Success is close at hand!
Well here is the deal. I told my wife I could teach our 4 year old granddaughter to ride a bike without the use of training wheels. She said "Impossible" due to the fact that little Lily is not super coordinated. I bought her a run-bike where she mastered the art of balance. Then I rescued a 16 inch bike from someones trash(it had brand new tires and tubes). New seat and hand grips and pedals and a bit of cleaning. She has been working off and on for about a week on the "real" bike.
Last night she rode the length of the driveway without a crash and bailed out by going up a small hill into the yard. I have to say I was beaming.
Now if we can just get down the art of coaster brakes and dismounting we are ready to really ride.
I am really looking forward to getting out my Mt. bike and doing a short ride on the rail to trail once she is ready. My only dilemma is that I promised to take her to the LBS and buy her a Pink bike once she has mastered the beater bike. It will be money well spent.