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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:
gibberish · 25/06/2007 22:00

dd1 was 4. dd2 was 3 (insisted on doing it the same day as dd1!)

dd2 was 5 and dd4 was 6.5 - learned two weeks ago after years of unsuccessful attempts! We thought she was never going to get the hang of it as she seemed to have no balance - kept leaning to the side then falling off. But we got her a scooter two weeks ago and after a day of learning to go that and gaining her balance, she tried on the bike and off she went - cycling into the sunset! So that's my tip - try him on a scooter first...

LIZS · 25/06/2007 22:01

9 year old can't properly and 5yr isn't being encouraged yet for fear of demotivating her brother.

gibberish · 25/06/2007 22:01

Oooh, I see about a hundred people have already mentioned the scooter thing, sorry Ah well, it must work.

Wallace · 25/06/2007 22:02

oooh dd just got a scooter for her 6th birthday!

zebedeee · 25/06/2007 22:09

Dd was just 3. Her brother 5.5 had only just learned. The bike never got put away so it was hanging around the hallway and dining room, so she would sit on it and practice balancing. I've read the best way is never to have stabilisers and to take the pedals off, so they scoot around with the seat positioned at a height so they can comfortably do so. You can buy v. expensive wooden pedal-less 'bikes' now in this country which I noticed were popular in Germany which serve the same balance training purpose - only they don't convert into a proper bike.

gibberish · 25/06/2007 22:10

Excellent Wallace! She'll be cycling with the best of them in no time!

cece · 25/06/2007 22:11

My 6 year old can still barely ride with stabilisers!

Original poster
scotslass · 25/06/2007 22:16

I think we've got a scooter somewhere at the back of the garage. If it stops raining for a couple of minutes tomorrow I'll look it out.

A project for daddy whilst I'm at work this weekend I think

OP posts:
gibberish · 25/06/2007 22:18

Lol. You should have a go yourself scotslass - great fun!

NuttyMuffins · 25/06/2007 22:18

Dd1 didn't learn until she was about 7.6, as we lived in a flat before that and she'd never had a bike. It took her quite a while to master it.

Dd2 was 6 and learnt in about 2 hours. She had a quick go with people holding her, and then when I said we'd try again later, she got back on and carried on on her own until she got it right.

Ds is 4.6 and is nowhere near ready for no stabilisers.

zebedeee · 25/06/2007 22:21

She was a keen scooter-er too. I'm sure that helped. Practising on grass without stabilisers helped my son (and having someone stooped at the back holding the bike upright).

cba · 25/06/2007 22:30

ds1 was three when he just got on older boys bike and was off. He has always been small for his age and was tiny so we use to get looks of amazement as he was tearing round on his bike. I think it just clicks with some kids. From the day he could walk he could kick a football in a straight line.

ds2 was four, so a little later than ds1 but it wouldnt do for them all to be the same.

dd only two so not yet, but does try and get on the bikes when her brothers are not looking

cat64 · 25/06/2007 22:44

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Califrau · 25/06/2007 22:45

This reply has been deleted

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binkleandflip · 25/06/2007 22:52

dd (5) doesnt really take an interest in her bike and it took me a while to realise she really wasnt obliged to be into bike riding and therefore the stabiliser thing was a moot point in her case. She loves her scooter tho

Blu · 25/06/2007 22:53

The latest thinking is that stabilisers are counter-productive. That the way you use your weight when balancing and turning is completely different with stabilisers than without.

For various reasons, I couldn't afford to let DS try without success for very long, so did loads of research. We bought him a 12" bike when he was 4, and took the pedals off straight away. he got used to scooting along without pedals and balancing for long distances, and also going round corners, balancing. It is imprtant that they can put their feet to the floor if necessary - for safety and confidence. Then, I put the pedals back on - and he was away immediately. No hesitation at all.

But he can still put his feet to the floor.
And it isn't easy for DS. He has a whole load of bones and muscles missing in his leg, and a 5cm shoe raise. But the 'no pedals' method worked perfectly.

Ditch the stabilisers, ditch the pedals!

MrsScavo · 26/06/2007 09:48

Or if you're loaded buy a 'like a bike' to train on. Basicaly its a bike (wooden I think) with no peddals.

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