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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want my kids to learn to ride a bike?

45 replies

tangerino · 14/07/2016 17:47

Aargh, my kids are 10 and 8 and can't ride a bike.

We live in the middle of London so learning to ride round the streets isn't really viable and our garden is too small. We had various attempts at driving to a park with bikes but it never really went everywhere (not least because my H insisted on taking their stabilisers off before they could really pedal, but that's a grumble for another day...)

What do I do? Neither seems v keen to try at all but I know they would love it if they could. Anyone in the same boat? I don't think many of their friends have bikes, for similar reasons, but it's a life skill and they can't do it!

Has anyone ever tried lessons for bike riding? Do they even exist?

OP posts:

NoCapes · 15/07/2016 11:54

I'm surprised at this ages of the children on this thread tbh, riding a bike is a rite of passage, I'd be surprised if I met a child who couldn't ride by the time they were 6 or 7
It is just a case of perseverance, make it fun don't make it a 'lesson' just take their bikes to the park, let them ride, let them run, let them play and hopefully eventually they'll get it

Kennington · 15/07/2016 11:58

I take mine out to parks a lot to get it, it isn't the same but it has worked. One day it will just click. Agree it is important in the same way as driving a car, swimming and learning to cook healthy food is important.

Andrewofgg · 15/07/2016 12:05

My father taught me that everyone should learn to ride a bike, to swim, and to drive a manual car - and he was right.

When DS was about four an old university friend, single then, single now, not very practical, came to visit and he and I took him to the park; it was when he was learning to cycle - he could already swim. And the conversation went:

DS: John, can you ride a bike?
John: No.
DS: Can you swim?
John: No.
DS: Can you drive a car?
John: No.
Long pause
DS: What can you do?

BorpBorpBorp · 15/07/2016 12:56

I never learned to ride a bike as a kid, and I wish I had. It doesn't hold me back now as an adult because I can drive, but as a teen/tween I longed for the freedom that (I thought) a bike would give, but was too self-conscious to teach myself to ride in the park.

fluffiphlox · 15/07/2016 13:03

I think it's a life skill too. I think I'd learned by six or seven.
The discussion has reminded me of a friend of mine who went on a German exchange at about 15 or so. The host family expected her to ride a bike to school with their daughter and were shocked when they found out she'd never learned how. It's absolutely part of growing up.

OhSoggyBiscuit · 15/07/2016 15:35

I don't actually know if I know how to ride a bike. I remember my grandparents having a little one and me trying to ride it up and down their lawn, but I can't remember if I ever managed to ride it minus stabilisers.

Haroldplaystheharmonica · 15/07/2016 16:19

Whether or not riding a bike is a life-style is debatable but most kids can do it, do you want yours to get one of the few who can't? That's not aimed at you OP, it's a general question.

My two have been able to ride since they were 4 or 5. It took several trips to the park (and pretending we were still holding their bikes when really we'd let go!) but they soon got it. Now they're out every night on the street and at the park with their friends on their bikes. I don't know of any child at their ages who doesn't ride.

TheAntiBoop · 15/07/2016 16:40

We live in London and both kids (5&9) are riding without stabilisers. We have a wide pavement on our road they go up and down and then we take them to the park as well.

Could you hire some bikes the next holiday you go on and get them started - if they can balance for scooting/skating etc they should pick it up quickly

Rosti1981 · 15/07/2016 17:29

I'm a bit confused by Bikeability as a lot of the info seems to be aimed at anyone who can ride a bike.... which doesn't help the 5 year olds who are still struggling to learn, like mine. Is it actually about teaching them to ride, or about improving confidence/safety once they have started riding? Emailed my council about lessons for me and never heard anything back, and both their pages and TfL seem to cross-refer and not actually let me book on to anything.

grannytomine · 15/07/2016 19:08

My GS went to lessons in school holidays, the local authority run them where they live. Don't blame your husband about the stabilizers, they didn't use them on the course and by the end of day one he was riding his bike, bit better by the end of day two.

BarbarianMum · 15/07/2016 23:02

Ds has just done bikeability level 2. Very much aimed at teaching safe cycling on the road (quiet roads for level 2) for those that can already ride and are not too wobbly (you have to be able to do the arm signals).

altiara · 16/07/2016 00:37

It's a great skill to have - gives children some freedom and exercise. Great to go out on bike rides as a family. Useful when older to go to school/clubs/work. Why wouldn't you want them to ride a bike?

Don't have stabilisers, someone suggested seat low and just balance - great idea. DS had a balance bike and could cycle ridiculously early because of learning to balance.

sycamore54321 · 16/07/2016 00:58

As others have said, use a regular bike, seat at a height where the ball of the foot can touch the ground and remove the pedals to get them used to scooting in a straight line. They will be basically 'walking' it at first and within minutes begin gliding by lifting the feet for longer and longer distances each go. Then work on wide looping turns and once the balance thing has clicked for them, add pedals and away try go.

I agree it is a life skill. It's not hard to imagine a crisis that shuts down motorized transport, knowing how to ride a bike in these situations is a huge resource. Not to mention independence as older children, when at university, greater commuting distance available to them for jobs or college etc. a person can no doubt live a happy fulfilled life without knowing how to cycle but it is a life skill in that a few hours of learning now will give them a skill that lasts for decades.

Also knowing to cycle is handy if you are suspected of having amnesia. True amnesiacs cannot remember how to cycle.

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 16/07/2016 01:13

Whilst it's not essential, I do think it's useful to be able to ride a bike. When your dc are older they may not live in London but in a town with limited public transport. Being able to ride a bike is then very useful.

I live just outside Cambridge. I don't know anyone who can't ride a bike, and quite often cycling in the city centre is quicker than buses or driving.

MangoMoon · 16/07/2016 01:22

It really is just a case of practise and perseverance - with a bit of falling off and getting straight back on.

With my eldest (aged about 5) I just took his stabilisers off and spent an afternoon on some flat waste-ground running around next to him, holding on to his seat for balance then letting go.
Lots of falling off & some tears but cracked it within the afternoon.

My youngest taught himself aged about 4 on his big brother's bike because he didn't want to 'be the baby'.
We caught him trying to ride the too big bike, so took the stabilisers off his & he rode off straight away with no bother.

NuclearTextbooksAtomicCrimes · 16/07/2016 01:22

It's a life skill because it's such an opportunity to develop their independence as they get older. Especially in teenage years. They can get themselves around without being dependent on public transport or lifts.
And it's healthy and good for the environment. And when they start working it's quicker than sitting in rush hour traffic.
And actually, whatever age they are, it's really, really, good fun! Well, going downhill is

sycamore54321 · 16/07/2016 01:24

Oh, and another thing, most adults I know will be able to tell you very specifically who taught them to ride a bike and recount their memories with great fondness, like some people have done on this thread. It is a big rite of passage for a child, and a lovely bonding opportunity. Life long skills while creating life long memories.

AdjustableWench · 16/07/2016 03:24

Don;t bother with the stabalisers - have the seat down low so they can scoot around and get the hang of the balance first.
I agree with this advice. And the advice about taking the pedals off at first (it's useful to know that the left pedal is reverse threaded - it screws in the opposite direction from the usual).

Riding a bike isn't absolutely essential in life, but it is a lot of fun and worth learning to do!

My kids have dyspraxia so took ages to learn to ride, but they love it now that they've got the hang of it.

Biscuitbrixit · 16/07/2016 07:32

Okay.
I've kind of thought of a lifeskill as being something that would save your life, like swimming.
But I understand were people are coming from with bikes as it does give a lot of independence, and keeps you active

SpareTheRod · 20/08/2016 20:32

We live in London on a really busy road - we've no outside space and nowhere to keep a bike. But I agree that it's a useful life skill. My dds learnt to cycle last week with Pedal Project, who run one-hour sessions on 3 consecutive days (crucially for us, they provide the bikes, helmets, etc). The seven year old learnt really fast despite being pretty uncoordinated; the four year old needed two extra sessions (which didn't cost any more). Best money I've spent all year. They're so proud of themselves.

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