Need a little help!
08-12-09, 12:06 AM
#1
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Need a little help!
We could use some tips on how to get our 4 year old to peddle her bike forward, she likes to try peddling backward and of coarse this gets her nowhere fast. She really wants to be able to ride her bike with us. I've tried showing her how, but she is very set on her way. What do I do?
08-12-09, 12:17 AM
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Get her a fixed gear and let her ride backwards. 
I've been trying to figure out how to ride backwards for awhile now and can't get more than half a crank.
I've been trying to figure out how to ride backwards for awhile now and can't get more than half a crank.
08-12-09, 12:20 AM
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Well, it should only take once. The question is how to get that once behind you.
I'm guessing she has traiining wheels? Maybe stand a few feet in front of her and bribe her with her something to ride to you?
Have her watch one of you ride and see how you pedal?
Oh wait! Tell her if she will pedal forward she can have Dad's new Cross bike!
I'm guessing she has traiining wheels? Maybe stand a few feet in front of her and bribe her with her something to ride to you?
Have her watch one of you ride and see how you pedal?
Oh wait! Tell her if she will pedal forward she can have Dad's new Cross bike!
08-12-09, 06:50 AM
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Get an Alley Cat or Tagalong bike. It's a one-wheeled bike that hooks to your seatpost. I used to do 30 milers in the hills of VT with my son when he was 5. He had to pedal or we wouldn't make it uphill.
08-12-09, 09:36 AM
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Does she still have a tri-cycle where the pedals are attached to the front wheel? This would let her figure out that to move forward she has to pedal forward. If she is still having a rough time with that tell her to place her feet on the pedals while you slowly push her forward. This will help her associate the muscle memory of pedaling forward with forward momentum.
Then again, maybe not. I don't have children yet so I can't verify if it works but it seems like a step in the right direction.
Then again, maybe not. I don't have children yet so I can't verify if it works but it seems like a step in the right direction.
08-12-09, 10:55 AM
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You could always hook her up with a retro-direct drivetrain, then it won't matter what way she pedals.
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08-12-09, 10:52 PM
#7
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08-13-09, 05:17 AM
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With my son I kept hearing "pedal for me"... so I did the next best thing, I stood at the end of the driveway and told him to pedal to me. Eventually he figured out that he needed to pedal forward to get to me. Bribing also played a part in this as well as I told him I would buy him a new bicycle if he could ride the old one around the driveway... too bad dad bought him one that's a bit too big for him 
He's getting better at it though as he gets bigger, and eventually I'll raise the training wheels up a bit.
V
He's getting better at it though as he gets bigger, and eventually I'll raise the training wheels up a bit. V
08-13-09, 01:42 PM
#9
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My two year old now has a 16 inch bike and did the same thing for a while. I put him on a small grade- like my walkway to the street and let him roll down it with his feet on the pedals. After doing that for about two weeks, he's now pedal forward. I have one of those tag along trailers like the Alley Cat (for my 7 year old son)but at 2 years of age, a 20 inch set up was to big for my baby son. For your 4 year old, it may be the answer.
