Age?
#3
Every day a winding road
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 6,538
Likes: 63
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: 2005 Cannondale SR500, 2008 Trek 7.3 FX, Jamis Aurora
Not sure when I started riding. Maybe 5-6 on a bicycle? But I never used training wheels. My parents did not believe in them. A couple of spins in the back yard to get the balance thing down then out to the back ally where Dad held the bike for a bit and off I went.
#4
Marathon Cyclist


Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 0
From: Perth - Western Australia
Bikes: Road Bike / Mountain Bike
#5
At 5 1/2 I borrowed the bike of a girl who lived up the street from me.(I got permission) and spent a couple of hours in her driveway till I could ride. No parents, no help, no training wheels.
Smart me, I borrowed a girl's bike so it was easier to bail by putting down my feet.
Smart me, I borrowed a girl's bike so it was easier to bail by putting down my feet.
#8
I was about five years old when my brother put me on his HUGE stingray and told me that I will learn to ride today. He told me to wiggle the handlebar slightly back and forth quickly while pedaling. Being the trusty soul that I am, I followed instructions to perfection as he pushed the bike. He ran behind me for a while but then with one final push, he yelled, "FLY, BE FREE!" as he let go. I looked back wondering "what the.." only to see him standing there, but as I turned, the handlebar turned with me and I wiped out. Been a pro since. Ha. Uh, yep. Still have the scar. In my memory. For life. (sigh)
#11
#13
There there, now. It's okay. Don't you fret now, don't you fret. *pats on your head*
#15
On my TARDIScycle!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,925
Likes: 3
From: Eastside Seattlite Termite Mound
Bikes: Trek 520, Trek Navigator 300, Peugeot Versailles PE10DE
Gosh....I don't remember the exact age. It's not like it was last year or something. I'd guess probably 5 or 6.
My mom was so cool about it. Peter Pan had just come out at the movies (animated Disney version) and she knew I was HUGE into Peter Pan at the time. So....after a few tries in the front yard, my mom got this motivation idea. She went to a tree in our yard that had small leaves and told me that it was a Pixie tree and the leaves were Pixie leaves. If I put the leaves in my pocket and "believed", then I wouldn't fall. It worked....I thought it was magic to keep me from falling and it did!!
BTW.....I worked that story into my mom's eulogy when she died 2 years ago too.
My mom was so cool about it. Peter Pan had just come out at the movies (animated Disney version) and she knew I was HUGE into Peter Pan at the time. So....after a few tries in the front yard, my mom got this motivation idea. She went to a tree in our yard that had small leaves and told me that it was a Pixie tree and the leaves were Pixie leaves. If I put the leaves in my pocket and "believed", then I wouldn't fall. It worked....I thought it was magic to keep me from falling and it did!!

BTW.....I worked that story into my mom's eulogy when she died 2 years ago too.
#16
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Illinios
Bikes: 2004 Giant Cypress, 2006 Trek 7.3 FX, 2007 Gary Fisher Wahoo
At age 5 my Dad did the old' "I will hold onto the bike'" routine out on the asphalt street. Man, he never dreamt what he unleashed. This lead to minibikes, racing motorcycles, homemade bmx bicycles, and years of cycling.
#18
Cycle Dallas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,776
Likes: 11
From: Land of Gar, TX
Bikes: Dulcinea--2017 Kona Rove & a few others
I started tearing around the neighborhood at about 5, with the training wheels on, (my mom made a little note with hand signals and taped it to my handlebars
). An older kid, from down the street, talked me into letting him raise the training wheels. He then gave me a big running start and off I went.
I was still unable to get started without a push so, the next day I asked my dad to push me. Well, I crashed and tore my ankle open on the chainring.
I still feel a twinge of guilt about being so angry and blaming Daddy for my inability to stay upright.
). An older kid, from down the street, talked me into letting him raise the training wheels. He then gave me a big running start and off I went.I was still unable to get started without a push so, the next day I asked my dad to push me. Well, I crashed and tore my ankle open on the chainring.
I still feel a twinge of guilt about being so angry and blaming Daddy for my inability to stay upright.
#20
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,551
Likes: 798
From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed
I learned on a friend's bike at age 4. Didn't get my own bike until age 7. The name, 'training wheels' is a misnomer. They're actually crutches to prevent you from learning how to balance a bike. Besides, if you can't balance - that's what trikes are for.
#21
Videre non videri
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,208
Likes: 4
From: Gothenburg, Sweden
Bikes: 1 road bike (simple, light), 1 TT bike (could be more aero, could be lighter), 1 all-weather commuter and winter bike, 1 Monark 828E ergometer indoor bike
It must have been around age 4-5. I know mother's father taught me, and he died shortly after I had turned six, during the winter.
Most likely, it wasn't the last summer, so I was probably 4.
Most likely, it wasn't the last summer, so I was probably 4.
#22
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, ON
Bikes: Trek Madone 5.2, State Bicycles FG, Marinoni Sprint
Learned without training wheels the summer I turned six. Started on sister's bike that was big enough that I could not sit down so learned to ride standing on the pedals
#23
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
I taught myself how to ride a bike at age 17 or so (best way to get around the university campus). No, didn't have training wheel attached. Took me about 30 minutes to get the hang of balancing the bike and took me about two hours before I was proficient enough on the road.
#25
Dances a jig.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
From: Central, Ok
Bikes: 2007 Surly Long Haul Trucker 54cm (Commuting/Wanna' go tour so bad), 1985 Trek 670 21" (Road), 2003 Gary Fisher Tassajara 17" (MTB), Cannondale DeltaV 600 (commuterized MTB), some junker bikes in my garage
I'm pretty sure I was 6. My older brother, and his friend took my training wheels off. I remember being mad at them because I couldn't ride without them. I decided just to learn. I think it took me two nights to fully get a hang of balancing. When I rode on two wheels under my own power for the first time, I ran into the house and exclaimed I had conquered the bike! Well maybe not those exact words. I remember nobody payed attention to me. 
Oh well, I have loved riding ever since.

Oh well, I have loved riding ever since.






