It's finally time to take off the wheels and get on the saddle! If you are a child trying to learn to ride a bike or a parent who needs to help their child, taking off the wheels can be a quick, easy and exciting operation. Don't be nervous: everyone has to learn to ride without wheels sooner or later!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Learn how to ride a bike without wheels
Step 1. Put on a helmet and safety gear
You should always wear a helmet when biking, but you may also be wearing other protective gear! So you will have less fear of trying to drive without wheels. Since the safety equipment will prevent injuries, you won't be so nervous for fear of falling or crashing. Here are some things to wear the first time you try cycling without wheels:
- Elbow pads.
- Knee pads.
- Wristbands.
Step 2. Make sure you can touch the ground with your feet
The bike will make you less afraid if you know you can stop. Before removing the wheels, get on the bike and try to touch the ground with your feet. If you can't, get an adult to help you lower the seat.
If you can't touch with both feet on the ground, that's not a problem: you only need one foot to stop. You should be able to touch the ground with both feet when standing in front of the seat
Step 3. Find a level place to use the bike
Take your bike to an open, large, flat place, such as a park or parking lot. The best choice is a lawn with soft grass, so you won't get hurt if you fall. You can practice on your own, but it is easier to get help from an adult or a friend.
If your bike still has wheels, have an adult remove them before you go
Step 4. Practice with the pedals and the brake
Get in the saddle and stay balanced with your feet on the ground. Put one foot on the pedal and push! Push towards the other foot at the same time. Put both feet on the pedals and keep pedaling! If you have to stop, use your hand to brake.
Don't be afraid to put your foot down if you have to! The first few times you ride you may feel like you are falling, so don't worry if you want to stop and put your feet on the ground
Step 5. Practice cornering as you pedal
When you've figured out how to start and stop, try going left and right. As you pedal, turn the handlebars slightly to the right - you should turn right. Then, turn it left: you should turn left. Try to turn more: try to understand how much you can turn without losing your balance. Don't be afraid to stop if you can't turn!
It is more difficult to turn when you go very slowly than when you go very fast. Staying balanced is difficult if you are practically stationary, so if you can't turn around, try accelerating a bit
Step 6. Practice going uphill and downhill
As a next step, find a bump or a hill. Try pedaling uphill - you'll have to push harder on the pedals to get to the top! When you have reached the top, try to slowly descend. Use the brakes to control your speed. When you get off, go back to the top, and this time accelerate a bit. Do it again and again until you can get off without using the brakes.
- Be patient! It can take some time to learn how to get off without braking, so don't worry if you don't succeed the first time.
- Start with small climbs. Don't try to descend long climbs unless you are already an experienced cyclist.
Step 7. Have a friend or parent push if you need help
It is much easier to learn to ride without wheels if someone helps you. Try asking a parent, a friend who can ride a bike, or your brother or sister if they're willing to help you out. These people can help you in many ways, but one of the most useful things they can do is run beside you and hold you until you can pedal alone.
Step 8. Don't give up
Learning to ride without wheels can be a little scary, but when you know it, riding a bike will be a lot more fun. If you can't go without wheels after the first day of practice, don't worry: in the end you will make it! Try again with the help of a friend or adult when you get the chance. Don't give up, cycling without wheels is something everyone has to learn. Each time you practice, you should feel more confident and cycling will be easier and easier.
Method 2 of 3: Teaching a Child to Ride Alone
Step 1. Take your child to an open area with a slight incline
While every child learns differently, for many, walking slowly down a gentle slope is one of the simplest ways to learn. Moving forward at a slow, controlled speed allows children to get used to the idea that balancing on a bike without wheels is almost as easy as riding one.
Lawns are great for this. Grass prevents the bike from accelerating too much and will cushion any falls, making the experience much less stressful. The last thing you want is for your child to take a bad fall and be frightened to the point that he no longer wants to try driving without wheels
Step 2. Make sure your child is well protected and their bike is the right height
Don't let him ride his bike without a helmet. Not only is it dangerous, but it is a very bad habit to teach him. You could also have your child wear knee and elbow pads - for kids who are afraid, these extra protectors can make them feel safer. Finally, make sure your child is able to touch the ground with his feet when he gets on the saddle, adjusting it if necessary.
Note that some places have laws requiring all cyclists to wear a helmet under a certain age threshold. In some circumstances, violating these laws can be considered a crime for the parent
Step 3. Let your child go downhill while you hold him
When the baby is ready to go, let him slide slowly already for the descent. Hold their shoulders or the back of the seat to keep them balanced. Repeat this test a few times until your child is no longer confident and feels able to ride his bike with your help.
As you walk beside the bike, be careful not to put your feet in front of the wheels
Step 4. Let your child walk by using his feet to stop
Then, let your child continue down the slope again, but this time don't hold him if he can stay balanced. Explain that he can use his feet to control himself or stop if he deems it necessary. This way you will teach your child how to stay balanced on the bike in a safe and controlled environment.
If your child starts to lose control, keep him straight. While some falls may be unavoidable, you should always try to avoid them, as they can scare him
Step 5. Let your child go down the hill using the brakes to control the speed
When he reaches the end of the slope, tell him to stop with the brakes. Repeat until your child is confident enough to slow down and stop unaided. Teaching your child that he can always stop on his bike if he wants to is a very important aspect of building his confidence.
Some children's bicycles allow you to brake by pedaling in reverse. Many sources that advise how to learn to ride suggest the use of these bikes because for a child learning to coordinate the use of the hands with the balance and the use of the feet can be too difficult. If the bike your child is practicing on has a handlebar brake instead, don't worry: he can still learn to brake, just a little more practice
Step 6. Teach your child to turn in a flat area
Have your child pedal forward and then ask him to use the brakes to stop. Repeat this exercise several times to make him feel confident. Then, ask him to turn the handlebars slightly as he goes forward. Walk beside him as he goes, supporting him if necessary. It may take some time for the child to turn safely, so be patient.
Ideally, your child should learn to lean slightly on the side where he wants to turn. This can be difficult for young children to understand, so you may have to wait for them to figure it out on their own
Step 7. Teach your child how to cycle uphill
In this case, choose a hard surface, as grass can slow you down too much. Tell your child to push harder on the pedals and, as always, support him to prevent him from falling.
Step 8. Gradually reduce your support
As your child becomes more confident, slowly begin to hold him less and less until he can walk on his own while you just walk beside him. Then, move further and further away until your child can drive without you being near him. In this case it is important to make slow and steady progress: you should be able to teach your child to go alone without them even noticing.
Be prepared for steps back if your child falls and gets hurt. You will need to stay even closer to your child after a fall, or you risk losing the confidence to keep trying
Step 9. Use positive reinforcement
Stay cheerful and positive when teaching your child how to ride a bike without wheels. Praise him for his progress, and tell him you're proud of him when he finally gets to go alone. Don't blame him for mistakes and don't push him to do things he doesn't want to do. Your child will need to enjoy cycling - in this case, they will be able to learn on their own without your help.
Positive reinforcement, which is the practice of offering your child a reward for their good behaviors, is recommended by many authoritative sources on child rearing. Positive reinforcement teaches children the best behaviors and gives them love and attention, two very important elements in their growth
Method 3 of 3: Learn Advanced Techniques
Step 1. Try a bicycle with handlebar brakes
If your child has learned to ride a bicycle with a foot brake, sooner or later they will have to start using one with the handlebar brakes. These brakes give the rider more control, allowing them to choose which wheel to brake with. To use a handlebar brake, simply squeeze the brake lever on the handlebar. The rear brake usually makes the bike brake more gradually, while the front brake is more effective: be careful it doesn't brake too hard with the front brake, or it could tip over!
Although every child learns at their own pace, in general most children are able to learn how to use the brakes after 6 years of age
Step 2. Try using a bike with gears
Sooner or later, most children learn to ride a bike with gears, which allow them to go faster, tackle steeper climbs and maintain "cruising" speed by pedaling less frequently. To use the ratios, simply use the lever or the gearshift near the handlebars. You should notice that it will quickly become easier or more challenging to pedal - the harder the pedals are, the farther you go with one pedal stroke.
Again, each child learns at their own pace. Most children between the ages of 9 and 12 are able to ride intercourse bikes after some simple instruction
Step 3. Try standing on the pedals
Getting up on the pedals instead of staying in the saddle allows you to put more force on them, and this helps you to proceed uphill or accelerate faster. Also, you have to get up on the pedals to perform many stunts with the bike. In the beginning there may be difficulties in staying balanced or you can get tired quickly in this position. With a little practice, however, it is not difficult to improve strength and endurance and master this ability.
Step 4. Try driving off-road
When you can cycle smoothly on smooth, flat surfaces such as roads, sidewalks and fields, try off-road routes. You will find that proceeding on these paths is different than on the road - you will proceed slower, there will be many holes, and you will have to be more careful where you go. However, it can be a great workout and you can enjoy nature.
Step 5. Try jumping with the bike
When you can ride the bike in all conditions and at all speeds, try to learn some simple stunts! For example, you can try jumping at a slow speed, getting up on the pedals and pulling the handlebars as you push your feet to the ground and throw the weight upward. In the air, lean forward to bring the bike parallel to the ground and land on both wheels. When you are more experienced in this technique, you should be able to make a small jump, which is very useful for example for climbing on the sidewalks without stopping.
Don't be discouraged if you fall a few times when trying to learn to jump or perform other stunts. Nuts and bruises are part of the learning process - making mistakes you learn
Advice
If you don't have enough time to turn, jump off the bike to the softer surface
Warnings
- If you don't have protection, go very slowly when you are a beginner.
- If you try to jump with your bike, make sure you can land well.
