Stabilisers

[mummydinosaurRawr]

Looking for a bit of guidance...

I never learnt how to ride a bike so I’m pretty clueless. My daughter is nearly 10 and has been given a 24” bike as a present. She is keen to ride it but can’t balance without stabilisers. She was give a set of stabilisers to go along with the bike but they were pretty flimsy and broke when first used.

I’m struggling to find stabilisers to suit a bike this size - any recommendations? Those that I have seen are either much to small or are out of stock.

While looking for stabilisers I’ve also come across various articles saying that they don’t help children learn to balance, they’re better off with balance bikes etc. This all sounds reasonable, but I can’t turn back time to make her a toddler again. How do I teach her to ride a bike without stabilisers? (Bearing in mind that she is rather nervous and I don’t know what to do myself to explain / demonstrate).

Any advice? Or have I left it much too late and she’s destined to follow in my non-bike-riding footsteps?

Does your local council run a 'Ditch the Stabilisers' session? I have found them excellent for my 3 DC.

Basically you need to start by taking off the pedals. Get DD to give herself 3 pushes with both feet at the same time (like a kangaroo jump), then coast along - this will develop her balance. When she is confident, replace the pedals, then it's just a case of one foot on the pedal and a couple of pushes with the other foot, then somehow they are just automatically able to do it!

(I so wish I could demonstrate for you - I'm sure this whole reply makes no sense!!)

Thanks @FatPatsCat
Unfortunately not, I’ve just been looking for a cycling course of some skins for her and there isn’t anything suitable locally. The council seem to run occasional sessions on little balance bikes for under 5s, and then offer something to pupils at school when they’re in year 6. She’s too old for the balance bike course and is only due to start year 5 in September, so it’s a long wait to hope that they might do a bit in school.

How easy is it to remove the pedals? This seems like a great idea but I’m worried that my inexperience could cause me to cause irreparable damage. There is a bike shop locally, but the bike wasn’t purchased from them so I don’t know if they would be interested in helping (obviously I’d be happy to pay, I’m not expecting a freebie).

Take the pedals off her bike and use it as a balance bike.
We've had several older children join our balance bike group at the club where I coach and successfully learn this way.
Have a look at the British Cycling Ready Set Ride programme. You need to create an account to get it all but it's free and very useful. I think the target age is about 3-8 years so some of the language will be a bit young for your DD but the activities would suit most ages really.
readysetride.co.uk/

How do I teach her to ride a bike without stabilisers?

This is the easy part, actually. You haven't indicated her balance is so bad she could never do it.

Get a cheap 20" wheel bike -- it's too small. You need a too small bike.
Leave the pedals ON this bike.
Get the seat right down.
She should look like this when seated on it, her feet are comfortably flat on ground while her bottom is still on seat.
Then she can scoot along like a balance bike.
Then she will learn to balance.
Then she can learn how to put her feet on pedals, and use pedals, and always get feet to ground in time.
That will give her confidence how to coordinate all the actions safely.
Then you can raise the seat a little... and a little more.
Until she looks kind of natural pedaling, balancing, getting feet to ground.
Then finally she'll be ready for the 24" bike.
it's not rocket science. Honest.

More guidance.

Thank you @MrsAvocet and @lljkk

I’m definitely liking the balance bike idea. There’s a 20” one for sale second hand near by, I’ll see if I can get that and then get her out practicing.

Definitely go the balance bike route, but you shouldn’t need to buy one! Just take the pedals off her’s and drop the seat.

Thanks so much everyone. I got a smaller bike, and dropped the seat right down. She’s scooting around beautifully on it and has even managed a bit of pedalling. She’s so much happier and less nervous with the smaller size.