teaching kids to ride

[Mr Pig]

My youngest two have Specialized and Scott kids bikes. I bought them for two reasons. Firstly, they are decent quality and put together correctly, but the main reason is that they hold their value.

Kids, well my kids anyway, grow out of bikes before they wear them out. These two bikes are mint and used Specialized kids bikes sell for stupid money, I've seen Hotrock bikes sell on eBay for more than they would have cost new. I agree that such bike snobbery is idiotic but over the life of the bike it can save you money.

If buying today though I'd buy Isla bikes, I think they are much better suited to purpose.

 

[Mr Pig]

Islabikes are not expensive when you compare them with anything other than Halfords bikes. And they hold their value.

I think they are, but I also think that they are generally worth it. I also agree about their holding value, I'm sure they do. You seldom regret buying quality. The pedal-less bike is just overkill though, in my opinion.

 

[newbiebiker]

take the stabilisers and pedals off, lower the seat down and get her to scoot... after a short period she will have her balance and be wooshing along like a natural. (took my daughter about 1 hour)

Then pedals on, a bit of encouragement and away they go... no need for running alongside and getting a bad back.

I think she had pretty much taught herself within 2 sessions.

i agree though i think there's no need to take the pedals off. my first-born learned to do it right after taking out stabilisers.what you'd worry next is they might overspeed

 

[Noodley]

Younger Noodlette joined the ranks this morning, after years of being unable to balance First attempt of the year, off she went no problem at all...I am now being pestered to go for a ride with her this afternoon.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Can't wait to teach Miss CP to ride.

She's one at the end of the month.

 

[Cubist]

Can you teach my youngest to ride? ha ha

I'm afraid I'm having to rethink my teaching methods at the moment. I was teaching one of the neighbours kids to skateboard the other day, and unfortunately she caught fire. Her mother made all sorts of fuss. No sense of adventure.

 

[Arch]

Can't wait to teach Miss CP to ride.

She's one at the end of the month.

I can't wait to teach my nephew, he's not two yet. My only fear is that my <spit> brother in law will decide he knows best and take it all out of my hands. I suppose that's the trouble with not having your own.

(I'm just back from a visit, and the b-i-l was a bit of an arse while I was there.)

Still, Oli can say 'bike' pretty well (with a bit of a scouse 'ccch' at the end for some reason), and even had a stab at 'bicycle' the other day, which is quite a complicated sound for a little one.

 

[atbman]

We've been averaging about 3 - 4 kids/month using the pedals off/ seat down method for the last 10+ years. Works every time.

The only two times it's not worked within a max of 20ish minutes was with kids with fairly severe dyspraxia. The most unco-ordinated of them took 4 weeks but the grin on his face when he finally rode the length of the football pitch!

The quickest was a 3-yr. old who learned in 5 minutes. His parents put his bike in the back of the car, drove off and we never saw them again. Wouldn't have minded, but they'd come on a free voucher we'd given the LBS to hand out with every new bike sale.

 

[bonj2]

4 years and 6 days old. Straight off his Rothan and onto this-


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43gccrk5aF8&feature=channel_page

wobbling a bit! crack the lad on a downhill track, that'll straighten his line out.

 

[fossyant]

My little miss is now riding....whooo......got her going at her Nan's caravan....this weekend....I'll do a separate post about it...I was knackered.......running 2-3 miles at 10-12 mph.....

 

[Arch]

4 years and 6 days old. Straight off his Rothan and onto this-


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43gccrk5aF8&feature=channel_page

Aw! It's little teeny bikes, along with little teeny socks and shoes, that send me all broody....