How do I teach a 7 year old to ride a bike when I can't

[Hathor]

So far my 7 y ds can ride a bike only with stabilizers. Not sure how to progress safely from there. I can't ride so no help with telling him what to do. Need to get him rideing properly in the holidays as he wants to ride to school like his friends.
Any advice 'crash' course in how to do it. He is quite good at controls, but not practised balance. Do I have to run behind holding the saddle, or push him off alone? Help!

Take off the pedals and chain - get him to get the feel on balancing it. This removes the need for stablizers. My dd learned to ride her bike in a week (she was 4). You thn push it with your feet - similar idea to like-a-bike.

In my experience you need to go to a park give the kid the bike without stablizers and when thye fall - dont make any fuss - tell em " you've had bigger cuts on yer arse" and read a book whilst they get on with it.

My parents too the stabilisers straight off. SO I kept falling off, crashing into walls etc. Ergo I thought "bugger this for a lark" and gave up.
DH's parents - raised the stabilisers a wee bit at a time on alternating sides. SO - he didn't really notice the change, adjusted to the gradual difference in balance and can ride a bike happy as larry (whoever he is)

Running behind holding saddle is best because you get the suddenly gets it and rides off wobbling into the sunset moment of euphoria. I am a wuss and almost cried both times (on the same day but a few hours apart.) Good luck.

i think as a rule boys and girls regarding riding a bike are different - IME

girls usually do that girl thing where they are afraid of hurting themselves.

boys just want to be like the big boys.

IME IME IME IME.

OK - will take off the stabilizers and take him to a slopy park, with plenty of plasters. Guess the thing is not to look terrified (me I mean!).

Well DS is obviously a girl then. Suspected as much.

Hathor- I hope it goes well. I felt it as a magical moment both times though there were hard bits to the day, mostly around one twin doing the wobbly sail into the sunset at the first attempt and the other at the hundreth after multiple scrapes, tiffs and tantrums (mostly from their dad who soon ran out of patience with my irritating "perseverence is the best asset a boy can have!" speech.) It will happen though.

Agree with cazzybabs just take the pedals and stablizers off. Lower the seat so he can touch the ground with flat feet. Now let him use the bike like a sit on scooter. If you have a safe place with a slight hill even better. Get him to scoot and try and raise his feet from the ground. Once he has got the balance put the pedals back on the get him to scoot first and when his ready get him to put his feet on the pedals.
It really is that easy did it with friends dd about 7).With in 1/2 hour and we went for a mile bike ride. minus stabilers and pedals back on.

For get to say no bumps or cut because they learn to use their feet to stop them falling.

Can he ride a scooter? if yes then he can balance.

that bending over holding the saddle malaky don't half give you a bad back.

my Dad taught me and all my siblings to ride a bike and he can't ride a bike himself so it must be doable.

I don't know how he did it though - a lot of running along behind holding the saddle until he couldn't keep up IIRC