Of Bicycles, Training Wheels, and Tots
How young can a child ride a bicycle?
Roenne is 3 and she knows how to pedal a tricycle very well and is good at steering.
Also, where can I get a good (decently priced) bicycle with training wheels? How much can I expect to pay? Are training wheels even necessary?
Toys ‘R’ Us? Should I buy online? Should I take her out and have her sit on a few?
Love your suggestions.
[Image from StringThink]
I did it without training wheels and started on a bright pink “Pop Star” bicycle (that was pitifully small now that I think about it) when I was 4.
I would say if Roenne can get on it by herself (no having mommy or daddy hold it and help her up) that there’s no harm in letting her have a real bike. She’ll know what feels comfortable and if she wants something a little too big, pull the daddy card.
I would certainly not go get anything without her. There are different styles and heaven forbid you choose the wrong color. Ha. Just make sure she understands big girl bicycles come with big girl rules…all the safety the safety gear is a must! Though I will admit, if I got out on the house in a helmet my mom was lucky and I usually ditched it at my friend’s house.
I think I lost the training wheels when I was 3… now I ride 150miles/week… I have no advice sorry
I have no kids of my own, so this is merely observational advice. I was in Berlin a few months ago. Bikes are huge there, and so is the number of kids the near the age of your daughter. I never once saw a kid on a bike with training wheels. Instead they were riding around on balance bikes, also called run bikes. They have no pedals. Instead of training a kid how to work the pedals and adding in the balance later, these things start with teaching balance. I think they’re ingenious. Have a look at one such bike. http://www.runbikes.com/KaZAM-Run-Bike.pro
My daughter had a rough time transitioning from the tricycle to the training wheels bike.
I think it was all in her head.
Just get any bike that’s pretty, they grow so fast at this age that she’ll outgrow it soon anyway.
I would try Craigslist. There were several kids bikes there last time I looked. Most of them in the $30-40 range.
that’s what i needed to hear… i was thinking about buying “new”… lame…!
I buy everything at consignment sales or craigslist. Kids often grow too fast go wear things out, no reason so spend more than you need to. I have then sold several things for the same price I bought them for a year or so later.
Before you let her off the training wheel smake sure she knows how to use the brakes!!!!!!
hmmm, I was wondering – kinda about that for my son. When should you teach a kid to ride? Training wheels?
I lived on my bike as a kid, ok that’s a complete exaggeration lol
get one of the bikes without pedals like the Skuut – http://www.rei.com/product/780754
kids learn to balance before having to worry about pedaling
i 100% agree with andrew and vince – getting the skuut or something similar. i lived in germany for a year and saw kids as young as 2 riding those things all over the place.
just get one and start going for walks with her. she’ll be balancing in no time and switching won’t be a big deal at all.