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What are balance bikes?
Balance bikes
are simply wonderful training aids used to help a child learn
balance without the use of training wheels. Most of us reading this article had
training wheels on our bikes when we were kids. Some may remember those
training wheels being put on a bike that was much too big for us which in
effect made us have to climb onto the bike like it was a horse. Once on this
bike, we could barely reach the pedals and then had the uneasy feeling of
rocking back and forth as the bike teetered between the trainings on each side
of the bike. They didn’t help in learning to ride a bike, it helped get us
perched on top of bike and then focused on pedaling. Don’t get wrong, learning
to pedal is very important to being able to ride a pedal bike. My youngest son
learned to balance on a balance bike and when he transferred we just needed to
work on the pedaling.
On occasion my wife
and I talk to friends or acquaintances and they say, “Our child will never
learn to ride a bike”, I ask them about their situation. I ask, “What kind of
bike are they on now?” Sometimes they are putting their 3 year old child on
this awesome looking dirt bike that is a size or two too big. I understand the
thought of getting a bike they will last a little while or a bike they can grow
into, but in the learning phase – the bike must fit properly.
Balance bikes are made
out of metal, plastic and wood. These are purpose-built (especially for very
small children, for whom normal bicycles are generally not available). To
function properly and maximize the benefits, a balance bike should be small
enough that the rider can walk the bike while sitting comfortably in the saddle
and placing both feet flat on the ground. The rider first walks the bicycle
while standing over the saddle, then while sitting in the saddle. Eventually,
the rider feels comfortable enough to run and "scoot" while riding
the bicycle. Before long the child will run and then raise their feet and place
them on footrest (if applicable) and glide until the bike loses momentum.
Learning
balance
is the one obstacle in learning to ride a pedal bike. Now
there is an effective and safe way to do so with a
balance bike .
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