Ready, Set Ride!

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Is it time to take the training wheels off? We have a technique that teaches any child to ride a bike. For children with low-muscle tone or motor planning issues bike riding can be difficult to impossible. We talked with the experts, practiced the technique and learned to ride a bike. Here are the latest tips on helmets, bikes and riding techniques.

Helmet Tip

Aaron Bilsing bike shop manager at Onion River Sports urges parents to remember safety when teaching their child to ride a bike. Bilsing recommends a new, good fitting helmet to reduce head injuries. To establish proper biking safety, always have your child wear the helmet even when practicing.

Some children hate the feeling of the bike helmet on their heads. To desensitize your child to the feeling of the helmet allow them to wear it when they are not biking.

Aaron’s recommendations:

  • Finding a good helmet is as easy as remembering the 4 S’s: Size, Strap, Straight and Snell.
  • Strap: Pay attention to the chin strap. Make sure that the chin strap fits around your ear and under your chin snugly and comfortably. The helmet should not shift on your head.
  • Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, Giro, and helmets that have the following certifications: Sticker: Look for Snell certification. Snell Standards are the most stringent in the world, exceeding those set by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
  • Size: Try on several different helmets before you purchase one. The best way to gauge comfort level and fit is through comparison. The helmet should fit comfortably all the way around your head. Additional pads can be used to make it snug.

Bike Tip

  • Find a teaching bike. Your teaching bike should be small for your child.
  • Your child sits on the seat and touches the ground with a flat foot and bent knees, and has adjustable handlebars so your child sits upright. There are several training bikes on the market. However, a smaller used bike can work just as well, if not better. Remember your child might only use the training bike for a short amount of time.

Ready Set, Ride!

Before you begin cross-off the following check list to ensure a good riding experience.

  • It begins with you! Have confidence that your will learn to ride a bike. Start your teaching session with good positive energy.
  • Find a paved level area or a slight hill (a long driveway, quiet street, empty parking lot, bike path or sidewalk) for your “teaching area.”
  • Eliminate distractions— clear your teaching area of toys, kids and anything that may take away your child’s attention.
  • To teach your child to ride a bike choose verbal cues to prompt an action. For most children less words in prompting the better, here are some examples:
      • Hold handlebars tight
      • Glide
      • Peddle faster
      • Look forward
      • Peddle, peddle
      • Scooter
      • Push peddle back (to brake)

Bike Riding VideoThe Technique

Step 1: First begin with gliding on the bike. Have your child sit on the bike with both feet on the ground. Then the child pushes against the ground with his feet. As he gets better, say “lift feet and glide.”  Let your child do this step for a couple weeks to build confidence.

Step 2: After mastering gliding, it is time for scootering. Have your child sit on the bike seat. Place his dominate foot on the pedal in the up position. Then with the other foot on the ground tell the child to push with that foot (scootering) while the pedaling foot pedals.  You will need to remind your child to lean into the scootering side.  Good practice for this exercise could be scootering on a scooter. Practice scootering for several weeks.

Step 3: When your child builds enough strength, knowledge and courage they are ready to try and pedal with both feet. Place your hand on his back (to add some support) and have him scooter then say “lift foot and pedal, pedal, pedal”.  Remind your child by pedaling faster makes riding easier.  Resist holding the handle bars or seat this gives false sense of security. Allow your child to practice each step for several weeks to master the technique.  If your child has anxiety about bike riding little reminders about how they can ride a bike and how safe they are, can build their confidence.