dennisa

So I'm no professional but, I'm psyched my daughter basically taught herself how to ride. Took her training wheels off and she just hoped on and started riding. So how young is to young to give her tips and get her pedaling correctly. Heels down etc... not that she'll be riding clipless pedals until she's much older. Just thinking about how I can help her whiles she's young.

urbanlegend

with my daughter, i started concentrating on the rules of the road/bike path. stay to the right, pass on the left, when to ring the bell, etc. this year i got her a new bike and as we get the seat raised up into the right position (she's used to being able to put her feet down on the ground while on the seat) we'll start to work more on the finer skills.

have fun!

dennisa

that sounds like a good starting point. thanks for the feedback

Phantoj

Coming to a controlled stop, then rules of the road, then standing while riding. I wouldn't bother with the finer points until age 13 or so...

Keith99

Agree totally, unless the child asks, then coach away.

If a kid starts doing longer rides then make sure they know to drink and eat early. Teach them how to brake. General rule, safety issues first, things that keep it fun second (like the eating and drinking).

Before I'd let a kid go father from home (on their own) than they could walk I'd teach them basics of repair, earlier if they show interest when repairs have to be made.

Expand on the areas they show interest, keep things to a minimum in area they do not.

atbman

We have kids from 4 upwards (even 3 sometimes) and the first techniques we teach them are:
1. riding in a straight line
2. controlled stop (both brakes, only putting feet down after coming to a halt)
3. riding both ways round a circle
4. riding 10m/10 yds one-handed with each hand
5. pushing the bike forwards (15m/15 yds)
6. Pushing the bike backwards (ditto)
7. Riding slalom with small obstacles (bottles, flat cones, etc.) 6' apart, then 5.5', then 5', then 4.5'. Make more interesting by offsetting each cone in a zigzag
8. scooting the bike under control
9. swinging the leg over the back wheel to get on
10. reverse the process
11. more advanced version of 10 - cyclo-cross dismount
12. ride ramp/seesaw (teeter-totter to you ex-colonialists)
13 pick bottle off one upturned bucket and put on another 3 times on the trot
14. pick bottle off ground ditto
15. take bottle while riding
16. ride under progressively lower limbo bar until the bar is only a fraction higher than the bike
17 ride 15m/yards in at least 60 secs.

And so on. If she's a natural, she'll soon have you scratching your head for new challenges to set - and you'll only have yourself to blame

If she masters these, let me know. I have some truly evil exercises to pass on.

1Echo

Precisely how I approached it with my son. The controlled stop (and re-start) took a lot of work. Then after covering basic road rules I'd let him lead me around the neighborhood and I'd comment as needed. In time he needed fewer reminders. Pedaling out of the saddle and proper use of gears are our current focus.

AndrewP

These are great exercises, bu I am not sure of the point of riding under the limbo bar.
I would add riding in a straight line and saying whether the person riding behind is signaling a RH or LH turn

atbman

Hi Andrew. The limbo exercise gets the rider comfortable with moving around on the bike. They can either, (a) stick their rear back behind the saddle, (b) tilt it to one side while they're out of the saddle, or (c) swing their leg over the back wheel as tho' dismounting and crouch down while standing on the LH/RH pedal according to instinct.

Basically, it's about control and confidence. It's more use offroad, obviously, since there might be a low, overhanging branch round the corner , but the ability to use extreme body English in a road emergency is invaluable. It also teaches them to look ahead, since, if they simply duck their head, the back of the helmet rises and they knock the bar off

The gold standard version is to ride under a bar which is 2" lower than the highest part of the bike, which, being nearly 70, is not something I would even try to demonstrate.

The main purpose of mastering these techniques is to make a wide variety of manoeuvres more or less automatic, so that when we take them on-road they can concentrate solely on road/traffic riding skills. In addition to racing skills, we also have parents who've taken the UK's National Standard Bikeability road safety training course so that all our kids will eventually be singing from the same cliche. They all come in very useful when we have one of our Youth Hostel weekends. If only we didn't have the odd highly irritating 8-9 year old who cheerfully covers 100 miles+ during the course of the long weekend.

Your point about being able to ride in a straight line whilst looking behind (aka the "lifesaver") is well put, by the way.

cyclinfool

My daughter is now almost 10, it took her a long time to learn to ride w/o training wheels. I finally took off the pedals and daughter her how to coast. Then she got it.
Consider yourself lucky on your teaching experience. However where my daughter was a late and difficult starter she has blossomed into an avid cyclist. She will be getting a somewhat real road bike for her 10th birthday - she is lookign forward to longer rides with Dad. I taught her the rules of the road, I teach her riding techniques as she is ready and receptive. When, what and how is situational.