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Here’s how the Bike New York “Balancing First” technique works:
• Once the trainers and pedals are off the bike, lower the seat if necessary so your kid can sit on it with her feet flat on the ground.
• Hop on the bike yourself to show her how to walk it forward; when you’ve gained a little speed, push off, pick up your feet and roll.
• Explain that she should keep on rolling straight ahead, for as long as she can. If she feels like she’s tipping to one side, have her put her feet back down and walk the bike.
• Balancing will be easier if she concentrates on an object some ways ahead, so suggest that she pick out a tree or park bench to focus on.
• Practice. This may take many attempts over the course of a day or more. If she’s at all anxious, take a break and try again later—there shouldn’t be any pressure.
• When she’s rolling in a straight line like a pro, reattach the pedals. Using the same push-and-glide style as before, have her lift her feet up, feel for the pedals (without looking down), and push off.
Balancing trainer bikes, such as the Skuut, LikeaBike and Specialized Hotwalks, are designed without pedals or training wheels—tots just straddle, walk and go, says Peter Emblad, CEO of Skuut. “Balance bikes are becoming so popular that training wheels will probably be gone in about five years.” In theory, these models make for a faster transition to a big-kid bike, though bike purists insist these are an unnecessary step (and expense) that children may outgrow in a year—or much sooner for a child who learns to ride quickly. (Skuuts cost $89; LikeaBikes range from $150 to $300; Specialized Hotwalks are about $140.) “I found that the best way to teach my kids was to just take the trainers off and have them go for it,” says Upper East Side mom-of-three Ann-Marie Myers. In fact, a wrench is all you need to convert a regular two-wheeler into a “scooter”—and then you’ll have the real deal at hand when your child is ready to start pedaling.
