mustang1

My dauighter (2y7m) has a Specialized HotWalk (no pedals, teaches balance) and she can ride it on a slight downhill (what the bike was designed for) and lift her feet off the ground for abot 2-3 seconds at a time and maintain balance.

The thing is, with summer nearly leaving us, I want her to gain a little bit of freedom and get her a bike with pedals. I know she's not ready to ride a pedal'd bike without stabalizers, bt if I add stabalizers, I afraid she might unlearn the balancing skills she's already picked up.

So should I buy another bike with pedals and stabalizers for the remainder of summer, or let her continue on the "learn-to-balance" bike with no pedals? Cycling is all about enjoyment right? So I'm thinking of just getting her the bike...

(Originally posted in General Cycling Discussion, was recommended to post here instead).

masiman

I think it is really up to you. If you think a training wheel bike will be used then go for it. I don't see how a training wheel bike would give more freedom than a balance bike. I don't think you would have to worry about unlearning but more about delay in learning. Kids don't unlearn how to walk by sitting for longer periods .

One reason to wait getting a pedal bike is that with summer leaving, a bike this year might not be the bike you or she will want next year when she is a little older, taller, etc.

atbman

Keep with the walker bike until she can go longer than 2-3 seconds, preferably until she can also steer in gentle curves while doing so.

We've taught kids as young as 3 to ride using our set of walker bikes. My own feeling (and you know your daughter better than I do) is that you should wait until she gets a little frustrated at reaching the maximum level possible and then switch to a 12" wheel "sidewalk" bike without stabilisers, since she won't really need them.

stabilisers are the instruments of the devil