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Original poster

My DC can't ride bikes

92 replies

Waitingfortheothershoe · 23/05/2020 20:03

My eldest struggles with balance and is not at all motivated. I wish I had tried more when he was younger but it might have been to tricky for him anyway. But also didn't put the time in and embarrassment is a big factor now.

My 6 year old I think would love it once he got the hang of it but I can't persuade him to try. He has a lovely bike but if I take it out with us he just flat out refuses. I even tried bribing him with sweets.

Anyone else have this problem? I feel very guilty whenever I see little kids riding around on their bikes loving it.

OP posts:

totallyyesno · 23/05/2020 20:04

Mine didn't learn till 8/9. We just didn't have the space to practise. They learnt very quickly though. I wouldn't worry.

vinoandbrie · 23/05/2020 20:19

Keep trying with them. It is a right faff teaching them, but worth every minute once they get it!

Original poster

Waitingfortheothershoe · 23/05/2020 20:20

That makes me feel a bit better thanks. Determined to try this year.

OP posts:

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Original poster

Waitingfortheothershoe · 23/05/2020 20:21

It is a right faff teaching them it is isn't it?! I got impatient last time which of course didn't help.

OP posts:

RunningKatie · 23/05/2020 20:29

Mine too! Youngest crashed theirs at beginning of lockdown and broke a bone which hasn't helped. I really hoped we'd crack it during lockdown, not happened yet...

Bumply · 23/05/2020 20:33

My youngest didn't learn until he was a teenager and we hired bikes at Center Parcs.
I couldn't get him to try beyond a couple of failed attempts on pavements when he was younger.
Having car free roads and not being a fan of walking he was keen to give it another go and learnt in a couple of days.

cansmellfreedom · 23/05/2020 20:36

Ive just learnt how to ride during the lockdown... at 40!

Singinginshower · 23/05/2020 20:36

I got my own reluctant child to learn by getting a cheap 2nd hand bike that was smaller than their own shiny new one. It gave them confidence to scoot along with their feet, and they were able to get a sense of balance when they picked their feet up, and started to pedal in their own time.
It took less than a couple of weeks from memory, or at least it was a lot shorter time than I'd been trying to get them to learn on the 'right sized' bike.

Babz88 · 23/05/2020 20:40

My eldest rode without stabilisers at 8 but he has dyspraxia so really struggles with coordination and balance. My middle one was 7, he would of done it earlier but we were in a car accident so no bikes were out for a long time after. My youngest has learned during lockdown and he is 5. All children are different and enjoy different things, good luck x

hellohungryimmummy · 23/05/2020 20:45

Take the pedals off and lower the seat so they can scoot along easily. At first they put their feet down a lot, then get more confident and start really pushing with their feet and then glide along feet off the ground. Once they have sorted the balance side of things, put the pedals back on and run along supporting lightly on their back. Within minutes they’ll then get it and you can let go. My DS Was cycling this way at 4. Good luck!

BarbedBloom · 23/05/2020 20:47

I cannot ride a bike. I just cannot balance on one. Honestly, if my kids really hated them, I wouldn't force them to ride it.

Catty15 · 23/05/2020 20:52

I always felt bad that mine couldn't ride a bike but lack of places to practice and general reluctance to try meant they all got to age 10 unable to do it.
But when they actually wanted to do it, they just did it by themselves really quickly ( in minutes)

june2007 · 23/05/2020 20:54

We have mastered this with my 9 year old these last few wks and now he is cycling round the villages, and to the park. You have the perfect time at the moment.

TerrorWig · 23/05/2020 20:59

Mine took ages to learn.

My step son must have been ten before he could ride a bike. Even with stabilisers, he just couldn’t seem to coordinate his legs and arms and eyes. My twins were the same, but their little brother learned quickly and easily when he was about 6.

Nothing helped with the older boys. They all had balance bikes. They just couldn’t fathom it!

It is a handy skill to have but by no means essential. I wouldn’t try and force it - believe me, that’ll only end up with everyone upset.

Original poster

Waitingfortheothershoe · 23/05/2020 21:02

Thanks for all the tips and well done cansmellfreedom. I bet that feels good.

And to Babz88's little one. I expect DS1 is dyspraxic is similar. I worry that I have been so accepting that he doesn't push himself.

Both seem to give up quickly if they find things tricky.

I have some time at the moment but I tried last week and they weren't having it. We have small bikes, big bikes and a ridiculously expensive bike!!

Currently trying bike with stabilisers for youngest. Might try without and without pedals.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Feels like a parenting failure that I haven't stuck with it.

OP posts:

LetTheSecretOut · 23/05/2020 21:05

My 12 year DD and 7 year old DS can't ride.

june2007 · 23/05/2020 21:06

If 6 remove the stabilisers , keep the medels and do little and often. It took mine a while. But stabilisers I think can hinder rather then help.

OverZoomed · 23/05/2020 21:07

I’d try bribery, a low bike with no pedals and a very gentle slope. Massive praise for just walking down it plus bike, working up to sitting on the bike and walking, then lifting both feet off just for a second etc.

I also found that holding child under the armpits (rather than holding the bike) made them feel a lot safer on the first few goes with pedals.

Original poster

Waitingfortheothershoe · 23/05/2020 21:15

RunningKatie hope your youngest is on the mend.

Going to see if I can get the pedals off. The smaller bike is rusty. Wondering if the new bike is a bit heavy but will try it out.

OP posts:

BadgerBadgerMushroom · 23/05/2020 21:19

We taught DSS to ride last year and he was 10. I think children just have to be ready. We took the pedals off and turned it into a balance bike and went out every day for a week. Then one day he cracked it!

confusedofengland · 23/05/2020 21:22

My eldest & middle sons were both 8 when they learned without stabilisers. With DS1 we had 2 other small DC & found it difficult to fit in the practice. DS2 has suspected autism & we were told he would never ride a bike. Both are fine now (ages 9 & 11) & managed in time for Bikeability at school.

DS3 is 6 & still not riding on his own. We have just bought a tagalong to clip his bike behind DH's bike, so he can get used to balance & steering. This week I plan to take him to the village green to practise there on his own. I am confident he will get it soon.

Festipal · 23/05/2020 21:22

Stabilizers didn't work for my eldest. Pedals off as balance bike for a few weeks then rode first time. Was amazed as DC struggles with balance too.

SheldonSaysSo1 · 23/05/2020 21:22

After lockdown maybe try private lessons. We did this at about age 7 and it only took a few hours. It worked better having a 'teacher' showing them how to do it.

TomNook · 23/05/2020 21:23

Just get in with it fgs. Stop messing about

LordOftheRingz · 23/05/2020 21:27

take the pedals off, and any stabilisers and make it a balance bike. My 9 year old learned in a week.

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