Training Wheels

[finswin56]

I'm taking them off my son's bike tomorrow.

Are there any experienced parents who can help me with this so that my son isn't left crying and bloodied in the street like I was?

My dad's old school technique, was to hold the bike up and get me going, then let go and watch the carnage. I ended up flipping over a mailbox, which just so happened to have the flag up. Ended up with a slice all the way down my back. I'd rather that not happen this go around

 

[Whitedolphin54]

I always thought that was the way to learn. Of course if the tyke has been naughty recently, you could try starting him on a steep hill :D. Seriously though we started ours off pretty much that way, except it was on the common to give them a soft landing.

 

[NJFINSFAN1]

I took my kids to the rec field and had them try it on the flat grass for the first few days. It had a little hill on it and I would start them on top so they get a little speed and run next to them yelling pedal. If they fell at least its on the grass to begin with.

I kept doing this until they said they were ready for the street.

They will fall on the street, its going to happen sooner or later, just don't push them until they say they are ready.

But the grass helped big time, because they fell a lot to begin with.

 

[finswin56]

Thanks guys!

I really like the grass idea Greg. We have a softball field and soccer field in the neighborhood, so I'll go there.

 

[Coral Reefer]

I'm taking them off my son's bike tomorrow.

Are there any experienced parents who can help me with this so that my son isn't left crying and bloodied in the street like I was?

My dad's old school technique, was to hold the bike up and get me going, then let go and watch the carnage. I ended up flipping over a mailbox, which just so happened to have the flag up. Ended up with a slice all the way down my back. I'd rather that not happen this go around

My dad took them off gradually..... or he planned to at least.

He "bent" the wheels upward a little to give the bike some play so I could get used to balancing without being completely unprotected.

It worked pretty well until the kid down the street laughed and taunted me.
I went back, demanded they be taken off and proceeded to bust my arse a number of times before finally getting it.

I think the idea was a good one and would have worked if it wasn't for the butt head kid down the street.

Good luck with him Joe.

 

[Ohiophinphan]

You could wait like I did with my daughter. I didn't take the wheels off, she did! I was afraid for "my little girl" so she grabbed a crescent wrench and removed them. She was going fine by the time I got home.

Her grandfather was visiting at the time and I was always convinced he did it for her but they both denied it and he's gone now so................

Make sure the elbow pads, knee pads, and helmet are securly fastened and send us pictures!

 

[njfinfan]

I always thought that was the way to learn. Of course if the tyke has been naughty recently, you could try starting him on a steep hill :D. Seriously though we started ours off pretty much that way, except it was on the common to give them a soft landing.

:sidelol: Good luck Joe. I'm with you in spirit but I don't have any experience. Neither of my kids have ever even aspired to ride a bike.

 

[The Confessor]

I had training wheels till I decided they did nothing but get in the way. By the time my dad took them off, I was easily riding on just 2 wheels and the training wheels only affected my ability to turn.

 

[finswin56]

My dad took them off gradually..... or he planned to at least.

He "bent" the wheels upward a little to give the bike some play so I could get used to balancing without being completely unprotected.

It worked pretty well until the kid down the street laughed and taunted me.
I went back, demanded they be taken off and proceeded to bust my arse a number of times before finally getting it.

I think the idea was a good one and would have worked if it wasn't for the butt head kid down the street.

Good luck with him Joe.

We did that sort of thing inadvertantly a few weeks ago. His back tire had been running really low on air, and by the time I made it fat with air the training wheels ended up raising nearly an inch. He bitched and moaned for a while, but adapted pretty quickly. That's one of the reasons I'm taking them off. He's been riding very well on the two main tires. Turning could be "fun" though.

 

[finswin56]

You could wait like I did with my daughter. I didn't take the wheels off, she did! I was afraid for "my little girl" so she grabbed a crescent wrench and removed them. She was going fine by the time I got home.

Her grandfather was visiting at the time and I was always convinced he did it for her but they both denied it and he's gone now so................

Make sure the elbow pads, knee pads, and helmet are securly fastened and send us pictures!

Well Joey's best friend is a year older than him. So, he wants to do everything when his buddy does it. That makes some things like this tough. Last summer his friend had his training wheels removed, and did pretty well, but he didn't like riding bikes anymore because my son still had his on. His parents relented, and put the training wheels back on so they would play more often. Now his dad and I ready for the next step because we think the boys are too. There are a ton of kids on our street, and in our cul de sac the bigger boys try to play with our kids, but our kids are frustrated by not being able to keep up. We think the training wheels are in the way at this point.

We shall see. This evening will be the first test. The good thing is that my son has a helmet; something I wasn't so fortunate to have

 

[Ohiophinphan]

The older boys will teach him far better than you will. As far as bike riding that is a good thing. As years go on however and other lessons need to be learned, then their help will be less desired.

 

[cnc66]

gloves are a good thing.. save the hands on asphault crashes.

 

[finswin56]

The older boys will teach him far better than you will. As far as bike riding that is a good thing. As years go on however and other lessons need to be learned, then their help will be less desired.

lol, that is too true.
Fortunately, nearly all the kids are really good. Just one trouble maker, but he doesn't like me because I always give him the stare :err:

 

[The Confessor]

lol, that is too true.
Fortunately, nearly all the kids are really good. Just one trouble maker, but he doesn't like me because I always give him the stare :err:

Keep on stairing Joe. That is one of your god-given rights as a parent. Of course eventually staring alone might not be enough


:shotgun:---at which time you will have to adapt and overcome :up:

 

[finswin56]