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Original poster

What age could your dc ride a bike without stabilisers?

42 replies

scotslass · 25/06/2007 21:34

My ds is 4.5 and loves his bike but it is a 12", which is a bit small for him really. We have promised him a 'big boy' bike when he can ride without stabilisers, but we're not having much luck at the moment.

Are we expecting too much from him? Does anyone have any tips on how to help him ?

Thanks xx

OP posts:
MamaMaiasaura · 25/06/2007 21:36
  1. Lots of practice on level grass field.
Hulababy · 25/06/2007 21:37

DD is 5y2m and is just starting to learn. Took stabilisers off and after 2-3 days she was getting more cinfident and even managed a few pedlas before falling to one side. Then the rain started and hasn't stopped to allow he rmore time to practise.

Little boy next door who is same age, minue a fortnight, can ride his bike without stabiliseers and has been able to for many months.

Posey · 25/06/2007 21:38

Dd tried hard at 5 but just couldn't do it. Tried again at 6 and got it really quickly.

BTW the boys in our neighbourhood seem to get there quicker than the girls, but think 4.5 is a bit much to expect really!

sauce · 25/06/2007 21:38

What does it matter? Just curious.

Notquitegrownup · 25/06/2007 21:38

My ds1 is 7 and has only just cracked it!!! He's very outdoorsy and active, but is also very aware of potential pain, and nothing on earth could get him to try to ride a bike which wobbled - even on grass. (We are also very short of balancing genes in our family!)

However, we eventually cracked it, when he tried out a friends bike, without stabilisers, which was tiny. He could stand up if the bike wobbled and not get hurt. He was off in minutes. I have since learned that this is a tried and tested MN method of teaching riding. Start with a very small bike.

Some of his friends have ridden from the age of 4 or 5, so your ds may be able to manage it. Best of luck.

PrettyCandles · 25/06/2007 21:40

Ds1 learned at 5.5y

We were pleasantly surprised, as he's not particularly well-co-ordinated. He got the hang of it in one weekend. I think the reason he managed to learn so quickly was that he had become quite good on his scooter, so that he already had the hang of balancing on two wheels. We started the weekend by removing the pedals and stabilisers, sot hat he could push along, but wihtin hours he asked us to replace the pedals.

DoubleBluff · 25/06/2007 21:41

DS1 was nearly 4 ds 2 was 3!!

hoxtonchick · 25/06/2007 21:42

ds was 4.

ejt1764 · 25/06/2007 21:42

ds was bought a scooter for Christmas last year (when he was 4 + 2 months) - then in March he asked to take stabilisers off his bike - he was a tad wobbly to start with, but there's no stopping him now ... so 4 + 5 months.

BTW, we didn;t start him off without them on grass as there was no suitable grassy surface - all too bumpy!

SlightlyMadStroppyCakeMaker · 25/06/2007 21:42

5.5ish.

I did see in halfords the other day some very springy stablilisers which may help...they seem to let the child have a lot more input to balance without letting them fall

ChipButty · 25/06/2007 21:43

5.2

DoubleBluff · 25/06/2007 21:46

DS2 just picked up his bike as we were taking stabilisers off to pack bike in car and rode off down the campsite. We were gobsmacked. Not ideal though as he ahs no sense of danger whatsoever!

millie99 · 25/06/2007 21:47

DD was 4.5. My advice is to use the smallest bike you can find so that the child can put their feet down on both sides and then practice on grass. Took her about 4 or 5 sessions to get it then no stopping her.There are a few others in her reception class who can do it too but I would say that the vast majority can't and aren't that bothered.

arwen · 25/06/2007 21:48

4.5. He was just 5 last week and has been riding to school with me following (20mins) for quite a while. I think it was all down to his like-a-bike. He had a good year of flying along on it getting his balance sorted and his confidence up. his real bike is quite a lot heavier so took a while to get used to esp. the wobble with stabilisers. He did ride it for a while with stabilisers but then when we took them off he lost all his confidence. Could do it fine but was worried about starting on his own. Took a few sessions in the park with me running alongside but it was all confidence and now he is off. Take pedals off of small bike to get balance sorted if you don't want to shell out £50 for like-a -bike! Then get bigger bike. Good luck

Original poster
scotslass · 25/06/2007 21:49

Thanks everyone. The only reason we were trying is that he is very tall (age 7 trousers) and the little bike is really too small now and we thought that the incentive of a new big bike would do the trick.

The man in halfords told us to take off just one stabiliser, but his balance seemed worse than with none at all.

I might leave it a while, don't want him to stop enjoying it.

But if anyone has any surefire methods I'd love to hear them.

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 25/06/2007 21:51

Dd is just 6 and still has stabilisers ... and isn't particularly confident on her bike, even with them.

Dh keeps making mutterings about taking them off pretty soon, and dd is keen to try, so I guess we'll be having a go before much longer

Would be interested in any more tips, if that's not too much of a hijack ...

brimfull · 25/06/2007 21:54

my ds learnt a few weeks ago on a tiny bike ,he's 4.5yrs
Ds got confidence on small bike cos he could stop easily of he wobbled.
We took him to empty car park on a sunday and did the usual running up and down thing,then let go.

MrsScavo · 25/06/2007 21:55

Proud mummy show off moment. DS2 was 3.5.

3 of the boys where we lived then learned at the same time. They were 5,6 & 7.

hana · 25/06/2007 21:56

this is one of those skills that if you spend a lot of time on it with your kids, they crack it. My almost 6 year old has had her bike for a couple of years and no where close to riding it yet - she just isn't on it regularly

I know a 3 year old who whizzes around on his bike at our local park, it's v odd to see as he's so small!

brimfull · 25/06/2007 21:57

Agree with poster who said two wheeled scooter helps with balance thing.

fennel · 25/06/2007 21:58

dd1 was just 5, dd2 was 3 3/4. Both on slightly too small bikes with 12" wheels. Both improved fast on campsites when we went camping with the bikes - they could get lots of practice wobbling around for several days on grass.

DP insists that riding a scooter improves balance and helps with bike riding.

MrsScavo · 25/06/2007 21:58

You have to remember some people just have better balance than others, so it's easier for some people to learn to ride a bike. At the end of the day I think its down to practice and determination. DS2 really, really wanted to be able to ride.

fennel · 25/06/2007 21:58

x posts on the scooter thing

blackandwhitecat · 25/06/2007 21:59

DD1 (just 5) has been riding for a few months. BUT we started her on a Puky bike for a couple of months and then she went straight on to a bike without stabilisers no prob. DD2 (just 3) able to ride her PUky but still a bit little for big girl bike.

Wallace · 25/06/2007 21:59

ds1 was coming up 5, dd is just turned 6 and still has stabilisers.

However I have noticed that just about every one of the nursery children (ages 3, 4 and just 5) at their school has no stabilisers.