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So, my older son has been on training wheels for the last couple of years on his little Lightning McQueen bike.
I figure it's time to cut the cord and teach him to ride without the wheels. He wants to as well, but as is expected, is a bit scared about the whole proposition.
Anyway, I've looked online for the various methods to use, but thought I'd ask here as well.
Though input/advice/comments are appreciated from everybody, I'd really like to hear from those of you with real world experience in terms of how you got your sons and daughters to learn to ride a bike.
Thank you.
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take off the training wheels. hold the seat while he rides. teach him to steer into the turns by letting him lean a bit. then let go.
he'll probably be ready to ride that bike before you're ready to let him.
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Well, the classic method is good. However...
With my youngest I did this- I slowly raised the training wheels up a bit every week, to the point that he really wasn't using them at all. He didn't even notice when I removed them for good.
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find a big flat area. tell him to pick a target on the other side of it and LOOK AT THE TARGET - NOT THE GROUND. hold the rear of the bike and run along with him letting go when he's at a cruising speed. do this a number of time until he gets it. he will. the whole target/not ground thingy was key for my son.
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As you may have gathered from previous replies, there is no one best way. Each kid will need a slightly different learning method to get to the point of balancing properly to ride there bike. Most will pick it up, but not all. One son got it fairly quickly, and the other never did learn and he is 22. So, the best you can do is reassure your 5 year old and give him support, or comfort as needed.
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My siblings and I never had training wheels. When the time was right, we went to a grassy hill and got pushed down it on the bike. First time you'll probably go down. Next time you'll be able to balance. Then add pedaling.
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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.
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With our daughter we held the seat and ran along side til she was up to speed then let her go. The biggest thing for us was to make sure she was well padded in case she did fall, I knew if she got hurt the first time she would have a hard time getting back on.
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Practice on a scooter first can help with the balance.
Good luck. It's an exciting day when they first get going on a bike.
- Winston
