TEACH ON A WOOM BIKE
Kail LOVES to bike. All bikes are not created equally. Most little ones start out on a heavy bike, either a balance bike or training wheels. Kail did. His first bike was a “Strider” balance bike that Grandpa sent him for his first birthday. It was very cool. It came with a rocker that Kail loved even before he could walk.
For Kail’s third birthday, his Uncle and Auntie gave him a bike with training wheels. It was orange. He could pedal it fast. He loved that too!
I have taught many children how to ride bikes and wanted him to learn from a balance bike vs. training wheels. Growing up, everyone learned on training wheels and eventually we all learned. A decade or so ago, balance bikes started to become popular. While children still go wild for training wheel bikes, it teaches them to ride improperly.
With a balance bike, they rely on their own natural balance. They learn to trust their body and its capabilities. I’ve been able to teach children as young as two to ride a balance bike with feet up for long distances making them ready to pedal. We took the Strider bike on a trip to Sea Ranch where we walked for miles and miles each day. He practiced and nearly mastered his balance bike on those trails.
On our way back to LA with a car stuffed for a long trip, I had to take the Strider bike in an out in order to get Kail in and out of his car seat. The Strider accidentally got left at a stop. I was not happy with myself.
My husband is a biker and a researcher. I often joke around that if he is buying a pair of shoes, he will research it for six months first. Now that Kail was properly into bikes his research led us to Woom Bikes and quickly. Two weeks later Kail had his first Woom 2 bike.
He started with the pedals off. A week after that, he was ready for the pedals.
He hasn’t looked back. At three years old, he was officially a two wheel bike rider. He was the only three year old fearlessly riding this skate park. The things he can do now blow my mind. I’ll post on that another time.
Woom Bikes are far superior to the Strider (heavy) and any bike that involves training wheels. They are more expensive, but IMO, well worth it. Woom bikes are much lighter and easier for a toddler to manage. They have handle breaks that tiny hands can reach. You can easily remove the pedals to make them into a balance bike (Woom 2 and up) until they are ready for pedals.
If we had started Kail with a Woom 1 balance bike (no pedal option) he likely would’ve started on two wheels sooner.
I’ve taught at least a dozen children how to ride a bike. I recommend Woom to everyone I talk about bikes with. I should get paid for referrals.
The past six children I’ve taught to ride a two wheel bike I was able to teach in an under an hour. Here are some tips.
Take them on easy trails vs. concrete when learning the balance bike. It gives more variety and opportunities for testing balance. Generally speaking, it also offers a softer place to fall.
When your child can hold their legs up while rolling down hills and rounding corners, they are ready to pedal. Don’t rush them. When they spend more time with feet up than down put the pedals on.
Wear pads and of course a helmet when learning to pedal. Your child will fall. Pads when starting help a lot with reducing trauma and fear of repeated falls. Gloves are also a good idea.
Make sure the seat of the bike is at the right height. Child should be able to have foot flat on pedal in down position with a slight bend in the knee.
Instead of holding on to the back of the bike as your child starts pedaling, take a towel. Wrap the towel under your child’s arms and hold onto the ends. You don’t break your back this way. You can loosen the towel as the child gains confidence and balance.
Start on a slight downhill slope. It’s much easier for them to balance going down than up. A little of momentum helps.
Be patient. Only teach when they want to learn.
Gallery of Kail on his bikes below. I think he is on bike 10 now lol.
