Dumb question time: We've been given a bike and stabilizers for the 3 yr old. Any advice on fitting the stabilizers? I assume they shouldn't both touch the ground at the same time? or do you adjust them gradually?
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Fitting stabilizers
(17 posts)- Started 14 years ago by SRD
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Posted 14 years ago #
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Actually, think we have sorted that, but any other general getting started tips much appreciated. Bike is still a bit big, so we may wait a bit anyway.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"Any advice on fitting the stabilizers?"
Yes.
Don't.
Get a bike that 'fits' and take the pedals off.
Or get a 'proper' 'trainer bike.'
Sort the balancing/steering/mobility/fun bit before worrying about pedals.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Yeah, we've done the pedal-less bike thing, but she's pretty fed up with it - they're no fun on even a slight uphill.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Best thing to do with the stabilizers is throw them away, they all they actually do is teach the child to rely on the stabilizers rather that leaning to balance. Is better to take the pedals for the bike and drop the saddle so that the child sit astride it with it's feet on the ground and let it scoot around. The child may fall off occasionally, but like learning to walk and run, is unlikely to come to any real harm (they are unlikely to get any great speed up). This way the child will learn to balance, steer, etc, then once the child is confident, put the pedals back on and you will find they will start pedalling away and ride as if they had always done so.
Just see chdot has suggested the same thing...
Posted 14 years ago # -
Yes, I see the logic of taking off pedals and cranks and was convinced, but we ended up getting a balance bike last summer (a) because they were cheap while in the US on holiday and (b) because it is hard to find a small enough bike frame even for a tall 3 year old without spending a fortune. Similarly, the current frame is a bit big, so stabilizers will help. I know you'll all say a properly fitting bike is key - but is that really true at this age? I learned to ride with stabilizers and can't see that it held me back. Then again, maybe I'd be faster and cooler if i hadn't...
Anyway, a rainy afternoon has been useful occupied with a first basic adjusting and maintenance lesson, and some pumping!
Posted 14 years ago # -
I am trying out a one stabiliser option for my middle child, will report back on success or otherwise.
I learnt on a bike that had very fat small tyres, they were white, the bike was red, A raleigh 14? Also not much in the way of frame, no crossbar just huge space to jump through if things went wrong. Few cars in our village in the 1970s. Not sure I could have picked it up until I was a bit older but I certainly see some three year olds out this way who are very competent on their bikes.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Well, we had fun with the unexpected bike - and figured out how to adjust all the bits - but it is definitely still too big. She could get on and off (just), but stopping really not very safe. So will stick with the tricycle a bit longer - she goes like a bandit on it, which is good. Too bad though, because if we could find a bike the same height as the balance bike, but with pedals, she'd be all set for trying it.
My (vague) recollection of stabilizers (or training wheels as we called them) was that they didn't last very long, and I certainly have no recollections of the transition being at all problematic when they were removed.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I've got a wee jungle bike. I just took the stabalizers off and bugee'd a broomstick to the seat tube. It's great for running after them holding on while they get to balance. If ye want a shot of it give me a shout.
Posted 14 years ago # -
we got oor wee yin a scooot bike (from the freewheelin shoppe) with no pedals about a year ago, he's 3 now and getting the hang of taking his feet off the ground to freewheel through the park, when going uphill I tend to give him a wee shove otherwise I can sympathise with it not being fun and too much like hard work (which pedals uphill would be too I suppose), once he is happy with the flat and can prove his balance is good then the same with a downhill slope (it even has a brake) and has outgrown the saddle (not even half it's reach yet)
I would say he won't see pedals for another year or two...Posted 14 years ago # -
ah no, not a scoot, it is a zooom... whatever the difference is I dunno, def not the branded one as it came from Freewheelin and he didn't buy into the "big" name brand
I got advice from a friend who's boy went everywhere on his and he said the metal frames have a wider steering circle, more flexible seat heights, even have brakes and are easier to get a pump attached to the valve (something I found to my luck when the old style hand pump with the flexi adaptor released the air rather unexpectedly), no doubt a lot heavier than the wooden ones but he seems to like it and as can bee seen by the seat post sticking out the bottom it will last him a while (although this is an old photo and it has raised some since)Posted 14 years ago # -
"easier to get a pump attached to the valve"
YES. This is THE major design flaw in the wooden one we have - don't know if it is true for all, but we had a dreadful time trying to get air in the tyre (one had a puncture on arrival bah!), despite my Dad's well-equipped workbench, multitude of pumps, gauges etc.
Posted 14 years ago # -
@SRD - "balance bike races in Harrison Park"
You're on, some sunny evening after dinner (6.30 suit?), cos I get finished at 5 and don't get home till 5.30 these days (except Friday, all bets are off on Fridays)Posted 14 years ago # -
I'd be up for that......but adults on them yeah??
Posted 14 years ago # -
one for each foot
Posted 14 years ago # -
While we were away, we bought a second-hand bike of the right size for the 3.5 yr old (C$20 = £10). It came with stabilizers, so left them on (and coaster brakes, which were a lot easier too).
My parents have a big driveway, and are on a quiet road, so she did a fair bit of practice and got pretty good at braking and steering, but still relied a lot on the stabilizers. Thought about taking them off, but didn't want to push it.
But coming back here, the bike we were given is still too big, so I picked up a small one at the nearly-new sale on the weekend (£11). It didn't come with stabilizers, and has one hand brake.
Have had two sessions so far, both times she has managed to ride maybe 10-20 metres, and no big falls (yet). As my mother said, she's got a lot more co-ordination and balance than I ever did!
Unfortunately braking has regressed - the handbrake on this bike is a bit easier to use than on the other, but still a bit of a challenge for small hands.
And, the number of bikes in our household has just doubled!
Posted 14 years ago #
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