Learning to ride a bicycle

Usually around the fourth birthday, the time has come: The first own bike is a popular gift for the little ones and also a big development step towards independence and freedom of movement. With the right bike and the support of parents, cycling is easy to learn.

For a child to be safely on his first bike, various conditions must be met. On the one hand, the bike itself must be roadworthy and fit the child, but the child must also be adequately developed in its motor skills. Incidentally, the best preparation for the technique of cycling is the combination of balance wheel and tricycle (for steering and pedaling): children who master these two vehicles usually sit on their first child's bike and set off.

The children's bike - Important for the selection

The first bike does not necessarily have to be an expensive high-tech model. Since the children drive anyway only for a very short time and quickly grow beyond the size, you can also look for a cheap used model. However, the bike should meet certain requirements:

The size must fit the child, saddle and handlebars should be adjustable. The setting is optimal if the child has ground contact with their feet when sitting on the saddle.

• A completely closed chain guard protects against dirt, injuries and falls through retracted trouser legs.
• The safety steering handles must be intact.
• The wheel should have an impact protection on the handlebar stem.
• The brakes must work.

Lighting and reflectors are not so important at the beginning because your child is not yet on public roads. To increase the visibility, a bicycle flag is suitable for this, which is attached to the luggage carrier and protrudes far beyond the bicycle.

You should refrain from using training wheels from the beginning, even if it may take a little longer for your child to start on his own. Training wheels provide the child with apparent security that is not available in every situation. When cornering or uneven terrain, they are even dangerous because your child can not compensate for variations in the wheel.

Never without a bicycle helmet

From the beginning insist that your child is wearing a bicycle helmet. Incidentally, you should already practice this with the impeller, as the child can achieve relatively high speeds with it. Of course, as a father, you must lead by example and always be on the move with a helmet.

The selection of the bicycle helmet is best done in the shop. Trained salespeople can best judge if the helmet is right for your child and show you how to best fit your child's head. Also pay attention to published test results.

Learning to ride a bike - the first steps

If you do the first driving exercises with your child, you should choose a traffic-free place. In many cities there are special practice sites, but of course there is also a Sunday car park or your own yard. It is important that the surface is level and without any major obstacles so that your child can concentrate fully on the bike. Patience is paramount here. Keep in mind that learning should be fun and that it is not about performance but about a skill your child wants to achieve.

For the first exercises, it is helpful if your child has good contact with the ground. It will feel so much safer. Especially if it was already on the road, it will quickly take your feet off the ground and put them on the pedals after the first roll attempts. It is only a small step to pedaling. Since starting is usually the hardest part, you can get your child started by pushing. Too long pushing should be avoided. When the child and the wheel start to move, you should take the push hand away, the child will usually continue on his own.

Which size is right for the children's bike?

The most important criteria for the first driving tests on the children's bike are the physical conditions, ie size and leg length, and the motor skills of your child. Age is of secondary importance in that it only very roughly reflects the individual requirements for cycling. Thus, for an early developed, not even three-year-old child the transition to a game bike (usually a children's bicycle 12 inches already makes sense, while for another four-year the impeller or scooter is still the better choice.
Sometimes this leads to the fact that for your later developed, but already grown-up child a children's bike 16 inches or even a children's bike 18 inches can be considered as the first entry-level bike. Therefore, please make sure to compare the information - the correct size and stride length of your child are important in relation to the dimensions of the children's bicycle.

Stride length as a measure of the choice of children's bike

Relevant Sizes for Choosing a Childrens BicycleSecondary is the stride length (inside leg length) of your child. It describes the distance between floor and step (a), see graphic on the left, and gives information on whether your child with the lowest set minimum saddle height of the children's bike with both feet still good the ground (the contact with the foot ball is sufficient!) can. This bilateral ground contact should always be given and is indispensable for the first driving exercises, as it gives the child the necessary security.

(c) of the pic Fotolia

The height of her child (b) can only be a guide in choosing a suitable children's bicycle. Although in "normal" developed children height and stride in a fixed or close relationship, but you should definitely make the short effort and measure the stride itself. They protect yourself and your child from annoying disappointments.

How to measure the stride length of your child!

To measure the stride length you will need a folding rule and a medium sized book. Your child turns now without shoes, without pants and possibly even without a diaper with his back to a wall. Now align the book or spine vertically against the wall between your child's legs. Now gently guide it from the bottom, but with a gentle upward pressure in the crotch. Now measure the distance between the floor and spine or top of the book and you get the stride length or inner leg length.
The following table (children's bicycle size / period of use in relation to the relevant physical values ​​(average values)) gives you an overview of the size orientation. Please measure yourself!

If your child has no real success in the first practice, you should stop the learning attempts first, eat an ice cream and continue on another day. If it comes to a fall, then you should motivate the child to rise again immediately, so that no fears set.

The more exercise your child has then, the faster it will learn safe cycling and you can look forward to the first short bike rides with the offspring.

Did I forget something? Can you think of any more points?
I´m looking forward to your experiences and additions.

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