BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Thrift stores like Red/White and Blue or Goodwill usually have more kids bikes than they know what to do with, for cheap. And then he'll have a bike. What part of town are you in?

additionally there's the occasional cop "auction". that is, if you know any police officers or managers of them (e.g. borough manager), they might be able to supply a few of the many unclaimed bicycles that turn up at police stations around town.

but edmonds's suggestion is a good one!

Is he an adult or a child?

I bookmarked a "lose the training wheels " class a while back in case I fail utterly, but I'm pretty sure it is special needs only so probably not what you're looking for.

Step 1, get bike, like they said. Then I follow instructions online for how to teach riding without spending $ on trendy pedalless bikes. So far all I get is "mommy.. put my training wheels back on" (but all changes in routine are resisted so i expect progress to be slow.)

If child, you might want to consider a pedal-less bike without training wheels.

Here's a video of a small child having fun with one of these.

Here's an even smaller girl on one [video].

also awaiting the part of town as I may have one i can spare, not sure though. Also, please make sure you start him off wearing a helmet and make sure its a part of the routine, no matter how short the ride. There are plenty of options of places to get a free helmet if you look around.

also awaiting the part of town as I may have one i can spare, not sure though. Also, please make sure you start him off wearing a helmet and make sure its a part of the routine, no matter how short the ride. There are plenty of options of places to get a free helmet if you look around.

Those "Razor" kick scooters are an excellent pre-bike step They must develop the same sense of balance, because a lot of kids seem to be able to go right from those to a bike.

Sprite - leave the training wheels on as long as they want, but gradually bend up the training wheels so they're supporting less and less, just gently put your weight on each side and bend them up 1/4 inch at a time. The child eventually gets tired of leaning over and starts riding upright.

ditto on the thrift store kids bike. Also i suggest removing the pedals at first giving ur brother a balance bike of sorts. My son was riding a two wheelr with pedls in three hours by starting with the bike sans pedals.

Absolutely I think most balance bikes are very expensive, but i am a convert in how well they work to teach kids balance. training wheels cannot compare.

I never used training wheels, neither did my sisters, or either of my two children. A bike is two gyroscopes connected by a frame. Get the kid rolling and overcome any fear by holding onto an arm, and they'll be doing fine soon enough.

For that matter, I've successfully gotten several people up and rolling on unicycles using the same method.

Ditto on removing the pedals. When I taught an adult beginner to ride, that's what we did until he had balance down.

That said, when I taught myself to ride in 2006, I kept the pedals on. Had I only managed to avoid that mailbox, I'd have been a complete success on that first bike ride.....

grass, hard pack field, no training wheels, prepare to comfort and dry tears.

repeat nightly until child rides.

teaches great lessons for later in adulthood (for both the child and parent).

Going along with Willie P. its very important to "make" them get back on the horse after the fall. not forcing them to keep falling on their hear, but not let them give up after only 1 or 2 falls.