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Original poster

Help - how do I remove these pedals from my dc’s bike?

12 replies

User63847484848 · 31/07/2023 17:40

Trying to get dd cycling at last and think I need to temporarily make her bike into a balance bike but can’t work out how to take off the pedals. Any ideas?

Help - how do I remove these pedals from my dc’s bike?
Help - how do I remove these pedals from my dc’s bike?
OP posts:
lljkk · 31/07/2023 17:44

It's not just the pedals, which would probably be 15 mm spanner, you need the cranks & whole bottom bracket off or the cranks get in the way. A bike shop will have appropriate tools to remove bottom bracket.

From state of those pedals, it's not a bike you'll keep using once she's off, anyway.

lljkk · 31/07/2023 17:45

Youtube videos would show you what to do to take pedals off.

Original poster
User63847484848 · 01/08/2023 18:50

Thank you
i managed to get them off with a spanner and some brute force 😥
she’s still not getting the balancing feeling it’s so hard! She’s just turned 8 so quite late to be learning but we’ve tried lots before. I suspect asd and she’s quite anxious, not sure if this has anything to do with it. She loves her micro scooter and I’m desperate to get her cycling as i know she’ll love it once she’s off.
my older 2 took their time but not as long as this. Going to try and find somewhere with more of a slope tomorrow, hopefully that might help her get the momentum and the balance feeling 🤞

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Dreemhouse · 01/08/2023 18:59

You may have already tried this but with DS, I took him to a field so if he fell off it wouldn’t hurt. I held on to the back of the saddle and ran alongside him as he pedalled, and occasionally I would take my hand off but he would think I was still holding on. If he wobbled I could grab hold and steady him. Perhaps
its a confidence thing rather than a balance thing, if she’s good on her scooter that will definitely help!

EnthENd · 01/08/2023 19:01

Going to try and find somewhere with more of a slope tomorrow

Just be mindful what's at the bottom of the slope in all directions. As a child, a family friend tried to teach me to ride a bike by letting me go down a hill. The second go I veered uncontrollably off course, smashed my face into a metal fence, and got taken to hospital in an ambulance. I didn't get on a bike again for about 10 years.

Original poster
User63847484848 · 01/08/2023 19:18

Ok noted!

and I have tried the holding on the saddle and under the arm pits thing but she instantly leans fully on me not balancing at all and doesn’t seem to pedal fast enough. I thought might be better to take pedals off and focusing on balancing first, then worry about pedalling but I feel like it might never happen.
Am I’m just being really positive and encouraging and hoping if we try a little each day we might get there.
on a caravan park this week with smooth paths so seemed like a good chance.

OP posts:
homeforme · 01/08/2023 19:27

No slopes, she needs to be able to put her feet in the ground and control the momentum.

Original poster
User63847484848 · 02/08/2023 08:50

Should I be telling her to push along with both feet at once or left-right-left-right? She doesn’t seem to be able to get any momentum up!

OP posts:
Tryingtogetitright · 02/08/2023 08:53

Try googling "learn to ride a bike in 5 minutes" for a youtube video (I will look for a link in a minute) - DC sits on bike and you rock them side to side so they feel the bike "go" and put their foot down. It really helped my DC understand the balance thing.

Tryingtogetitright · 02/08/2023 08:55
This is the link.... it's a bit American and I think they are a bit lax on helmets from theory... so maybe watch it on your own! But the method worked for us. Good luck!

How to ride a bike in less than 5 minutes

How to ride a bike in less than 5 minutes

https://youtu.be/mOlQg5THqhE

BenWeatherstaff · 02/08/2023 08:59

My DC is on a hacked balance bike just now at the age of 12. Finally in the last couple of months getting the hang of balancing and enjoying coasting downhill. Things which helped- having the seat ridiculously low to feel ‘safe’, having a toddler on an actual balance bike to keep pace with, taking everything as slowly as needed. A real bike without pedals is much heavier than a balance bike so grass is very hard work- a safe, wide, quiet paved road is better to get the feel of it I think, and to build enough momentum to actually balance. I think any food action that feels comfortable would be fine while she hills a confidence.

If it’s just about riding the bike eventually, persevere with the balance idea. If you live somewhere that cycling is important for mobility, consider a tricycle in the meantime. We had a big kids’ one at 7/8/9 and and it was fantastic to see DC’s independence. You could also do both at once, using the trike to practice peddling and road etiquette until her balance is good enough to combine everything.

Original poster
User63847484848 · 02/08/2023 13:53

Thank you
will take a look at the video, give that method a try and just keep persisting and hope we get there in the end, I think she’ll be really proud of herself when she cracks it as she’s aware that younger cousins and friends can do it

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