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I taught my kid how to ride using training wheels 4 years ago. She rode 4 times in 4 weeks using 2 training wheels. 1 hour on 1 wheel the next week. The next we

by robga 5y ago

I taught my kid how to ride using training wheels 4 years ago. She rode 4 times in 4 weeks using 2 training wheels. 1 hour on 1 wheel the next week. The next weekend within 20 minutes of no wheel she was fine and cycled perfectly since. Truth be told I didn’t teach her any more than encourage her. I was sceptical of the balance bike method. She didn’t need it. I remain highly skeptical that it offers any advantage whatsoever. Away from kids, when I watch adult riders, a high proportion (30%+) have the seat far too low, maybe 3-5 inches too low. If you can flat foot sit, add 2 inches.

exhilaration 5y ago
How old was your kid? My daughter was riding a normal bike without training wheels at 3 years 11 months thanks to learning on a balance bike. She's the youngest and had the benefit of watching her older siblings so YMMV. Reading this thread you'll see a lot of the balance bike proponents saying the same thing: that their kids were riding normal bikes by age 3.
- robga 5y ago
  I can’t actually recall, history blurs. Somewhere 3.5-4.5. I did try her on a balance bike. She wasn’t interested and just ran everywhere. Within 2-3 months of hopping on a pedal bike she had no training wheels. I don’t doubt your or other commenters experience at all. I am just adding my data point. It feels like ‘proponents’ claim some proven superior method. I wonder if there are any blind studies that actually prove the notion? How large is the effect?
eru 5y ago
> Away from kids, when I watch adult riders, a high proportion (30%+) have the seat far too low, maybe 3-5 inches too low. If you can flat foot sit, add 2 inches. That's still way too low. If you want good bio-mechanics, try putting your seat so high that you can comfortably reach the pedal with the balls of your feet. Though if you want to get a good leg workout, having your seat way too low might be beneficial?
mping 5y ago
My own experience is the opposite. My son learned to use a balance bike since 2 years old, a couple of weeks before his 3rd birthday we got a regular bike, on the same night we ran alongside him riding his bike grabbing his jacket in case he fell. He started riding the same night. This is obviously not a competition, but the faster your kid learns the more fun they will have. If you are ok with training wheels that's fine too.

by robga 5y ago

exhilaration 5y ago

How old was your kid? My daughter was riding a normal bike without training wheels at 3 years 11 months thanks to learning on a balance bike. She's the youngest and had the benefit of watching her older siblings so YMMV. Reading this thread you'll see a lot of the balance bike proponents saying the same thing: that their kids were riding normal bikes by age 3.

robga 5y ago
I can’t actually recall, history blurs. Somewhere 3.5-4.5. I did try her on a balance bike. She wasn’t interested and just ran everywhere. Within 2-3 months of hopping on a pedal bike she had no training wheels. I don’t doubt your or other commenters experience at all. I am just adding my data point. It feels like ‘proponents’ claim some proven superior method. I wonder if there are any blind studies that actually prove the notion? How large is the effect?

eru 5y ago

> Away from kids, when I watch adult riders, a high proportion (30%+) have the seat far too low, maybe 3-5 inches too low. If you can flat foot sit, add 2 inches. That's still way too low. If you want good bio-mechanics, try putting your seat so high that you can comfortably reach the pedal with the balls of your feet. Though if you want to get a good leg workout, having your seat way too low might be beneficial?

mping 5y ago

My own experience is the opposite. My son learned to use a balance bike since 2 years old, a couple of weeks before his 3rd birthday we got a regular bike, on the same night we ran alongside him riding his bike grabbing his jacket in case he fell. He started riding the same night. This is obviously not a competition, but the faster your kid learns the more fun they will have. If you are ok with training wheels that's fine too.