01-21-2010, 05:43 PM
From my limited experience of 2 kids, balancing is not really the issue, nor is steering or braking. The key is generating enough power in the first stroke to get going fast enough to survive to get the other foot on the pedal and get that stroking. Once they can get going, and handle the first 10-20 feet, they can keep that momentum up usually. I don't know if this is the classic method, since I mostly made it up or learned by experience.
They have to have their strongest foot in place (I called it the power position) just forward enough of the top of the stroke before starting, every time. The other foot is on the ground (except for the very beginnig, you can be holding them up from behind). They then need to explode on that first stroke, and then get the other foot up as it comes around. Then wish them luck as they ride off and you chase them hopelessly.
They have to have their strongest foot in place (I called it the power position) just forward enough of the top of the stroke before starting, every time. The other foot is on the ground (except for the very beginnig, you can be holding them up from behind). They then need to explode on that first stroke, and then get the other foot up as it comes around. Then wish them luck as they ride off and you chase them hopelessly.