Let’s go ride a bike – tips for teaching your kids to ride from Sir Chris Hoy and Evans Cycles
Not all activities for kids need to involve signing up for classes. One activity that almost all kids love and which is blessedly free, is going for a bike ride. And there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child’s excitement and sense of achievement when they learn to ride a bike without stabilisers for the first time.
My daughter is recently stabiliser-free and she can’t get enough of riding her bike. Her transition to this was pretty slow and then suddenly very fast. It was like something just clicked. But as far as passing on tips for how you can help your own kids learn to ride a bike on their own, I wouldn’t have a clue.
Luckily I just received a press release from some bicicular experts (yes I know that’s not a word). Evans Cycles and Sir Chris Hoy have put their heads together and come up with these expert tips.
1. It might seem a bit scary, but start on a smooth, hard surface – preferably one which is relatively open and away from traffic. A tarmac path through a park with grass either side is perfect. The hard surface helps the rider pick up rolling momentum and helps them feel how the bike responds to their body movements. Grass is much more challenging to pedal on.
2. While conventional wisdom says to start with stabilisers, the experts disagree. Using stabilisers means the child learns the wrong weight distribution and uses exaggerated handlebar movements. Starting with a balance bike or removing the pedals from a regular bike is a better way to learn.
3. Buying a bike that the child will grow into is good for the bank balance, but it’s far better for learning if a child has a bike that fits their height. How do you know if it’s right? Your child should only be able to rest the balls of their feet on the ground to stabilise. If their feet are flat on the ground, their knees will come up too high when riding and interfere with steering.
4. Riding a bike is really all about balance. Part of learning is getting used to balancing the bike, and the best way to do this is for your child to sit in the saddle and roll the bike without pedalling, picking up speed as they get more confident.
5. Confidence when moving with an object such as a bicycle, roller skates, scooter or any such vehicle, often comes from being able to control the stop. Children should practice braking and the way it feels on a bike by first walking alongside the bike with their hands in the right position. Walking and braking helps the child get a feel for how much pressure to use and how abruptly the bike will stop as a result. Once they have done this a few times, they should then practice it sitting on the bike, reminding them to put their feet down as they come to a stop.
6. You’ll want to support your child until they are confident enough to ride alone, and the experts say the best way to do so is to aid their balance by supporting them from behind under their armpits or on their chest. The traditional way of holding the saddle or handle bars hinders the child’s ability to judge the weight distribution and control the steering.
7. On a related note, try not to push your child along when they stop pedalling, as they need to learn the association between pedalling and forward motion.
8. Teach them how to push off by showing them how to position the pedal so they can start with their stronger leg. Be patient. Each time they start, they should follow the same process of positioning the pedal to push off. This will give them confidence and a sense of control.
9. Teach them awareness by encouraging them to look ahead instead of down, and to think about who is behind them before they stop.
Frankly after going through all these tips, most of which we never did, it’s a miracle my daughter learned to ride at all. I think the only one we did right is number 8! But I will certainly bear them in mind when it comes to teaching my son. He will be using a balance bike at first (which I bought for £4 from the local tip), so we’re already off to a good start!
