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Original poster

Any tips for teaching bike riding without training wheels

66 replies

User198724 · 20/04/2020 08:42

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone would have any tips to get kids riding bicycles without training wheels?

My daughter is 8 and has completely outgrown her little bike but can’t get the hang of a bigger bike

OP posts:
Didkdt · 20/04/2020 10:38

Have you ever had her on an exercise bike that can help sometimes apparently

Butterfly98 · 20/04/2020 11:03

OP I just LOL as when I first read the thread title I missed the word 'training' 😂😂
Anyway with my DC we have a very slight incline at the back of our house a bit like a ramp. They got on their bikes at the top of it and I or DH gave them a small push and off they went. It only took a few goes to get their balance. The ramp helps with the balance as you go down faster. I highly recommend this method. Just make sure you don't use a big hill!

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 20/04/2020 11:06

I would love to know too.

When I was little nobody taught me as such, I went to play with a group of children and could ride a bike on my return home. One of them must of showed me on the bikes they all had, no idea who or how though

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cannaethink · 20/04/2020 12:28

Yep, pedals off at first then pop them back on once they’ve got the balance. A smallish bike helps, and a gentle slope. I wouldn’t do it on grass tbh, it’s a bit bumpy. Just make sure they’re wearing trousers and sleeves, and gloves are good too to stop the grazed hands.

Abraid2 · 20/04/2020 12:33

I think stabilisers actually slow the process down and never used them either myself or with my children. Agree with taking off the pedals. It's grasping that balance is better when you're moving forward that makes children confident.

Bridecilla · 20/04/2020 12:39

I took the pedals off ds' so he could get used to balancing on it. Make sure the seat is the right height.

Put the pedals back on once he was used to the weight and balance and he was away

P0lka · 20/04/2020 12:42

Juliet elliott on YouTube had a video-- if I recall correctly she didn't use training wheels

Natsku · 20/04/2020 12:46

Do it on grass on a slight slope so won't be so painful when they fall down! With DD I did the classic hold onto the bike and get her moving and peddling and then let go and it worked for her but for other children it might be better to let them go at their own speed and start just by balancing a bit first before adding in pedalling (DD could already balance from riding her scooter, does your DD scoot on a two wheel scooter? Might be easier to teach the balance on that first)

Makeitgoaway · 20/04/2020 12:51

Yes, take the pedals off, lower the seat and get her to use it like a balance bike. Down hill on a slight slope will help too.

Once she's wizzing about confidently like that put the pedals back on and start her off, again, on a slight downhill slope.

We thought DS1 would never learn, but he did one Oct HT when his OT ran a session for kids struggling to ride when he was 9yo. 5 x 2 hour sessions in a group and he was away. As a teenager he rode everywhere.

mumsonthenet · 20/04/2020 13:21

We took the training wheels off and practised in a wide flat area, practising while I held the bike at the back of the seat, working up to letting go.
Practise lots and go at the child's speed
And yes make sure the seats low enough to touch the ground and the brakes are tight.
Make a video and replay it afterwards it seems to help with encouragement.

teawamutu · 20/04/2020 14:52

Ds2 mostly learned a year or so ago, then for various reasons has hardly ridden since and we're practically starting from scratch.

He's 9 Blush

He's been hugely reluctant, so didn't want to push it and now wish I had. Sigh.

Coldhandscoldheart · 21/04/2020 06:57

Have been looking at this and we’re starting the 4yo today. Advice I’ve found so far-
Don’t start on grass, it’s too hard to push the bike along.
Use the flattest area you can find, especially if they’re a bit nervous.
Hold on to the child not the bike, especially not the handlebars, as it helps them feel the balance.

Ha, I’ll let you know if it works.
Have you tried yet? And what worked for you?

MushroomTree · 21/04/2020 07:33

Sorry to hijack but has anyone got any tips for teaching three year old DD to pedal forwards? She's just gotten her first bike and can pedal backwards but can't, or won't Hmm, pedal forwards.

She's great on the balance bikes at nursery but can't get the hang of pedalling. We've got the bike up on bricks at the moment so she can practice pedalling without going anywhere but she'll only do it backwards.

BikeRunSki · 21/04/2020 07:42

@Mushroom tree - pedalling is very, very difficult to teach. It’s as much about intellectual development (ie the brain needs to be able to think it through) as physical development. Usually, the best thing to do is wait I’m afraid.

girlsyearapart · 21/04/2020 07:47

Get a long scarf put it around her chest and hold it at the back. It works by supporting the child as they hold the bike if they fall you can catch them easily. Your back doesn’t feel done in from bending and as they improve you can let the scarf go a bit looser

MushroomTree · 21/04/2020 07:53

@BikeRunSki I suspected that was the case. No matter. I don't need her to be able to cycle right this second so we'll wait. At the moment she's enjoying having her own DIY turbo trainer so she can copy mummy when she gets on hers Grin

SparkyBlue · 21/04/2020 07:59

Great to get all the advice here. I have a seven year old who is very nervous but anxious to learn as all her friends can cycle . Her school also really encourages cycling to school so she is mad to be able to do that yet at the same time she is very nervous and freaks out of the bike doesn't do exactly what she wants it to to.

DelurkingAJ · 21/04/2020 08:04

Oh a scarf! Thank you @girlsyearapart! my back has been killing. DS1 is struggling (on a Frog, he’s 7 but with gross motor issues noted at school). I’m keen he gets going before DS2 because he’ll be miserable if his four year old brother can ride first!

girlsyearapart · 21/04/2020 08:12

Yes delurkingAJ it’s a saviour!

wanderings · 21/04/2020 08:13

My dad used to hold my saddle, when I was six. Although I had stabilisers for a while, he decided they were counter-productive, and didn't use them for my younger brother, who learned quickly.

bathorshower · 21/04/2020 08:22

Coldhandscoldheart that's what we did at the same age - hold the child, not the bike (so they are balancing), under the arms (saves your back.

It took DD (then 4) 2-3 months to get it - we only did 10 minutes a day (most, but not every day). She didn't find it easy - and we had a very light bike, but we needed her to be able to ride, and she got there in the end. Starting was the bit we found hardest.

We had previously taken the pedals off, and got her (reasonably) confident using the bike as a balance bike.

Your child may get it instantly, but they myth that any child will do it in an hour or so is just that - a myth!

MontysOarlock · 21/04/2020 08:22

Exactly as BikeSkiRun says, it is about balance first and foremost.

Ds1 we removed the pedals, lowered the seat so his feet were on the floor.
Got him to just walk with the bike, sat down.
This progressed to a quicker speed,
then just lifting his legs to get the balance

Started him on a tarmac path in a park which has a slight decline. Did the balance thing for a couple of sessions then put the pedals on. Rolled down the hill and just learned to put his feet onto the pedals. Then actually pedal.

Ds2 we had learned from this, put him on a balance bike, he was off in no time. Ah, memories. Good luck.

Toomboom · 21/04/2020 08:23

Lots of patience! Running with them up and down a quiet road or car park --- should be good at the moment to do this - holding onto the back of the seat. Then gradually once they are confident keeping upright let go for a few seconds at a time. Then watch them go!

CherryPavlova · 21/04/2020 08:41

Either just let them outside onto a playground and they do it themselves eventually (particularly if others are out on bikes) or run along behind holding saddle and when they feel balanced let go.

Sparkesy · 21/04/2020 08:44

We used this:

www.halfords.com/cycling/kids-bike-accessories/kids-bike-stabilisers/halfords-balance-buddy-bike-handle-279427.html

It's only a glorified handle but somehow made it so easy - our DD got it in about an hour