General Cycling Discussion - Have you ever taught someone how to ride?

A few years ago I was visiting my wife's sister and her husband, who had a 5year old boy. The boy (Daniel) was trying to ride his bike
but just didn't have any confidence. The father is VERY lazy and spends most of his time watching TV, I don't believe
he spent anytime showing Daniel how to ride. So one morning seeing Daniel trying his best I thought I would teach
him how to ride. First thing I did was to remove the "trainer wheels", I then took him to his school oval. I sat him on
the seat and he started to pedal, I held on to the bottom of his seat for stability, after about 10 meters/30feet
I let go of the seat and away he went right to the other side of the oval. It was amazing to see his little face light
up when he realised I wasn't holding on to him any more. He fell off when he reached the other side, but was ready
to get straight back on and ride back. So I repeated the process and away he went.

I only see him about once a year but he is always riding around and happy to see me, he asks to race me everytime.:D

Whenever I visit I check all the families bikes, adjust brakes, tyre pressure etc
the boys think it's fantastic.

It's something I look forward to.

CHEERS.

Mark

What a timely question. Just today I taught my oldest daughter to ride. What a feeling! I've tried several times but couldn't really get her interested. Today she went about 20 yards by herself several times. Do I sound like the proud Papa? :D

Same here.

I have been working with my five year old daughter for a little while. She's getting there, slowly.

Nickle's worth of free advice to those trying to teach a child... REMOVE the training wheels as mentioned in the previous post. I made the mistake of trying to work with them for a day or so... big mistake.

Originally posted by 'goose

Nickle's worth of free advice to those trying to teach a child... REMOVE the training wheels as mentioned in the previous post. I made the mistake of trying to work with them for a day or so... big mistake.
Absolutely. I tried it once and that was enough. She kept telling me to put them back on, but the mean Dad I am, ;) I wouldn't.

WHEEEEEEEEEE------AIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

That's the sound Angela, 6, makes!!!!!!!!!!

:D :D :D

Want a fast learner? Remove the pedals.

(Just be careful...no pedals = no brakes! Ride along with them and make them wear that HELMET! :D)

Walk/ride. That's the ticket. Not too fast, at first!

As someone who only learnt to ride at the age of 16, I was thrilled to be able to teach my 5 year old daughter to ride.

Trainer wheels off - pedals off - down a short grassy slope - hooray!!

She's still a little unsteady but she pedals arounds and loves it. I need to spend more time riding with her because it's just so good.

Our fearless leader, Joe Gardner, has been involved in children's bike safety programs where he lives, so I'd say he qualifies as a teacher.

As for myself, I've never taught anybody to ride, but I taught the fundamentals of running to a friend long ago, and he went on to finish at least a couple of marathons. I felt good about that. (No training wheels, either! :p )

I bought my son a bike for his 4th birthday. I put the seat low enough so he could push along on the ground, and we went to the high school parking lot which had a gentle slope. I let him teach himself and ran ahead so I could stop him when he got to the end. After a few goes pushing his feet on the ground, he started using the pedals.

Some boys about 10 years old then raced across the parking lot and down the steep bank at the end onto the playing field. My son said 'WOW' and went on after them - the thrill made his day.

His younger sister started at a younger age in a similar way and was able to ride a 20 mile Bikeathon when she was 4 1/2.

I taught my neice to ride when she was 6. She had a lovely little French bike with alloy components and real bearings, not plastic.

Most people teach kids to pedal first, I though it better to teach her how to brake first.
Next I held her and let her pedal and brake.
I got her steering an S course, to use her body to steer and her steering to balance.

I think cycling is much like skiing. Kids take to it naturally, but adults find it much more difficult. The phrase "Its as easy as riding a bike" is a condescending one. No one says, its as easy as skiing.

I have taught scores of kids to ride a bike. The technique is very simple. I tell them that I'll hold the saddle as long as they are on the bike (a lie). Then I shout at them to pedal. The fright always works. They start pedalling like mad and I start running. When they get a good headwing up and I get out of breath I let go but keep shouting. The further away they get the louder I shout. They think I'm still holding the saddle and the confidence comes on big time. Then it just happens.

I have used the similar method sfor ski lessons. Can cause sore throath.

I promise you that this is true.

Originally posted by AndrewP
His younger sister started at a younger age in a similar way and was able to ride a 20 mile Bikeathon when she was 4 1/2.

Guh? Wow, that's quite an accomplishment. I remember in high school two of my friends had a bet about whether one of them could ride his bike (an old BMX) from his house in Overland Park to Westport (about 20 miles). Your daughter probably would have laughed at them.

andy