Stabilisers after balance bike anyone?

[stickygotstuck]

Hello

Having a bit of an issue with 5.5 yo DD. She had a balance bike for over a year. She took a while but she got the hang of it and was happily zooming to the park last Autumn.

We got her a proper bike for her 5th birhday 6 months ago. The lightest we could afford and the one she fell in love with, so she should be keen.

However, she cannot ride yet. She's simply scared. I refuse to have to cajole and bribe again to have a practice, then have to run after her, holding the bike and seeing no improvement. We are both getting very frustrated now!

In hindsight, the new bike was probably slightly too big for her, but the smaller size was too tiny and it was the middle of the winter anyway. I'd say she is taller than she is strong, if that makes sense. But she's mostly afraid of falling (she has a couple of times but no damage has been done).

What can we do? Has anybody resorted to stabilisers even though your DC COULD use a balance bike?

[SloanePeterson]

Balance bikes and pedal bikes are completely different. There's no shame in just putting the stabilisers on. My ds just turned 6 and still isn't ready to take his off, and he's a real pro on his brothers balance bike.

[RonSwansonsLushMoustache]

Does your DD's bike come with stabilisers? DS wanted stabilisers but as he was used to a balance bike DH didn't want him to have them. By the time we bought his bike, DS was too tall for one with stabilisers anyway so he had to manage without. He didn't like it at first but came back to it a couple of times and eventually taught himself to ride.

He wouldn't let us teach him, he likes being left to figure things out for himself. I took him to an empty playground where they have that squidgy surface covering and watched anxiously from a safe distance.

Anyway, it probably won't hurt your DD to have stabilisers, they might help her to get used to the size and weight of the bike.

[stickygotstuck]

Thanks both.

No shame here, Sloane, I just want DD to be able to ride! I am a keen cyclist (rubbish but keen ) and just want to be able to ride with her even if it's down to the local park. We both miss the lovely times we've had with her in her child seat and me panting and sweating like mad.

Ron, that's a good point. I wonder if she is too tall for stabilisers now. She is a good 120 cm. Her bike did not come with stabilisers, unfortunately.

I am all for leaving her to it, but DD is a bit of a worrywart, so usually needs a little nudge.

[Enb76]

Take the pedals off and let her use the new bike as a balance bike for a week or two. I promise she'll be ok when the pedals go back on. It's the bike she's unsure of, it won't have the same balance point so she probably needs to get used to the weight of it before you put the pedals back on.

[Biscuitsneeded]

Was going to post the same as Enb. If you out stabilisers on she will unlearn all her good balance habits. Just take the pedals off the new bike and let her use it as a balance bike for a while until she's used to it.

[stickygotstuck]

Thansk Enb76, we've already gone down the route of taking the pedals off. Put them back on only a couple of weeks ago. She could balance with it (yes, size and weight are very, very different from her own bike), but when we put them back on she just walks with the dammned thing between her legs.

Biscuit, that's what I'm afraid of. It's just that it feels like she hasn't really learned anything. I'm sure it can't be true, but that what it feels like!

Perhaps we've put the pedals back on a bit too soon. The trouble is, she really, really wants pedals like other kids, and she has asked for stabilisers several times. Refuses to ride otherwise unless I really insist. And if you want DD to do something, whatever you do, DO NOT insist! . So we have a very expensive bike just gathering dust in the garage

[ladybirdandsnails]

Do NOT go back to stablisers - total backward step and she will unlearn how to balance. Can you put the seat down so she can use her feet as brakes? If she wobbles she can steady herself.

The main trick is that they have to KEEP pedaling and get speed up to stop the heavier bike wobbling over. Two friends of mine have had DC like yours but decided to set a week where they went out for 15-20 mins on flat ground (e.g. playground) each day to practice. In both cases it took 3 days to master it.

At our large school there are 2 groups of bike children a) those who had balance bikes and all ride proper bikes to school at age 3-4. b) those wobbling about on stabilisers age 5,6,7. The difference is stark.

Good luck

[ladybirdandsnails]

When she was 'happily zooming to the park' , I assume she would whizz along at speed with her legs in the air etc ?
If not, get her to master this on the balance bike first.

[stickygotstuck]

For what it's worth, she's never had stabilisers before.

Thanks ladybird, I think I'll go down the bribery route and will insist that she practices daily for 15 minutes, starting today! Thanks for the good wishes, I think I'll need them!

[MeanwhileHighAboveTheField]

Make sure when you are running with her you are holding HEr not the bike. Holding the bike doesn't help them to balance it IYSWIM. I used a little life backpack thing with my ds to hold onto.

[Itsahen]

I would also 'try everyday for a week' approach. Stickers and treat if she gives it a good go? Sounds like a confidence issue if she could previously ride a balance bike at speed with her feet up. Keep us posted

[aggiepie]

See blog on islabike website for tips on getting her to ride pedal bike. I found it really helpful. Don't put stabilisers on as will undo the learning from the balance bike.

[stickygotstuck]

Sorry, I thought nobody else had posted.

Thanks for the encouragement and the tips!

[MeanwhileHighAboveTheField]

Let us know how you get on :)

[affafantoosh]

Use a scarf under her arms and round her chest so she in control of the bike and her balance but knows she can't fall. Holding the handle or seat will slow the process down.

Also a balance bike is faster than a pedal bike anyway (hills on pedal bikes take a while to master) so don't rush it :)