Teaching a child to ride a bike

Teaching a child to ride a bike can be an exciting and memorable experience. Here's a step-by-step, Ummm…Pedal… guide to help you teach a child to ride a bike: At Pedal Set Go we do NOT recommend training wheels, with the exception being for some people with disability. The same techniques can be used when teaching an adult to learn to ride a bicycle.

Choosing the Perfect Bike: Setting the Foundation for Riding Success

Ensure that the child has a bike that they can sit on comfortably with their feet flat when touching the ground. At this stage, a bike is better slightly too small rather than too large. The learner will not feel safe nor confident if they are on their tip-toes. Pedal Set Go do not encourage people to purchase a bike their child will “grow into.”

Ensure your child has the right bike for a comfortable and confident start.

Selecting a Safe Riding Location in Sydney: Where to Begin

Discover the ideal spots in Sydney for teaching bike riding, prioritising safety and space. Look for a spacious and flat area with a smooth surface, such as netball or basketball courts, a quiet street, or an empty car park. Avoid busy roads or areas with heavy traffic.

Prepping the Bike: Removing Pedals and Adjusting the Seat for Optimal Learning

Step-by-step guide on pedal removal and saddle adjustment to facilitate the initial learning phase.

Start by removing the pedals from the bike. A number 15 spanner will suffice if you do not have a pedal wrench. The left and right pedals are threaded in opposite directions. The right pedal is threaded normally – turn counterclockwise to loosen. The left pedal is threaded in reverse – turn clockwise to loosen. Lower the saddle so that the child can easily place their feet flat on the ground while sitting on the seat. Lower is best, and ideally, the child can spread their legs and feet apart like a tripod. (If there are no markings on the pedals, you may want to label them left and right.)

Building Balance and Confidence: The Gliding and Balancing Technique

Learning to glide and balance: Begin by helping the child learn to balance on the bike without pedals. If the bike has a hand brake lever or levers, encourage them to use the brakes while getting on and off the bike. Show them how to use the brake rather than their feet to slow or stop the bike. Have them mount the bike and walk while sitting on the seat, using their feet to stabilise themselves. Remind them to remain seated. Encourage them to keep their eyes focused straight ahead and their arms relaxed. When moving in a straight line or steering, the bike will follow their gaze.

Learn how to guide your child through gliding and balancing exercises to foster confidence.

Mastering the Art of Gliding: Scooting to Develop Balance and Momentum

Once the child is comfortable walking, encourage them to push off the ground with their feet and start scooting. They should lift their feet off the ground and try to glide for short distances. Practise this scooting and gliding technique to help them build momentum and develop a sense of balance. Remember, just like a rolling coin, the bike needs some momentum to stay upright.

Explore techniques for scooting and gliding, essential for building momentum and balance.

From here, it should be fun, and apart from reminding the child to look where they want to go, there is not much more for the adult to do. The child will learn through play and experience. Every wobble and false start is a lesson in the right direction. Little and often also avoids the risk of a sore bum.

Pedals Back On: Transitioning to Pedalling with Confidence

Reinstall the pedals once your child has gained confidence in gliding and balancing. Once the child can demonstrate consistent balance through gliding and steering, reattach the pedals to the bike. Make sure they are properly threaded.

A comprehensive guide to instructing your child to pedal and maintain momentum.

Pedal Set...Go!: Teaching the Basics of Pedalling

First, remind the child about the importance of brakes and ask them to demonstrate how they will stop the bike with the brake levers or back pedal brake. Instruct the child to set the pedal to 2 o’clock with one foot on the pedals, and after a big push, lift their other foot onto the other pedal. Continue pedalling to maintain momentum. Encourage them to keep pedalling so they can maintain momentum and their balance. You may wish to support them briefly, but allow the child to practice pedalling independently as much as possible.

Practice Makes Perfect: Building Skills and Confidence Through Repetition

Encourage regular practice, gradually raising the seat as your child gains control. Introduce more challenging terrain as their confidence and skills improve.

Positive Reinforcement: Celebrating Achievements and Nurturing Confidence

Praise the child for their efforts and progress. Celebrate their successes, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement will boost their confidence and motivation and ensure the activity remains fun.

Remember, every child learns at their own pace, so be patient and supportive throughout the process. With time and practice, most children—in fact, people of all ages—can learn to ride a bike independently.

Riding Sydneysider #1: Marie

Where do you live? What’s your usual commute?

I live in Potts Point and I ride most often to the city via Woolloomooloo and through the Domain. I also ride to Surry Hills, Redfern and Newtown quite a lot, using the beautiful Bourke St cycleway. I rarely ride to the Eastern Suburbs because of the hills but I’m planning on purchasing an electric bike soon to make this happen.

You’re a born and bred Parisian. Can you tell us about how you first got into bikes and how you find riding a bike in Sydney?

I started cycling as a kid to go visit my friends who lived nearby. I was just too lazy to walk! Then I really got into cycling in my teenage years. Believe it or not - two girlfriends and I used our bikes to go to clubs at night because we were too scared to use public transportation in the middle of the night in Paris. The rest is history. Cycling is such a huge part of my life today. I use it to go shopping, to go visit friends who live on the other side of the city, to go to meetings to take my son to daycare (he absolutely loves it!). I truly believe Sydney has a lot to offer for cyclists: it is naturally beautiful, the weather is pleasant all year long, it does have a good existing cycling network. The key is finding the right path to where you want to go, one that feels safe, quick and connected. Your best ally is the City of Sydney cycling map which you can order for free here.

Sydney has changed quite a bit since you’ve arrived (6 years ago). Are you pleased with the progress made?

Yes, definitely, but we still have a long way to go. There are some beautiful cycleways that are now part of the network: Bourke St and George St cycleways just to name a couple. We have had some setback (don’t even mention College St cycleway being ripped off a couple of years ago) but we are moving in the right direction.

Any advice for people nervous about visiting bike shops?

I have visited most bikes shops in Sydney and have met some of the loveliest people I know there. Going to a bike shop can seem a bit daunting for some people who are not riders and don’t know the technical language. But mechanics are precisely there to inform you and help you. In Paris, your local bike shop is just like your local butcher or bakery – you know the people working there and you create that special relationship with them that just makes you feel connected to your community. It would be a shame not to have this in your life!

How do you find riding with a child?

After having spent over a year stuck at home with a young child, being able to go back on a bike with him felt like some sort of liberation. It enabled us to get to places much quicker and connect with our friends more easily. My son is completely addicted to being on the bike. He sings, talks, shouts to people – it’s like he’s completely alive when he can feel the wind in his hair!