http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Training aids for children: building confidence en Sat, 16 May 2026 20:22:31 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-231882 Sun, 25 Sep 2016 15:54:08 +0000 chdot 231882@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I also have a seesaw and wooden things looking for a new home. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-231881 Sun, 25 Sep 2016 15:53:17 +0000 chdot 231881@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"anyone up for organising something like this here?"</p> <p>I question still worth answering as there are a new set of under 3s since that was written. </p> <p>And also this -</p> <p><a href="http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/edinburgh/whats-going/projects/balance-bike-project" rel="nofollow">http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/edinburgh/whats-going/projects/balance-bike-project</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-88270 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 21:13:56 +0000 SRD 88270@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>anyone up for organising something like this here? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-88263 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 19:07:37 +0000 Arellcat 88263@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I watched the 'balance BMX champs' on the Beeb this morning. They looked like they were having a lot of fun. The wee boy was climbing all over his Dad in the studio.</p> <p>But ... so many badly fitted helmets in the Beeb's article! I don't mind them wearing them, and the full face ones look ever so cool, but for crying out loud, given the sort of ridiculous things I did on my bike when I was young (none of which would've killed me, maybe a good concussion though) when we didn't need to worry about helmets being badly fitted because no-one used them, at least make sure they're fit for purpose. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-88261 Sat, 20 Oct 2012 18:49:53 +0000 Greenroofer 88261@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Starting them young (I mean <em>young</em>) builds confidence...<br /> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20014580">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20014580</a></p> <p>Olympic stars of the future. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-87168 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:09:59 +0000 chdot 87168@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Latest 'skills course' vid</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk8YI6RaMO4" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk8YI6RaMO4</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-86117 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:01:03 +0000 chdot 86117@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/8035846094/"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/8035846094_07e10e0ecd.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/8035846094/">ERC Juniors at Inch Park</a> </p> <p>About 30 kids having fun. </p> <p>Room for a few more.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/8036210266/"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8321/8036210266_8fc64cbb72.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/8036210266/">Islabikes popular with ERC juniors</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-86106 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 13:21:12 +0000 ARobComp 86106@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There is usually a tiny person race as part of certain Scottish Cyclocross events I think. I might be lying though. I saw one at Haughcross. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-86102 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 13:15:04 +0000 chdot 86102@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Do you happen to know if there are any blue prints or specs for those bits of wood anywhere?"</p> <p>Well I sorta keep meaning to. </p> <p>The reality is you use whatever you have to hand (or skip). </p> <p>It helps if you have access to a bandsaw to make quick work of the sloping bits - but a handsaw would do. </p> <p>For the seesaws (the best bit) I have used dowel for the rolling point - but remarkably expensive (for what it is) - broom handles are cheaper!</p> <p>Painting the wood is worthwhile - makes it look a bit more 'proper' and inhibits splinters a bit. </p> <p>The three bits of wood as a 'rumble strip' are remarkable effective for training - introduces a 'safe' obstacle that won't stay parallel for long so adds variety every time they are ridden over. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-86094 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 12:38:50 +0000 Greenroofer 86094@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There was lots of high-fiving in the park this morning. Thank you all for your advice. With only two mounted cyclists (one of whom is three, and on a balance bike and would either have not understood the rules or decided to ignore them) and me on foot, we didn't have a quorum for a slow race, but we're working up to it.</p> <p><strong>@chdot</strong> Thank you - the video you posted was the one I had in mind with the various bits of wood being used in various ways to make obstacles and challenges. Do you happen to know if there are any blue prints or specs for those bits of wood anywhere? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-86042 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:53:04 +0000 recombodna 86042@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That'll be the one cheers roibeard.. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-86039 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:23:55 +0000 shuggiet 86039@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Brilliant , thanks Roibeard. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-86034 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:13:05 +0000 chdot 86034@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Winter sessions starts on Sat 15 Sept 2012"</p> <p>So it's winter then... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-86032 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:56:29 +0000 Roibeard 86032@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.edinburghrc.co.uk/about/erc-juniors">Edinburgh Road Club Juniors</a></p> <p>These guys meet near us in the Inch Park on Saturdays (winter) or Monday evenings (summer).</p> <p>I think it's an off road, sports orientated club (noting the British Cycling <a href="http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/go-rideracing">Go-Ride</a> connections).</p> <p>So, if you're looking for the basic skills to begin competitive junior cycling, that's the place to be.</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-86016 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:41:18 +0000 shuggiet 86016@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm also trying to find out about the 'Edinburgh road club do a kids training thing ' for my newly enthusiastic post Olympics/post-TdF/post Pedal for Scotland 10yr old . If you find out could you share? I'll do the same... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-86010 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:14:28 +0000 recombodna 86010@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't recomend building a makeshift ramp out of bricks precariously piled against a sheet of ply and riding into it as fast as you can followed by a trip to roodlands a+e in haddington...... The Edinburgh road club do a kids training thing somewhere.... I'll have to check that out. One of the guys on the portovelo run was talking abojut it.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-86009 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:58:08 +0000 wingpig 86009@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Find some paths in the range between smoothly-tarmacadamed-former-railway and EXTREME! MOUNTAIN! like a gently-undulating woodland path. Or the Brunstane Burn path. Or some of NCN76. Or some of the bits around Blackford Hill. I've never checked exactly where it is but Wilmington once YouTubed a video clip taken trundling round a mild MTB track somewhere around Meadowfield Park. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-85971 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:16:13 +0000 SRD 85971@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>We'd be up for a saughton trip.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-85970 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:01:41 +0000 chdot 85970@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Saughton skate park is fun when you think she is ready. </p> <p><a href="http://activetravel2stenhouse.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/sbc-visits-the-skatepark" rel="nofollow">http://activetravel2stenhouse.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/sbc-visits-the-skatepark</a></p> <p>Has she got any friends who could play too?</p> <p><a href="http://activetravel2stenhouse.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/today/"><img src="http://activetravel2stenhouse.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/20110920-042030.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-85966 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 07:16:52 +0000 Uberuce 85966@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The trouble I'm having is that all the things I remember doing to improve bike handling were done with my pals around the neighbourhood after taking extensive precautions to ensure our parents couldn't see any of the ridiculously dangerous stunts* we were pulling. Can't in good conscience recommend them. </p> <p>*apply doses of salt for childhood perception of gnarliness and decades of memory attrition.</p> <p>I can, however, detour via the bike park at Saughton if you're not already familiar with it. I dimly recall from POP flyering that there's a starter section which is much gentler than the yoof's radbro hangout and was populated by your spy's age range. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-85964 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 05:55:59 +0000 Smudge 85964@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>High/low fives passing you head to head, "slow race", hang a ribbon(or similar) from each of your belts and try to grab each others (bicycle tig). Erm.. Too early to think of more! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-85960 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:44:16 +0000 chdot 85960@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You don't say how old she is.</p> <p>She might like this -</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORUlx2B6r_4" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORUlx2B6r_4</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8534#post-85957 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:26:34 +0000 Greenroofer 85957@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My daughter is getting bored with riding round the park on her bike, and I'd like to help her develop her skill(z). After all, riding a bike isn't really as simple as riding a bike: it takes a bit of practice to really be competent and confident.</p> <p>She's better than she thinks she is, but hasn't yet got the confidence to throw herself down muddy slopes and do the other things that I did when I was little older than her. I'd like to help her build up to that.</p> <p>So, the kind of things I'm looking to develop are her confidence, balance and bike handling. We've experimented with riding one-handed, and have had a go at trackstanding, very slow riding and tight turns and stuff.</p> <p>Do you know any good resources for training her in skill(z) of this kind? Not only am I thinking of advice on what to train her and how to do it, but also maybe instructions/suggestions on things to make to encourage and develop her. I'm sure that I've seen pictures of things used at local schools (seesaws and stuff).</p> <p>All suggestions gratefully received.</p> <p>P.S. It would have to be things we can do at Morningside Park (which has a great expanse of flat tarmac well-known to bicycle polo players) and on Craiglockhart Hill. Tempting though a BMX park would be, we're not in that territory yet... </p>