Bike riding without stabilisers

[kid]

DS can ride without stabilisers really well now. Steering is going well, he hasn't ran anyone over (yet). He still needs help to start off and he can only stop by crashing!
How do we overcome these problems?

I have tried telling him to push with one foot and then start pedalling but he can't quite manage that yet.
For stopping I have told him to press and hold the brake until the bike stops and then put his foot down. He will touch the brake, let it go then hop along with the bike at speed and crash!

Do you think these are the right methods to use or do you have any other suggestions. He has done so well and I am so proud of him for learning it so quickly.

Now I've never tried this but was reading about how you take the pedals off the bike and let them get used to the balance by scooting about for a few weeks. Then put pedals back on.

Plenty of practice and closing of eyes (yours not ds)

I think that he will get it with more practice anyway. Ds found stopping and starting the hardest too but after a few times out on his bike (in a safe place!) he got the hang of it.

I do shut my eyes, but he is very tough and brave. He can ride it well, he does wobble but somehow stays upright. I am going to take him out on it every single day (as long as its not raining), he will be a true pro before we know it.

Just need to convince DD to try and ride a bike now. She is soooo nervous that she insists we hold on to the bike constantly. She is 3 years older than DS but nowhere near ready to ride without stabilisers. She will get there eventually.

Sounds like my 2 ,I took stabilisers off both at the same time and dd2 got it staright away (was 3 almost 4 ) and dd1 still won't do it now (she is 7).Though Dd1 isn't that interested either.dd2 seems to prefer to just go as fast as she can and swerve all over (very unnerving!)

I can't realy help as dd has only just got a bike, so not realy riding as yet.

But my sister who is 33years still needs help starting and last time she went out on her bike she fell/crashed into a hedge.

that is really funny lizziemun, I bet your sister didn't think so though!
I have to say, I didn't think either of my kids would ride a bike so easily so one is better than none.

kid

Yes she did think it was funny, she has also crashed into a lamppost, a pelican crossing.

She is just waiting for her bike to mended then she starting again . God help anyone who lives in the same town as her.

My way of doing it is to show them how to "walk " while sititng on their bike - i.e not pedal at all. So they can walk thn occasionally lift their legs up and pedal - that way they know how to put their legs back down when the going gets scarey.
Ime their hands are too small to master breaks for a while.

My son has just learn how to ride without stabilisers and yes the pushing off is a problem. If you tell them to push off with one foot on the pedal, one of the ground and lift their bottoms off the seat everso slightly they get a good push that gives them the momentum toget balance.

I tell our son to put one pedal at a "quarter to" position and then on a gentle downhill section let him push off by himself pressing down on the quarter to pedal. It seems to work for him.