If you or your child are worried about riding a bike for the first time, you may want to consider starting out with a balance bike. These are great fun, and kids take to them instantly – there doesn’t seem to be much of a learning period required. Kids simply sit (or balance) on the bike, and push themselves along with their feet. There are no brakes, no gears, and there aren’t even any pedals. But a balance bike will help your child learn all the necessary skills in order to easily master a pedal bike later. You can find great advice and offers on balance bikes here.

Stabilizers

However, if you want to start riding on a pedal bike, then you can always consider a bike with stabilizers. There are many smaller bikes (10”, 12”, 14” and 16” wheels) that come with stabilizers ready fitted. But stabilizers can be fitted quickly and easily to almost any bike with 16” wheels or smaller.

Practicing and Learning to ride

There are a few things to consider that will make riding any bike (balance bike, or bike with or without stabilizers) for the first time a bit easier.

Always make sure your child practices cycling under supervision

Start on an open and even surface

If you aren't using stabilizers, hold your child's arm to train their balance

Start loosening the grip once the child is a bit steadier and finally let go while still running with them

Practice cycling on long straight stretches at first

Once some skill and confidence has developed, start practicing cycling around bends. Again, stabilize your child at the arm for the first few attempts. Usually turning to one particular side will be easier for your child than another. Practice that one first, then move on to the trickier side.

You should continue practicing in a quiet area until your child can safely manage to look to the sides while riding the bike, let go of one hand at a time and get on and off by itself.

NEVER allow your child to cycle on roads until she is confident and well practised, and even then she should not go unsupervised at first. See our page on Cycling Safety.

Don't forget, learning to ride cannot be done in a single day. Cycling and moreover, cycling responsibly, requires practice. But practicing cycling is fun in itself.

This info is a simple introduction to learning to ride a bike, and is for guidance only. For more info on cycle safety, see The National Cyclists Organisation web site here.

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