When did your child start riding a two wheeler? - Page 2

[tatermom]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

My daughter is 5.5 and she JUST fits a 16" bike. Is this for you child born in '05? Unless they are a very tall child I don't think a 16" is what you are looking for. There isn't really any size that they will keep for awhile. You just have to go by what size is comfortable and reassess in the future.

Oh, thanks, that's what I wanted to know. I guess I'll hold off on the 16". I know it's really difficult to ride a bike that's too big!

[pigpokey]

I do not do training wheels and if my kids didn't want to bike on two wheels they were free to tricycle around or use a two wheel scooter.

My son started riding a 12" bike at 2 years 4 months. My daughter started riding a 12" bike at 3 years 10 months. At that time she was 42" and could fit on many 16" bikes if the seat was down even with the tire, but found them too bulky. At about 4 years 4 months I got her a used aluminum Specialized Hotrock 16" and both of them can ride it nicely. I am looking for a lightweight aluminum frame bike for my son in a 16" wheel (they don't sell good quality bikes with 14" tires in the U.S.) used or may cave and buy one new. He is 40" but he is a very good rider and does not need the security of being able to get both feet flat on the ground.

Get an aluminum bike if you can. The little ones benefit from a lightweight bike, as will you lifting it in and out of your car etc.

[~*Trish*~]

We have a 16" bike with training wheels for my super tall 5-year-old. He outgrew the trike, but has neurological balance and muscle tone issues, so we went with the trainers. It will be a while before they come off. Living on a gravel road doesn't make learning any easier either.

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We also skipped the training wheels, and just started learning on a really small two wheeler. (12 inches).

She first learned to balance it while pushing with her feet. Then by a little after her fourth birthday, she was riding all over the place.

In this neighborhood, the kids play in the street. Not in the yards, so most of the kids learn to ride a two wheeler by their fourth birthday. I think the fact that they have such a good road to practice on helps.

To learn though, the kids must be able to easily put both feet on the ground without tipping from side to side.

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Originally Posted by harrietsmama

he's such an overdramatic wuss I think they will always be terrified of riding with out training wheels

LMBO!

[Mary]

Ds 1 learned to ride without training wheels at 4.5. I thought that was amazing. Then my youngest learned a few months before he turned 4.

I think it depends on the size of the bike (can their feet touch the ground?), coordination, balance, and willingness to learn.

[nancy926]

I've never heard of a correlation between reading and riding a two-wheeler. I could read at 3 but couldn't ride a two-wheeler until I was 8....my older DD can't read yet but was riding a two-wheeler at 4.5.

We also used a balance bike - she rode that for a summer and then hopped on a two-wheeler and knew just what to do. IMHO a bike with training wheels is just like a big tricycle - it's hard to learn balance that way.

DD2 has the balance bike now but has no interest in lifting up her feet to do any balancing, LOL.....