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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Riding a bike - What age?

146 replies

2wheeler2025 · 07/05/2025 22:45

What age did your child learn to ride a bike?

Noticed a trend of kids not being able to ride a bike until 6/7+. Just wondered how old your child was?

AIBU - It's not an important life skill, my DC will do it when they're ready
YANBU - It is an important life skill and I actively tried to help them learn to ride a bike as soon as I could

OP posts:
steff13 · 07/05/2025 22:46

I think in the 5-6 range.

OurManyEnds · 07/05/2025 22:48

M daughter was 5 and my son was his third birthday. They learned on the same day!

minnienono · 07/05/2025 22:49

Dd1 was 7, dd2 was 4, same day!

Neolara · 07/05/2025 22:49

At 3. But I live in a city where everyone cycles. It's very common for kids to learn to cycle ridiculously young. Lots start on balance bikes and then seamless transfer to pedal bikes..

whompingwillo · 07/05/2025 22:49

My daughter was 3 but just one day decided she wanted the bike with pedals and that was that! Balance bike definitely helped rather than stabilisers

GlowyJelly · 07/05/2025 22:50

Who cares? 6-7 is hardly late anyway. About 6 I think but I can’t see it as being that important. Mine couldn’t use a balance bike so had stabilisers until ready. I can’t see the issue.

comealongdobbeh · 07/05/2025 22:50

DS was 8

Yourinmyspot · 07/05/2025 22:50

DD was 3. Someone recommended us getting her a balance bike as her first bike rather than one with stabilisers as it teaches them to balance. It worked, we bought her a peddle bike the Christmas when she was 3 and after a couple of goes she was off.

Though I still think some of it depends on the child.

Poppyseeds79 · 07/05/2025 22:51

I'm old so I recall doing my cycling proficiency test at primary school 😄 I don't think this is a thing now?

We also went to the nearest swimming baths for lessons to ensure we could swim a mile.

I'd say both are pretty basic life skills to have. Although one could obviously save your life potentially.

sanityisamyth · 07/05/2025 22:51

5 I think

ninjahamster · 07/05/2025 22:51

Aged 3 (for two) and 4 (for two) of mine

modgepodge · 07/05/2025 22:52

My Daughter had a balance bike from 2, but it wasn’t until she was 3 that she really got the hang of it (though we didn’t try that hard). From 3 til 4 she whizzed around on that really confident. Pedal bike for her 4th birthday and she learned to ride it on the first attempt the next day.

I’ll bet the vast, vast majority of people who say their kid was under 5 did the balance bike first. Using stabilisers makes it much slower in most cases.

Nittersing · 07/05/2025 22:53

Balance Bike and tricycle 2-4 years
Pedal Bike with training wheels 4-5 years
Pedal Bike with no training wheels 5-6 years
Pedal Bike with hand brakes -6 years.

I think Bike riding and other crossing the midline activities are very important in early childhood.

modgepodge · 07/05/2025 22:53

Poppyseeds79 · 07/05/2025 22:51

I'm old so I recall doing my cycling proficiency test at primary school 😄 I don't think this is a thing now?

We also went to the nearest swimming baths for lessons to ensure we could swim a mile.

I'd say both are pretty basic life skills to have. Although one could obviously save your life potentially.

It’s called Bikeability now but it still exists! Offered in schools and in the holidays to y5/6 pupils and there’s an easier on the playground version for y3/4 I think.

CompletelyFlopped · 07/05/2025 22:54

2wheeler2025 · 07/05/2025 22:45

What age did your child learn to ride a bike?

Noticed a trend of kids not being able to ride a bike until 6/7+. Just wondered how old your child was?

AIBU - It's not an important life skill, my DC will do it when they're ready
YANBU - It is an important life skill and I actively tried to help them learn to ride a bike as soon as I could

My oldest was 3! My youngest still couldn't ride a bike at 7 and we had to get him lessons from a proper 'learn to ride a bike' teacher! They r all different!!

Groundhedgehogday · 07/05/2025 22:55

Age 3. Had a balance bike from 2. He's a speed demon on his scooter too. He's very good on wheels. Slightly concerned about what he'll be like as a driver (he's only 5 so hopefully he'll calm down).

Dramatic · 07/05/2025 22:55

Dd1 was 6, dd2 was 4 dd3 was 3 and dd4 is currently 5 and can't do it yet.

I was also convinced that dad's 2 & 3 did it earlier because of the balance bike but it hasn't seemed to work with dd4 so it's not a sure thing.

Original poster
2wheeler2025 · 07/05/2025 22:56

modgepodge · 07/05/2025 22:52

My Daughter had a balance bike from 2, but it wasn’t until she was 3 that she really got the hang of it (though we didn’t try that hard). From 3 til 4 she whizzed around on that really confident. Pedal bike for her 4th birthday and she learned to ride it on the first attempt the next day.

I’ll bet the vast, vast majority of people who say their kid was under 5 did the balance bike first. Using stabilisers makes it much slower in most cases.

Yes balance bikes are amazing. Statistically proven to improve balance and coordination.

My DS's were 3 and and 4 when they learnt to ride a bike after using a balance bike

OP posts:
CatherineRose16 · 07/05/2025 22:56

I would say anytime between 3 and 8 is normal. 6-7 is not particularly late. They are all different!

YouRemindMe0fTheBabe · 07/05/2025 22:58

My friend's son didn't learn until he was 10. He and his friends went everywhere on their scooters and he had no interest in bikes until then. My daughter learned at 5 and my son at 4 (having had a balance bike since age 2). Neither of them ever really liked their scooters. They can all ride bikes now and you wouldn't know who learned first. It really doesn't matter.

MereNoelle · 07/05/2025 22:58

DD1 was 8. DD2 was 3. Don’t think it’s made any difference to their respective life chances.

IwasDueANameChange · 07/05/2025 22:58

Both DC had balance bikes and could ride those aged 2.5 - coasting properly lifting feet etc.

DD - pedal bike no stabilisers: 3& 9 months
DS pedal bike no stabilisers: just before 4th birthday

I actually think stabilisers really hinder things. DD tried her cousins bike with them on and really struggled with them.

Stripesarethethingforme · 07/05/2025 22:59

Eldest dd was 3 and like other posters she had a balance bike before. A child that is happily whizzing around on a balance bike seems to make the transition to a pedal bike very quickly in my experience.

Youngest dd's legs still need to grow a bit.

Newstarters · 07/05/2025 23:01

GlowyJelly · 07/05/2025 22:50

Who cares? 6-7 is hardly late anyway. About 6 I think but I can’t see it as being that important. Mine couldn’t use a balance bike so had stabilisers until ready. I can’t see the issue.

I was about to say the same. It’s not as if they’re adults who can’t cycle or even teens, is it really such an issue if some kids wait a couple of years later than expected to learn?

And this is coming from someone who loved cycling as a child and even during the pandemic as an adult.

YouRemindMe0fTheBabe · 07/05/2025 23:01

Nittersing · 07/05/2025 22:53

Balance Bike and tricycle 2-4 years
Pedal Bike with training wheels 4-5 years
Pedal Bike with no training wheels 5-6 years
Pedal Bike with hand brakes -6 years.

I think Bike riding and other crossing the midline activities are very important in early childhood.

Never heard of anyone going from a balance bike to training wheels. There's no need for them if they can already balance...

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