Little One's First "Real" Bike

[Fibber]

I might be pushing it a bit, but yesterday I went to Target and picked up one of their little 12" tire two wheelers for my three year old (3yrs, 2 months). She is a master on her tricycle, and wants so badly to emulate her 9 yr old big sister (on her Trek Mt Trail 220). Every time we go thru WalMart and she sees the little bikes on display, she gets all excited, and wants to sit on them.

I tried her on the 16" tire bike that her sister had, but this one is a little peanut and needs a smaller frame. So what is another $29 for a jumpstart into something she wants to do?

Having reviewed several of the previous threads on this topic, I was also thinking of putting on the training wheels but taking off the pedals and let her simply push it around to get use to being higher off of the ground, and to see if she has natural balance. She was walking at 11+ months, and carries herself very well. I may also remove the crank entirely and tape over the bottom bracket holes to make more room for her little legs. The crank arms stick out rather far, and it looks like she will be constantly hitting on one side if I leave them in place.

My wife thinks I am nuts, but I am hoping that shear desire to be a big kid will help her to master a new life skill earlier than most. Our lower driveway is reasonably flat & paved, measuring 36' x 72'. We play basketball, skate and do other things here, so why not learn to ride?

Steve

[legot73]

It depends a lot on her personality. I had an early walker, too (9+ mos), and she couldn't get the balance thing with me helping. I think she was afraid to disappoint me. An hour in Grandma's basement with her on her own did the trick. I think the important thing is to make it fun with no pressure.

IMO, scrap the training wheels. I don't think they do anything for learning how to ride a bike. That's what trikes and big wheels are for.

[masiman]

Although I understand the idea of scrapping the training wheels I disagree with wholesale removal. I have found them useful for those kids that are more tentative with learning to ride a bike. Their peer playmates may be off the trainers, but in a smaller space, a kid on training wheels can still participate in the group riding activities. No way they could keep up on a tricycle or big wheel. Nor do I think the potential ridicule to be good for those kids that are more shy or less aggressive. It could work for your daughter, you'll have to decide that. I witnessed one case where it absolutely did not work and probably set the fun factor back a few months. I saw another one where it did work but I think that was more a result of self determination and access to older sibling bikes rather than parental interference.

Good luck with the riding!

[Fibber]

Unfortunately, I think the training wheels will be a necessity for a while owing to her physical size and the weight of this bike. She is a peanut... 28 lbs dripping wet! As tiny as it is, this bike weighs a full 2/3's of what she does. Lay it over, and I am afraid that she will not be able to pick it up and steady it in order to mount it. I think I am going to go the route of slowly raising the training wheels as she pushes it around with her feet, and see if she can develop a sense of balance.

I watched her walk up stairs tonight. No hand rail, and foot over foot, like the way an adult takes stairs, not the way a typical three year old does it. I could be dead wrong, but somehow she seems ready to give it a try.

I know we have had this discussion before - why does a child's bike weigh so much? It would be like me trying to lug around something of about 115 lbs. Road going mopeds don't carry this much mass! I am sure that wrought iron grade steel is far cheaper than high ten, but it really puts a penalty on kids just starting out.

Steve

[fishdr]

I would stick with the training wheels. My daughter was about the same size as yours at that age. She's very confident and handles herself well, too - however she was petrified to ride down the slight decline from out driveway to the street. She was a bit taller, probably as she fit on a 16" bike at that age. We started her with the training wheels on the 2nd notch. Now she is on the top setting and comes off the training wheels (indicated by a welcomed silence as she's riding) quite a bit. She looks so proud! We're removing the training wheels in the next couple of weeks (she's just 4 now) and we'll see how she does.

In reference to speed - she gets up enough speed in the straight sections of the street that I have to lightly jog to keep up with her.

[hubs]

I think balancing on a scooter is a good prelim. to balancing on the bike.

[ivenn]

The scooter worked well for my son too. About a week after he mastered the scooter he took off on the bike. I also think his trail-a-bike helped with his sense of balance.

[stormchaser]

The way we tought our daughter was to remove the pedals and lower the saddle so that she can touch the ground. That way she works on the balance without having to also work the pedals. Read it in a book about teaching kids to ride. Works great, kid can put a foot down anytime, I recommend it.

[TRaffic Jammer]

My nephew did the trial-a-bike thing. When his turn came, on he went and off he rode.

[atbman]

Depends on individual. Youngest kid we taught to ride at our club was also 3yrs old, going on 4.

Took train. wheels and pedals off. 5 min later put them back on and off he rode.

Little blighter's parents never brought him again. Didn't even get session fee as they had free voucher from bike shop they bought the bike from!

[Fibber]

How to ruin Valentines Day: My DW is against the idea of her baby growing up too fast, and wants her on the trike until she is over 4 yrs old. Yesterday, of all days, she saw the disassembled bike near my workbench.... OOOops....