kid coming off balance bike to pedals - freewheel or no?
Discussion
My boy (3) is ace on his balance bike and I stumbled across a free bike so grabbed it. Problem is it is fixed gear, so when he stops pedalling, the bike stops immediately. I'm thinking this can't be the best way to get him used to pedals can it, or maybe it is because he will have to get used to a good pedalling technique. Don't want to put him off, wondered if anyone had similar recent experiences.
Mars said:
Personal opinion: Fixed sprockets are not natural, and for a little kids could lead to (albeit minor) injury.
My lad went from balance bike to freewheel pedals and brakes. Next year (he'll be 7yo, we'll consider gears.
I tend to agree and also as he is a speed demon, seems like a backward step when going downhill if the flailing pedals will scare him or slow him down.My lad went from balance bike to freewheel pedals and brakes. Next year (he'll be 7yo, we'll consider gears.
Might keep the freeby fixed bike up at my dad's house for when he know how to pedal so he has something to play on for a year or so up there and get him an Islabikes Cnoc to learn on and as his 'main bike'. Assume they have freewheels anyway, will check.
the replacement rear wheel is a good idea (would have to be whole new wheel as it is just a fixed crappy thing that doesn't look like it can be upgraded). It is a small wheel though so not sure where best to hunt around for such things. It isn't a very nice thing, and is quite tottery, even feels odd as I hold him on it, so am minded to go for a Cnoc anyway and he can have this as an occasional play thing when at grandparents. He is still loving the Rothan anyway, so might be best to keep him happy on that until his birthday in December!
My son enjoyed the balance bike and as he grew out of it I tried him with a pedal bike. He didn't like it at all and I think it put him off cycling completely for a year. He could ride it though, and with me running alongside, he was never in any danger of falling but he just got scared.
He returned to it when I told him I was cycling with my brother (his uncle) and he wanted to come too, which was the perfect motivation for him to learn. Now you can't get him off his bike. He did 11 miles with me yesterday. He's 6yo.
Anyway, I wish I hadn't taken such a hard-line with trying to move him up to a pedal bike now. I can see that wasn't the right move.
He returned to it when I told him I was cycling with my brother (his uncle) and he wanted to come too, which was the perfect motivation for him to learn. Now you can't get him off his bike. He did 11 miles with me yesterday. He's 6yo.
Anyway, I wish I hadn't taken such a hard-line with trying to move him up to a pedal bike now. I can see that wasn't the right move.
Mars said:
My son enjoyed the balance bike and as he grew out of it I tried him with a pedal bike. He didn't like it at all and I think it put him off cycling completely for a year. He could ride it though, and with me running alongside, he was never in any danger of falling but he just got scared.
He returned to it when I told him I was cycling with my brother (his uncle) and he wanted to come too, which was the perfect motivation for him to learn. Now you can't get him off his bike. He did 11 miles with me yesterday. He's 6yo.
Anyway, I wish I hadn't taken such a hard-line with trying to move him up to a pedal bike now. I can see that wasn't the right move.
and is your experience with a fixed gear or freewheeling bike? I agree, he tried walking with it and said "that's much better daddy" so I might just hide it away and get him back down the bmx park on his balance bike!He returned to it when I told him I was cycling with my brother (his uncle) and he wanted to come too, which was the perfect motivation for him to learn. Now you can't get him off his bike. He did 11 miles with me yesterday. He's 6yo.
Anyway, I wish I hadn't taken such a hard-line with trying to move him up to a pedal bike now. I can see that wasn't the right move.
Poloding Along said:
What size of wheel is it and where are you based?
would have to measure, it is actually smaller than the wheels on the Rothan! It is a plastic thing with a non-pneumatic tyre so probably a silly size. Based around Birmingham/Stourbridge most of the time. Think I will just invest in a Cnoc in December and leave this thing as an occasional play thing at his grandparents (200 miles away so won't always take his bike up with him) for when he is a bit older. Or maybe I should just give it away again!Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff