's a good way to teach older children or adults who've never learned, and maybe have less confidence (and more fear of falling over) than littlies.

 

[LosingFocus]

Update: I feel the need to mention that the little dude completed his first 10km ride with Daddy last weekend - on his little 16" wheel bike with only 1 gear, over some pretty impressive hills. Going to look for a new bike for him soon.

He insists I refer to him as "Cav" when we are out cycling too. Excellent!

 

[DTD]

I remember the moment (over 40 years ago) when my dad said "I don't think you need the stabilisers any more) and just knock them up a bit so they didn't touch the ground and off I rode.

 

[ufkacbln]

I've been doing some volunteering for the Sustrans ''bike it'' campaign. The basic routine is to get the bikes together, take any stabilisers off, take both pedals off and lower the saddle as far as it will go, so that the children can reach the ground with both heels. Get them to push off with both feet side by side, i.e. not a walking movement, more of a horizontal frog jump - this gets them safely centred to start balancing. Once they've got the hang of that, put one pedal back on. At that point, they can only scoot one-footed with the other foot resting on the pedal. And then, surprisingly quickly, they're soon ready to get the second pedal back on and, once the confidence and balance is there, bring the saddle back up. Many children will find it difficult to set off at first so there's a little bit of pushing them to get them started at first.

If Mice visits this thread I'm sure she'll fill in more of the details, because I'm just an unqualified volunteer, but those are the basics. And it works! Very fulfilling for all concerned - and it must be even more fulfilling with your own kin.

This system works so well because the child takes the natural steps at their own pace.