How not to learn to ride a bicycle

and here we are, entire generations of children who somehow, miraculously survived the training wheels, and actually LEARNED to ride the bicycle. I guess it wasnt REALLY that difficult to transition from training wheels was it?
 
IMO teaching someone to ride a bike by push and pray is dumb. Teach the principles first. Turn in the direction the bike is falling. Practice by walking alongside the bike until it becomes natural and then get on the beast. Training wheels are counterproductive.
 
Red_Liner740 said:
and here we are, entire generations of children who somehow, miraculously survived the training wheels, and actually LEARNED to ride the bicycle. I guess it wasnt REALLY that difficult to transition from training wheels was it?
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Just because we did it the hard way doesn't mean it's the most natural way. Or the best way, as my 2 front teeth will attest to when I was about 4
 
Well I'm two for two with training wheels. I'm not disagreeing with the article, but both my kids were riding no training wheels when they were four. Sure maybe they could have learned faster with this balance bikes, but it worked out in the end for us.
 
Yeah I survived training wheels and learned how to ride a bike. But I also have a vivid memory of my mom taking me out for the first time without the training wheels, and somehow highsiding over the handlebars and bruising a rib.

I can see how training wheels are a bit of a counter-productive crutch. They probably don't prepare you any more than getting on a bike having never used them and having your parents 'push and pray' (lol @ that term).
 
Both my kids learned the balance of a bicycle in about 30 minutes, at 4 years old.

I lowered the seat, took the peddles off of the bike, and let them "hobby horse" in the basement. When they could go the length of the basement with out putting down their feet (10-15 minutes) I put the peddles on, raised the seat a bit, and took them to the park. Within 15 minutes they could confidently ride a bike at the park.
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