It's finally time to get out the training wheels and ride your bike! It doesn't matter if you are a child trying to learn or a parent wanting to teach your child, the process of letting go of the training wheels can be quick, easy, and exciting. Don't be nervous, sooner or later everyone should learn how to ride a bike without training wheels!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Learn How to Ride Without Training Wheels
Step 1. Wear a helmet and safety gear
‘’ Always’’ you should wear a helmet when you are on the bike, but it would also be good if you wear safety equipment! These make riding without training wheels less scary. Because they prevent you from hurting yourself, you won't feel as scared of falling off your bike or hitting it. Here are some things you might want to use the first time you ride a bike without training wheels:
- Elbow pads
- Kneepads
- Wristbands
Step 2. Make sure your feet can touch the ground
Bicycles are less scary when you know you can stop them yourself. Before removing the training wheels, get on the bike and try to get your feet to touch the ground. If you can't, have an adult help you lower the seat.
It's okay if you can't touch the ground with both feet at the same time while sitting, you only need one to support you. However, you should be able to touch the ground with both feet when sitting in front of the seat
Step 3. Find a flat place where you can ride your bike
Take your bike somewhere that is wide, open, and flat, like a park or parking lot. The best is a place with soft grass, if you fall on it you will not hurt yourself, so you will not be afraid to practice on it. You can practice alone, but it's easier if a friend or adult helps you!
If your bike still has the training wheels on, have an adult remove them before you go to the place where you will ride
Step 4. Practice pedaling and braking
Sit on your bike and support yourself by placing your feet on the ground. Put one foot on the pedal and push it! Push off with the other foot at the same time. Put both feet on the pedals and keep pedaling! If you need to stop, pedal backwards (unless your bike has a handbrake, then just press it down with your fingers).
If necessary, feel free to put your feet on the ground! The first few times you practice pedaling, it can feel like you are going to fall, so if necessary feel free to stop and place your feet on the ground
Step 5. Practice turning while pedaling
As you get the hang of moving forward and stopping, try going left and right. As you pedal forward, turn the handlebars slightly to the right. This will make you go to the right. Then turn it just a little to the left. This will make you go to the left. Try turning a little more to each side and see how far you can turn without feeling uncomfortable. Don't be afraid to stop if you have trouble turning!
It is actually more difficult to turn when you are going slow than when you are going very fast. Keeping your balance is difficult when you are barely moving, so if you have trouble turning, try moving a little faster
Step 6. Practice going up and down hills
Then find a small hill or slope. Try pedaling up it, you'll have to push yourself a little harder than usual to get to the top! When you are at the top, try to go down slowly. Use your brakes to keep speed low. When you get to the bottom, go back up and this time do it a little faster. Repeat this over and over until you can go down the hill without using your brakes.
- Be patient! It may take a while until you are able to make your way down the hill without stopping, so don't worry if you don't make it the first time you try.
- Try small hills first. Don't try to go down big hills until you're good at riding your bike without training wheels.
Step 7. If you need help, ask a friend or a parent to push you
Learning to ride without training wheels is much easier if you have someone to help you. If possible, ask a parent, friend, or sibling for help. They can make learning easier in many ways, but one of the best is for them to run alongside you and hold you until you can pedal alone.
Step 8. Don't give up
Learning how to do without training wheels can be scary, but once you do, riding a bike is a lot more fun. Don't worry if you can't ride without training wheels after day one, at some point you will! When you get a chance, try again with the help of a friend or an adult. Never give up, riding a bike without training wheels is something almost everyone has to learn to do. Each time you practice, riding will get easier and easier, until in a moment it will become the only way you can ride!
Method 2 of 3: Teaching a Child to Ride Alone
Step 1. Take your child to an open area with a hill that is not too steep
Although all children learn in different ways, for many children one of the easiest ways to learn is to go down a long, gentle incline. Going at a slow, controlled speed allows a child to get comfortable with the idea that standing upright on a bike without training wheels is almost as easy as standing upright on one that does.
Grassy areas can be great for this. The grass prevents children from going too fast on their bikes and cushions any falls they may suffer, greatly reducing the stress of the experience. The last thing you want is for your child to fall, develop a fear of riding a bike without training wheels, and not try again
Step 2. Make sure your child is well protected and his bike is at a suitable height
Do not allow him to get on the bike without a helmet. Not only is it dangerous, but it is also a bad habit that you should not indulge in. You may also want to consider allowing your child to wear extra protective gear like knee and elbow pads. This extra protection can make kids who are nervous about riding a bike without training wheels feel more confident about doing so. Finally, make sure your child's feet hit the ground when they sit on the bike, adjust the seat as needed.
Keep in mind that some places have laws that require all cyclists under a certain age to wear a helmet. In some circumstances, breaking these types of laws can be considered a misdemeanor on the part of the parent
Step 3. Have your child go down a hill without pedaling while holding him
When the child is ready to ride, help him carefully descend the hill or incline on which they are practicing. Support his shoulders or the back of his seat to keep him upright. Repeat this a few times until your child feels confident and comfortable riding his bike with your help.
As you walk or jog alongside the bike you must be careful not to put any of your feet in front of (or between) the tires
Step 4. Allow your child to descend without pedaling and use his feet to stop
Then let your child go down the same slow and easy route down the hill as before, but this time don't hold him unless he needs to. Instruct him to use his foot to control himself or stop as needed. This teaches you the balance skills that are so important to staying upright on a bike in a safe and controlled manner.
If your child begins to lose control, hold him up to keep him upright. You cannot avoid all falls, but you should do your best to minimize them as they will scare your child and he will not want to continue
Step 5. Let your child go without pedaling and using his brakes
Then do the exact same thing as before, except this time tell him to use his bike's brakes to control his speed. When he gets to the bottom of the hill, tell him to stop using the brakes. Repeat this as many times as you need until the child feels confident enough by slowing down and stopping without your help. Teaching her that she can always stop the bike if necessary is a very important part of building a child's confidence in her.
Most children's bikes have foot brakes. In other words, the child has to pedal backwards to brake. Many training resources recommend foot brakes for children learning to ride without training wheels, because getting used to using your hands in addition to all the other required skills can be overwhelming for little ones. However, if your child's bike has a handbrake, it is still perfectly possible for him to learn with it, although it may take more practice
Step 6. Teach him to turn on a flat place
Then go to a flatter place. Have your child start pedaling forward and then brake to stop. Repeat this several times until you feel comfortable. Then direct your child to try to turn the handlebars just a little while moving forward. Walk alongside the child as he turns, supporting him as needed. It may take a little time for your child to feel confident turning, so be patient.
Ideally, the child should learn to lean slightly as he turns. However, this can be difficult to communicate to a younger child, so you may want to let them find out for themselves
Step 7. Teach your child to pedal up a paved incline
Then have your child pedal up a slight incline. In this case, a hard surface may be better than grass because grass can make it difficult for the child to generate enough speed to go up the hill. Tell the child to push the pedals hard and as always, support him as needed to prevent him from falling.
Step 8. Reduce your support gradually
As your child practices his skills, slowly begin to hold him less and less until he is comfortable just walking beside him. Then, little by little, he starts to move further and further away until he is comfortable with riding the bike without you being by his side at all. Slow and steady progress is the key here, you basically want the kid to start riding alone without him even realizing he's doing it.
Be prepared to "back off" a bit if your child has a hard fall. It is best to offer your support after a fall rather than having your child suffer it alone, this can cause him to lose his taste for riding a bike, which will make it more difficult to teach him essential skills in the long term
Step 9. Use positive reinforcement
Stay upbeat and positive as you teach your child to ride without training wheels. Praise the progress they make. When he finally gets to the point of being able to ride the bike without help, tell him that you are proud. Don't treat him badly when he makes mistakes or force him to do things he doesn't want to. You want your child to like to ride his bike at some point. If he does, at some point he will be able to continue learning on his own and without your help.
Many serious parenting resources recommend positive reinforcement, the practice of rewarding a child for good behavior. Positive reinforcement teaches a child what good behavior is, while giving love and attention, important things for any little one
Method 3 of 3: Learn Advanced Skills
Step 1. Try a bicycle without handbrakes
Eventually, most kids stop riding bikes with foot brakes and start using bikes with hand brakes. Handbrakes give the rider a bit more control by allowing them to choose which wheel to brake with. To use a handbrake, simply press down on the metal bar on either side of the handlebars. The rear wheel brake generally slows the bike down more gradually, while the front brake slows down. Be careful to press the front brake too hard or you may be thrown over the handlebars!
Although each child learns at his or her own pace, in general, most children can learn to use parking brakes by about six years of age
Step 2. Try using a geared bike
Like most children start using handbrakes, sooner or later they learn how to ride a geared bike. The gears make it easier to go very fast, climb steep hills, and maintain a "cruising" speed without pedaling hard. To use the gears, simply press the lever or switch near the ends of the handlebars. You should notice that it suddenly becomes easier or more difficult to pedal. The harder it is to pedal, the faster your pedaling will advance.
Again, all children learn at their own pace. Most children between the ages of 9 and 12 are capable of shifting bikes after a little basic training
Step 3. Try to stand up while pedaling
Standing while pedaling instead of using the seat allows you to push the pedals harder, making this a great way to climb hills or gain speed very quickly. Also, you have to be able to stand on your bike to do a lot of tricks (like the bunny jump described below). At the beginning, you may find it difficult to balance yourself or your legs tire very quickly when you try to pedal while standing. However, with a little practice, it is not difficult to develop the strength and balance necessary to master this skill.
Step 4. Try riding your bike out of the way
When you feel comfortable riding on smooth, even surfaces like streets, sidewalks, and fields, try riding on more rustic terrain. You will find that this is a slightly different experience than riding a bike on a road. It's generally slower, has more potholes, and requires you to be more attentive to the road in front of you. However, off-road biking can be a great way to exercise and see parts of nature that you've never experienced before, so give it a try!
Step 5. Try doing a bunny jump
When you feel confident riding your bike at any speed and anywhere, try learning a few simple tricks! For example, you can try doing a bunny jump by going slow, standing up, and pulling on the handlebars as you push off the ground and throw your weight up. In midair, lean forward to level yourself so that you impact the ground with both wheels. When you get good at this, you should be able to do a little "jump," which is great for avoiding potholes without stopping.
Don't be discouraged if you fall a few times while trying to learn bunny jumping and other tricks. Some minor cuts and bruises are part of the learning process; You can't learn without making some mistakes
Advice
If you don't have enough time to turn, jump off the bike onto the grass
Warnings
- If you don't have protective gear, go slow while you learn.
- If you do try to jump, make sure you are at a distance that you can actually jump.