Learn to ride a bike in 4 easy steps
Words by Micro ScootersOctober 03, 2024
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3 minutes
Follow these 4 steps to help your child learn to ride a bike.
Learning to ride a bike or scooter is a rite of passage for every child (and their parents). Riding a bike with or without stabilisers provides children not only with the freedom to move but also positively impacts their development.
Riding a bike enables children to develop their leg muscles and strengthen their bones. As kids get better at riding a bike and do so regularly, the continued exercise will help build their stamina and improve their cardiovascular development. It will also markedly improve their coordination and balance (not to mention their confidence).
Learning to ride a bike – Step One
Before attempting to teach your child to ride a bike its important you spend some time considering what type of bike is best for them.
There are a wide variety of bikes to choose from. The two main types are bikes with stabilisers and balance bikes.
Understanding which is suitable for your child is the first step in learning to ride a bike.
But how do you choose and what are the pros and cons of each?
Bike with stabilisers or a Balance Bike?
Learning to ride a bike with stabilisers means buying only one bike. However, although stabilisers can be removed from a bike, most bikes are pretty heavy. This makes it quite challenging to learn how to ride, especially for pre-schoolers, who often struggle to manage the heavy, bulky frames.
Learning to ride a toddler balance bike is a good option for younger children (aged from 18 months+) as these tend to be made from lighter materials. Making it easier for little ones to have more control and, ultimately, more confidence when learning to ride.
Learning to ride a balance bike at a younger age often makes the transition to a bike without stabilisers quicker and much more pain-free. When children learn to ride a bike with stabilisers, they learn to steer by moving the handlebars. However, when they move to a bike without stabilisers, they must learn the process again. This is because steering a regular bike emphasises leaning in the direction you want to go rather than moving the handlebars. This is why balance bikes are an excellent first step for children learning to ride a bike.
Learn to ride a bike – Step 2
Whether you choose a bike with stabilisers or a balance bike for your child, it is important they have all the necessary safety gear before going out on their first lesson. We believe every child riding a bike or scooter should have a well-fitted safety helmet. You may also wish to “pad them up” with pads.
Once suitability geared up for safety, it is essential to let your child sit on their bike and get to grips with its weight, height and how to steer.
It's a good idea to begin by lowering the seat to a level where the child can comfortably touch the floor. This will allow them to get a feel for the bike, its weight and how it moves.
Find the right place to learn to ride a bike - Step 3
Once your child feels comfortable on their bike you should look for a suitable location to begin their adventures. Try to find somewhere quiet, away from too many distractions. The park is often a good idea but make sure you get there early, if there's lots of people around and things going on we find that children can get distracted. Despite how tempting the softer grass surface may be, we would always recommend tarmac over grass grass. This is because children will have to push much harder on grass than on tarmac, making it more difficult to get going and for them to find their balance.
Get riding - Step 4
Once you've found a suitable location and your child is ready to go it's time to begin riding. Begin by letting your child push off and start moving whilst you hold them. Try to avoid holding the bike and handlebars as this can often get in the way of the child. Encourage your child to lean into corners and pick up their feet when they have enough speed and are moving in a straight line. After a few goes, most children begin to get more confident on the bike but never leave them on their own at this early stage. Try walking beside them so you are always on hand to offer help and advice, and then move behind them as their skills increase.
Teaching your child to ride a bike, summary: