Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

7-year-old can’t ride a bike and is scared of it. Any tips?

28 replies

Message1q · 19/09/2020 14:49

I missed the window on the bike thing. We did scooters for too long. And now almost-7-year-old both can’t ride a bike and won’t even try.

Any tips?!? I don’t want to just give up on it, peer group have bikes and DC is missing out on fun and day trips (and knows it).

Dc won’t do a balance bike as they’re for “babies” 🙄

OP posts:
Ilovethewild · 19/09/2020 14:57

There are cycling lessons around, but also stabilisers can help. 7 isn’t too old to learn, some areas kids learn younger but 7 is a good age to learn, but only if they want to!
Do you ride? Can you learn together?

4forkssake · 19/09/2020 15:02

My DS was the same. He was 9 before he would try. Only way we could do it was find a quiet flat area & practice. Took our DS about 30 minutes & he was terrified previously. If you don't have a bike, can you borrow one that's a bit too small for him & use it as a balance bike.

Original poster
Message1q · 19/09/2020 15:03

I can ride - but I don’t have a bike. Perhaps I should get one!

Stabilisers is a good idea! I only worry l’ll get the “for babies” comment again 🙄

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cycling Exercise & fitness Families Fitness
Original poster
Message1q · 19/09/2020 15:05

That’s reassuring, 4forkssake! I bought an annoyingly expensive bike on eBay that is almost too small now, so DC has a really nice bike, but is flat out refusing so far.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 19/09/2020 15:05

This was my DS2

We couldn't force him into it so we left it until he really wanted to learn.

He was 11 years old when he finally decided he really needed to try. He's 21 now and cycles to and from work every day Grin

Original poster
Message1q · 19/09/2020 15:06

That’s very reassuring too, WorraLiberty!!

OP posts:
scissy · 19/09/2020 15:06

Can't help much, DD is the same! The irony is that if she forgets she's on a bike she can ride ok - then she suddenly remembers, panics and puts in the brakes Hmm.

SerenityNowwwww · 19/09/2020 15:07

Take off pedals and use bike as a balance bike (on grass if possible). Let them get used to it, lots of praise, there’s no rush.

JC12345 · 19/09/2020 15:08

If you already have a nice bike can you take the pedals off and use that as a balance bike? If it's a bit small then that's fine - needs to be able to put feet flat on the ground. If he can ride a scooter it won't take long to get used to balancing, then put the pedals back on (that's probably what they'd do if you got him lessons). Stabilisers don't help with balancing so would take longer to properly learn. The pedaling bit is easy, it's the balance bit that's harder to learn.

bonbonours · 19/09/2020 15:08

I disagree, I think stabilisers actually hinder instead of help.
Encourage them to scoot around with their feet near the floor. Start at the top of a gentle slope and just roll down. The hardest part about balancing is it's hard to pedal quick enough to not wobble. Once they get a little speed it's easy to balance.

WorraLiberty · 19/09/2020 15:10

@Message1q

That’s very reassuring too, WorraLiberty!!
He actually consulted Youtube for tips 😂
Mintjulia · 19/09/2020 15:10

Your dc will be a lot more comfortable if he sees you riding and not falling off.

My ds finally got rid of his stabilisers at 7. I spent one exhausting summer running along paths holding the back of his saddle while he pedalled. Got there in the end.

gigglingHyena · 19/09/2020 15:12

Its easier than I thought it would be to take the pedals and cranks off, I managed it following a YouTube video (and put them back again)

For DS embarrassment was definitely part of it, so a few trips to a slightly further from home park helped him feel more comfortable.

As others have said, we had to wait till he wanted to. He was around 10 or 11. Nearly 14 now and will happily ride for miles.

UnaMujer · 19/09/2020 15:13

@SerenityNowwwww

Take off pedals and use bike as a balance bike (on grass if possible). Let them get used to it, lots of praise, there’s no rush.
This is exactly what we did and it worked really well.
BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 19/09/2020 15:17

I didn't learn until very late (maybe 14), it's possible at any age. I grew up on the side of a mountain so didn't have a flat bit of land to learn on. I learned one summer when my parents went for a long holiday and I stayed with my Grandmother. Just let him keep practising in a safe area.

RepeatSwan · 19/09/2020 15:20

Balance bike, takes all the pain out of learning.

MillieMoodle · 19/09/2020 15:23

DS1 only learnt last summer, aged 8 1/2. He refused to pedal before that. We took the stabilisers off, as it seemed to make it harder to balance and it didn't really keep the bike upright. It took him a few days and a lot of tears and tantrums but he got there in the end. Good luck!

IntoTheDragonsLair · 19/09/2020 15:26

Has he got a decent lightweight bike? Some of the cheaper ones can really make learning harder as they require so much more effort to move! Look for second hand Isla, frog, wiggins type affairs if you can't buy new. Also by 7 you could get him a bike with gears so hills aren't so hard.

We bribed ours with something he really wanted and by 7 he was old enough to understand that he wouldn't get it until he could cycle. DH invented 10 "stages" he had to pass before he could get it. I think stage 10 was something like going on a decent length cycle in the park.

Also his little brother learnt almost at the same time which had a shame factor about it (we didn't shame but shame was felt!). They're very different children.

It felt like he would never learn but fast forward 3 years and he's a very capable cyclist and most importantly enjoys it.

Aquamarine1029 · 19/09/2020 15:27

Have him learn on the grass. Takes away the fear of falling over.

IntoTheDragonsLair · 19/09/2020 15:28

Oh and you could buy a "balance buddy" which attaches to the back although I find them tricky to use! About £25 from amazon.

PrincessButtockUp · 19/09/2020 15:36

We took her bike to a quiet car park after hours so cars couldn't use it. We took the pedals off and used it as a balance bike. Stabilisers weren't helping. Once she got the hang of balance, we put the pedals back on and she was riding it in no time. Being somewhere quiet, just going round in circles, helped immensely.

PaperMonster · 19/09/2020 15:47

I’ve a 9 year old who’s the same. Going to let her do it when she’s ready herself. She had lessons and can actually do it - she’s just terrified of doing it and the lessons increased her fear.

corythatwas · 19/09/2020 15:54

I would work very hard on getting the idea out of this head that there is one set window for learning and if you've missed it, you're out!

My dh learned to ride a bike in his early 20s. It made no difference. He rode to work for years. I don't quite know when I learnt but it may well have been round your ds' age- I lived in a country and a time where people worried a lot less about milestones and "windows".

handmademitlove · 19/09/2020 16:02

Our local forestry commission bike hire also does lessons for kids. Best £20 ever spent for a 1 to 1 hour. Came away riding happily 😄

MrsJonesAndMe · 19/09/2020 16:05

DS only got the hang of it during lock down while DH had time to go with his regularly - about 3/4 times a week.

He was nearly 8. They'll do it when they're ready.

Next challenge, proper swimming, he really hates his face being under water (in chlorine - fine in the bath)