tips for teaching bike riding?

[padams]

Any tips for teaching DS 5 to ride his bike w/o training wheels?

DS has some buddies who are riding their bikes training wheel-free. At DS' request, we took off his training wheels but he wants DH or me to hold the seat of his bike while he rides (thereby running next to him as he rides). While DH and I could use the exercise, we have become the "training wheels". If we let go of the seat, DS panics and stops. I know DS really wants to ride w/o training wheels but he is the kind of kid who is scared until he actually does something, and then he loves it.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Pamela

 

[CEDmom]

While DD (almost 4) is not yet ready to take this step I do have a tried and true method (on younger cousins, neices and nephews) that should work in one day. Take DS to a park/school or playground that has a grassy area with a small hill and nothing dangerous at the bottom of the hill. Go to the top of the hill and have DS get on the bike and start peddling with you holding on. As soon as DS gets going just let go and continue on down the hill along side. He may fall which is why the grass is good. After a few times don't continue along side him. Once he sees that he can do it without you holding on he'll be riding all over the place. Good luck

 

[Towncrier]

Another vote for the grassy hill method. It worked great for DD Sarah who failed at every other attempt to ride a bicycle. She was riding like a veteran in a week once we got her started on a grassy hill.

 

[Michelemouse]

Our DD had trouble getting the hang of bike riding. We put her on a path with a slight incline and had her just coast to the bottom...no pedalling. She was able to get the motion of the bike without worrying about having to pedal. Then, when she had mastered this she was easily able to add the pedalling and has been zooming along ever since!

 

[mom42860]

Also try to take his mind off of falling, my DS had just seen StarWars and we kept talking to him about feeling the force, let it be with you....He would smile and think about that instead of falling.

 

[FunkyRooster]

Try to see if he will ride with one training wheel on. Don't put it on all the way, just so that if he feels like falling, he can lean over to that one side and get back up straight again.

 

[Evil Princess]

Heres an idea:

Don't have your husband hold on to the back of your childs seat, then let go without telling when you have your balance only to have the child panic, and go right up the ramp into one of those landscaping trucks trailers. Luckily, the child jumped off into the grass (it was very stunt double like) at the last minute, and is reletively unharmed 13 years later.

Not like I'm speaking from experience or anything

 

[Mskanga]

I didn't have that problem with DD2, all I remember was going to work one day and the training wheels were on, I came back and the training wheels were gone and dd was riding like a pro in two wheels , she was a month short of 4 years old. I almost had a heartattack!
The next thing I know the next day she's pedalling , standing up!
In this case, she was doing it because all the kids around us are older and she wants to keep up with them, besides the fact that she's a daredevil.
DD1 was taught by my niece, my niece got her to do in 2 hours what I tried to do for a month!

 

[WilmaBud]

Or you could take hime to a school playground, give him a push, and send him sailing into the pole of a baskeball hoop like I did with my son. I am definitely not the best person to teach bike riding. My brother, however, is stellar at it. He swears by just holding onto the child's shoulder or back as he rides and letting go as the child gets going.