Fifty Plus (50+) - There has to be a better way (or) What is wrong with some people?

Saturday when I went for a ride I saw father trying to teach his son (about 7 years old) how to ride his bike-in the street, no less. Putting that obvious bad judgment aside, the scene that followed made me cringe.

I had stopped to talk to an acquaintance and they passed us several times. It wasn't going well and the father was clearly irritated. At one point I smiled at the boy and said, "You can do it!" I don't think either of them was convinced.

As I finished my conversation and rode past them (on the opposite side of the road), the father let go of the bike (which was literally at a standstill). The little boy immediately tipped over in a heap, with the bike landing on top of him. He looked exhausted. Rather than help him or ask if he was all right, the macho jerk crossed his arms and snarled, "GET UP. You're fine...now let's go." like he was coaching a football player.

I briefly considered offering some pointers, but decided it would not be well-received. So much for quality time; the boy would have been better off learning from a stranger, IMHO.

It's awfully easy to stand on the side and pass judgement.

my son pretty much refused to learn until he was 9. The experience gave me neck pains for a month afterwards because he weighed so much. Shoulda forced him into it earlier. The best way is to go down a very, very slight grade. I see nothing wrong with teaching in the street, it probably was the last chance I'll have to teach safety by example. Letting go when that father did is idiocy. You can tell when the kid has figured out how to ride, then let go. Although my daughter still blames me for letting go and not telling her. Probably wasn't a good idea, she just about fell over when she figured I was 100' back.

My grandson took to his first bike with training wheels like a champ. For some reason he developed some fears after taking some pretty good falls. I would take him to a tennis court and try to coax him into riding , but no go. One evening a little boy about eight came riding by on his bike and I asked him to come over. I introduced my grandson and told him that he was having a hard time learning to ride his bike and wondered if he could help. The kid was happy to help and was quite proud to be asked. He walked up to my grandson and said: "Hey, I hear you are having a hard time with your bicycle. What is bothering you?" My grandson explained something to him and within five minutes he was zooming around the tennis court with the older boy!

Last year I bought him a Razor Scooter, which he zooms around on with great style!

This year I bought him a BMX bike for his six birthday. Unfortunately I'm not close by like I was and can't help him out. I asked him the other night when he was going to ride his new bike. His answer was classic: "Oh Papa, I think I'll wait till I'm nine."

I'm sure it will be sooner than that!

the father let go of the bike (which was literally at a standstill). The little boy immediately tipped over in a heap, with the bike landing on top of him.

I think that there is a better, easier way for everybody.

I got my triplett grandsons 16" garage sale bikes with no training wheels. I took off the pedals and lowered the seats and let them scoot around like that on their own until they could coast for 50 or 60 feet with their feet up. Then I put the pedals back on and gradually inched the seats up. For graduation they each got a brand new 20" Redline BMX bike (with coaster brake).

My grandson took to his first bike with training wheels like a champ. For some reason he developed some fears after taking some pretty good falls. I would take him to a tennis court and try to coax him into riding , but no go. One evening a little boy about eight came riding by on his bike and I asked him to come over. I introduced my grandson and told him that he was having a hard time learning to ride his bike and wondered if he could help. The kid was happy to help and was quite proud to be asked. He walked up to my grandson and said: "Hey, I hear you are having a hard time with your bicycle. What is bothering you?" My grandson explained something to him and within five minutes he was zooming around the tennis court with the older boy!



My grandson had a similar problem at age seven with his bike. He just didn't want to take the training wheels off and I knew he could ride without them. One day he had his bike at my house and the little girl next door (age 5) was riding her bike in front of the house - without training wheels. This is all it took. He asked me to remove his training wheels:D

7 years old may be a bit old for this but a "run bike" will teach the balance needed to ride a bike, usually without training wheels. There are no pedals on a run bike. My soon to be 3 year old granddaughter is finally getting on the run bike and pushing it around the driveway.

I see it all the time on our paved MUP. Parents trying to teach their kids to ride. Worst place in the world to do this. A deserted school parking lot would be much better.

I taught both of my boys on a 16" BMX bike with training wheels in an abandoned parking lot. As they got more confident, I slowly raised the training wheels. When they could ride a fair distance keeping the training wheels off the ground, they were removed. They were both riding great by age 5.

. . .took off the pedals and lowered the seats and let them scoot around like that on their own until they could coast for 50 or 60 feet with their feet up. . .

Dude, that's inspired! Mind, I'm double recessive for the "grandfather gene", but if ever I'm in that fix, I'll do it just that way. Grazie mille!

.. I took off the pedals and lowered the seats and let them scoot around like that on their own until they could coast for 50 or 60 feet with their feet up. Then I put the pedals back on and gradually inched the seats up....

That's the way we did it too. I always found training wheels to be very difficult for any kid to ride -the kind of tip from one side to the other and it causes more crashes than not - in my experience. the pedals off trick is a good one. I personally learned how to ride a bike by my older brother putting me on his (too big of course) and he and his buddy pushed me as hard and fast as they could and stood by and got a big laugh out of my crashes. I kept at it though and rode after the 3rd or 4th crash.

Can you all remember the great feeling of pedaling and balancing for the first time. One of the most fun things I've ever done.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd get one of those bikes with no pedals as others have mentioned, and gotten my daughter on it at age 3.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418TANEN5HL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Instead I went the 16" bike with training wheels route and she didn't figure it all out until she was 7.



One day he had his bike at my house and the little girl next door (age 5) was riding her bike in front of the house - without training wheels. This is all it took. He asked me to remove his training wheels:D

That's exactly what happened with my daughter - she rode down to Jack's house (also 7) to show off and Jack (riding his scooter) said to his mom "Mom - get my bike and take the training wheels off right now."

I remember huffing and puffing while running along side. It wasn't pretty. Fortunately my kids learned quickly.

I think that there is a better, easier way for everybody.

I got my triplett grandsons 16" garage sale bikes with no training wheels. I took off the pedals and lowered the seats and let them scoot around like that on their own until they could coast for 50 or 60 feet with their feet up. Then I put the pedals back on and gradually inched the seats up. For graduation they each got a brand new 20" Redline BMX bike (with coaster brake).

Yep, that's the #1 recommended way to do it. Much less stressful than most other methods. Kids actually enjoy the learning process.

I know us women cringe when we see a little one fall and just want to rush over and hug... but frankly that's why boys need fathers - to tell them to get up and keep riding (and act like the manboy he is). I'm finding more and more too much motherly is going on and we are raising a generation of whining, little brats who quit at the first sign it ain't going their way. It may seem harse but good for the dad for making the little guy keep going. Just the way dads and sons work...

BTW that's sortof how I learned to ride. I was given a regular bike about age 5 and had to figure it out. I fell alot and scraped both knees but I finally figured out how not to fall. Who needs training wheels????

My grandson had a similar problem at age seven with his bike. He just didn't want to take the training wheels off and I knew he could ride without them. One day he had his bike at my house and the little girl next door (age 5) was riding her bike in front of the house - without training wheels. This is all it took. He asked me to remove his training wheels:D

That's exactly the story with my nephew. He had a scary fall when he was about 5, and didn't want to ride again for a while. A year or so later, he was back on the bike but with training wheels, then one day his friend came to visit on his bike - without training wheels. My nephew immediately asked his dad to remove his training wheels.

Been having the same problem with my daughter. She was on the bike with training wheels at age 5 - took a tumble and refused to get back on the bike. She is now 8, I still try to get her out - she is so hesitant she will bareluy move the bike - any speed and she's on the breaks, still on training wheels. Her 6 YO friend zooms around without training wheels so peer pressure is not the answer. I may try the pedals off trick - that sounds like a possible. Heck - I've tried everything else including bribery.

the macho jerk crossed his arms and snarled, "GET UP. You're fine...now let's go." like he was coaching a football player.

That's not as bad as "What's wrong with you? You can't do anything right!" I heard that from a dad teaching his son to ski. Amazing.

-------------

We had a good experience teaching our daughter to ride. It was in an empty parking lot with a few lamp posts. But it was as if those lamp posts had tractor beams -- as soon as she'd get going she'd head right for the lamp post.

Well, better than how my brothers taught me. We had a barn with a ramp to the second story. They brought me to the top of the ramp (with cliff drop offs on both sides!!), put me on the bike, and pushed. I do not remember any instructions....

I found out I was a genius at going fast, but stopping and turning took a bit longer. :lol: