The best place to teach a kid to ride a bike...

Discussion in 'Parenting & Family' started by Iceblink, Jun 24, 2008.

  1. Iceblink

    Iceblink Member

    Oct 11, 1999
    Chicago
    Club:
    Ipswich Town FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    WOOHOO! It's done! He can ride the two-wheeler!

    He learned on Tuesday. Crazy stuff.

    I ended up getting one of those handles that sticks up. That didn't work. He ended up leaning on the handle.

    Removed that... still didn't work.

    Then... my mother-in-law brought up my brother-in-law's old bike from France that he learned on.

    He made it his mission to fix the bike up... and he did it. Just got it on Sunday.

    Came out great... as the bike's downtube was really low to the ground, and there really isn't a top tube. It's so low that he can easily step off and stop himself if he's starting to fall.

    I had a feeling that this bike would be perfect.

    It was. It took about three tries up and down the sidewalk until he could keep his balance.

    What a great feeling. "You're doing it!" "I AM?!" "Yes, I let go a while ago!"

    Awesome.

    Now, we'll work on steering and starting off himself. He still has a bit of trouble with that... but the steering is getting better.
     
  2. Sport Billy

    Sport Billy Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 25, 2006

    Well done ... repped
     
  3. guignol

    guignol Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 28, 2005
    mermoz-les-boss
    Club:
    Olympique Lyonnais
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    there's still one hurdle to go over... eventually he will take a fall, and just like when babies start to walk that first tumble resets the confidence level back near zero.

    nothing to really worry about though. in fact it's 1000% necessary to growing up.

    in the same way, the best thing to happen to a kid who's afraid of bees... is to get stung. hell, it's only a bee sting, it's not like getting eaten by a crocodile!
     
  4. Dills

    Dills Moderator
    Staff Member

    Philadelphia Union
    United States
    Jun 6, 2006
    Southampton|PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good work on the bike riding front.

    To get over one's fear, one must go to the extreme ... in this particular case, take up apiculture, and lose all the extraneous "safety" gear.




    :p
     
  5. profiled

    profiled Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 7, 2000
    slightly north of a mile high
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    The local middle school here has one of those rubberized tracks for running track and field, which I think would be a good place to try it out, solid enough, yet a little more forgiving then asphalt/concrete.
     
  6. guignol

    guignol Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 28, 2005
    mermoz-les-boss
    Club:
    Olympique Lyonnais
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    [​IMG]

    NUMBER ONE ANSWER!!
     
  7. royalstilton

    royalstilton Member

    Aug 2, 2004
    SoCal
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    then you're only one step away from riding a bike thru a croc-infested swamp being chased by bees.

    now there's a rush...
     
  8. NHRef

    NHRef Member+

    Apr 7, 2004
    Southern NH
    We did it by raising the training wheels up. Most will adjust like this. when you do this they will hold the bike up with nobody on it, but when being riddent the training wheels aren't even on the ground. If he needs the help, they will stop the fall and bounce him back up. Just listen while he rides, you can hear when the wheels hit the ground.

    The take em off and run beside him, let go once in a while.

    Won't take long.
     
  9. AnxietyCoachJohn

    AnxietyCoachJohn Red Card

    Nov 23, 2010
    Santa Monica,CA
    my suggestion is you should teach your child in soil area soft soil if you don't want to see your child hurt... it fall down but not so hurting......

    keep your child safe always


    Good luck
     
  10. dupont

    dupont Member

    May 14, 2006
    Bosnia
    Club:
    Birmingham City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Bosnia-Herzegovina
    On the grass in a park is just fine.
     

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