What age did your child learn to ride a bike?

[2022IamHavingYa]

Exactly that. Ride a 2 wheeled bike without any stabilisers? What bike did they have to learn on and what did they progress onto?

Thanks

DS1 was just going on 6, his friends taught him, DS2 has absolutely no desire to learn despite us teaching him.
He has APD and proprioception "issues" so we've just left him to it. Still rides a 3 wheel scooter and doesn't give a shit whether his friends laugh at him (they don't) but just can't sort his balance well enough to ride a bike.

His words "I can drive a car, so why do I need to ride a bike?!"

DS 1 age 3 and a half
DS 2 around 4th birthday
DS 3 age 4 and a half

They all used the same bikes - a Kettler balance bike, and then a tiny Islabike. No stabilisers. DS 4 just turned 3 and is currently riding the balance bike, he will probably be ready for pedals in the autumn, but we'll see.

I think once they’re older than about 5 it’s harder as - understandably if you think about it -the fear is greater, and it’s further to fall!

3.5 but he’s very big and sporty and it was our first lockdown activity!

1. But she hasn't really taken to cycling so hasn't really improved from there, not sure about her bike 'handling' skills two years on. She's just not that keen.

DS was 4 and DD was 3 both started with islabike Rothan balance bikes then straight onto a 14inch islabike CNOC 14 without stabilisers. It's SO much easier if they never have stabilisers. DS has autism and even he could do it after the balance bike.

Mine were both 4. Balance bike use for a bit before as wel as ones with stabilisers. I wouldn’t say that I felt confident in their riding skills until they were 5/6 though

DS2 was on his second 2 wheeled bike when we moved aged 4.5. So I'd guess about 3.5.
DS1, can't remember. Probably similar as we had the small bike when needed for his younger brother!

Balance bikes from about 2.5.
Then onto second hand Isla bikes. Now ride second hand frog bikes (age 10 and 12).

Ds1 4.5 ish
DS2 3.10 ish but more reliably from 4

Oh forgot to say Frog bike was a game changer for DS1 who was really struggling to get the hang of it. We saw a massive improvement pretty much immediately just from having a lighter bike.

All kids were 4 or 5.

Eldest was about 7 but v. uncoordinated as a child. Second learned at 5 by watching what we were doing with him and copying. Youngest also about 5.

I was about 7 too when I finally got it but never had a bike before then. I also learned without stabilisers #hardcore unlike dbro who learnt alongside his mini-wheeled friend.

My daughter had a friend who still had stabilisers at age 9 (this is 7 years ago) so I don't think it's different now from previously. If anything more people have cottoned onto balance bikes now, when we first had one 12 years ago hardly anyone had them, now I see them a lot more.

1. He had a balance bike from age 2.

Out of all the parenting skills / issues teaching bike riding was the one thing that nearly drove me to drink!! We left it waaaaay to late, about 7, we aren't really cyclists so it wasn't a priority, if we ever get grandchildren we've already said we are buying them a little balance bike at 18 months.

Dtwins had balance bikes from age 2 and went straight to a bike without stabilisers at 3.5. The lighter the bike the quicker they learn. A Frog or Isla bikes are super light frames.

My R had private lessons once he turned
2 and was off stabilisers within a week! He now rides to preschool- although id definately make sure they're equipped with a high vis jacket and helmet!!!

3 years old. Balance bikes are the best.

3 but I live in a city where everyone cycles and most kids are on bikes from very young. One friend's 2 year old could cycle. Not ideal because he was super fast with absolutely no common sense whatsoever. All my kids had balance bikes and when they got on a real bike, the pretty much just cycled off into the distance immediately.

DS was about 8, he struggled a lot with it and was not very good at any sport that needed coordination, he has slight dyspraxia. Most of his friends were about 4-6 years old when they learned

@Forgetaboutme I’m thinking about a cycle holiday this year with my 6 and 9 year olds. The 6 year old is not a fan of hills! Where would you recommend in the UK? Or further afield ?

To answer the question, mine were 6 and 4 when they learned. In co trays to another poster I think kids learn early these days! I think that I learned about age 6 or 7. But where I live, many kids are cycling around the park before they start school. My eldest started at 6 and she was definitely one of the last in her year.

5 ish, apart from the "baby", who got on a sibling's bike aged about two and pedalled off. She has weirdly good balance, though, and did exactly the same with ice skating.

Our DS was just 3, he had a balance bike first.

3.8 ds. 3.4 dd and 4 dd (confidently) she could do it earlier but was a danger to herself and the world as she is tiny and struggled to squeeze the brake!

All on a frog 43. Dd who learnt at 3.4 couldn’t touch the floor but was determined to ride her brothers bike! Never used stabilisers. All used a Stryder balance bike from 18 month ish. Have had frogs and Islas since.

As others have said the younger the easier as less fear and avoid stabilisers. Balance bikes are amazing.