Kids should ride bikes. It’s just a fact. But you are getting them to learn how to is tricky business, especially if you want your child to enjoy it and be safe while doing so. Here are the ways to help your child ride a bike and stay safe.
How to train a kid to ride a bike?
There are a few different ways you can train your child to ride a bike. One way is to start by helping them do it on their own. Once they’re comfortable riding without any help, slowly increase the amount of time, they spend biking independently before adding in additional support. If you are above 20 years, you can go through the mongoose adult bmx bike.
Take safety
The most important part of bike riding is keeping yourself and others safe. To do this, start by setting a number for yourself that you’ll never let your child override. Isolated from getting their thrill, kids are prone to making stupid mistakes sometimes. Especially in front of speeding vehicles or on busy roads. So, don’t make the mistake of forgetting about them since even teens can get hurt if they aren’t careful enough. Learn more about this issue here.
Let them practice first
Before putting your child on their very own bike, allow them to get used to riding it by themselves for a little while. This allows you to help without stressing out too much if something happens along the way and will hopefully teach them the basics of handling common situations that might crop up when you’re not around: slippery roads, sudden stops, etc.
Never use training wheels
While your child is learning to ride a bike, they don’t need to have one. You should never attach anything (choose the right size) to your kid’s bikes since they need enough control over the wheels on their own. Attaching those training wheels will throw off his balance and slow him down in some cases.
Proper bike size
The first step in helping your child learn to ride a bike is figuring out which size bike you’ll need for them. Most of the time, this will be around 18 inches or smaller (unless they fall between different sizes). Pro tip: once he’s older, get him one that can handle 26″ wheels and stay even more stable as well.
Don’t leave kids alone on cycle
If you’re late, running an errand, or even just wanting a break during your bike ride with them and they don’t want to wait around while mommy goes back home. Just simply go ahead, plug in the remote lock mode on everyone’s bikes and keep going. If he doesn’t have any luck getting it off for some reason (lock is stuck), then ask him if he’d prefer waiting until next time.
Firm bike seat/bike shorts
Young kids’ seats, especially when sitting in the rear, are some of the most dangerous places to sit on a bike without back support chairs and safety harnesses such as those you get with baby strollers these days. That’s why if he just doesn’t have time to walk his kid home after getting off at school, let him take your car or try this (bring along protective gear for you as well).
Bike helmets – proper fit & quality
Your child will need to wear a helmet, even if he’s not biking with mom or dad that often. Helmets are better in many ways because they protect more of your kid’s head. Furthermore, the make and model is important too. Don’t fall for junk like bike helmets from discount shopping sites.
The bike tires
Tires on a bike consist of two wheels and separate with handles at both ends. Handles are used to push or steer your child’s bike when riding it along public roads, trails, or even just inside the home driveway. It also helps make precise turns for them so they won’t crash against walls, fences, etc. whenever being towed by you or other kids that are biking safely nearby (like in gym class after sports events).
Learn to tiptoe and scoot
Kids can tiptoe a few steps and scoot only when standing on the pedals. Once they’re standing on the pedals, then it’s time for them to sometimes ‘sit down in stroller mode” so that you or other kids (like their friends at school) can push and tow them around from kindergarten backward all through elementary/middle school.
Things to consider before teaching your kid to ride a bike
- Get your kid a bike that is the right size and fit
- Make sure the bike has training wheels so he/she can learn how to ride it safely before taking it off of those
- Teach your proper kid techniques in riding bikes such as scooting, tiptoeing, and sitting on pedals
- Buy helmets, bicycles with training wheels (if needed), front & rear lights, and sturdy locks for them to use at home or away from home.
- Tell your kid to always wear a helmet when biking, even while riding with only him (or her), and you
- Have your child stop inside the house, especially if he/she will be joining his school classroom afterward or some organized after-school sports activity that is deemed safe enough for children under age 13. Don’t allow him/her to ride a bike into streets until they are at least 6 years old
- Learn how to use a bicycle pump so that you can quickly inflate tires and patches during emergencies.
- Don’t forget to teach your kid how to be safe while riding their bike on the road, especially when there are cyclists nearby whose speed, direction, or angle of travel his/her designated meeting point might pose a risk for danger, looking off into traffic from dispelled blind spots near curb edges, etc.
Conclusion
It’s never too late to learn how to ride a bike! Whether you’re an adult or a child, there are several different ways to train and prepare yourself for the task ahead. If you want to make sure your kid can handle the road, use some of these tips and tricks to get them started on the right foot.
Keep Reading: How To Choose a Bike To Fit Your Body Type
