if you can bike, will it matter if the bike has chains instead?
By ch88ss
@ch88ss (2271)
United States
June 6, 2008 12:02am CST
Wow bikes are expensive these days.
My daughters old bike fell apart over the weekend. And I promised her that I will get her a new bike if she went to the restroom during school. (one of my biggest concern).
And she did so after dinner, I took her to toys r's u to pick out a bike.
I got her a 14' wheel Dora bike. Which she liked. I saw that price tag and I was so shocked. It was 69.99 ,and for ready assembled one it was 79.99 (yep my total came up to 86.00)
When we got home, i asked to her bike around in the living room. Guess what! She does not know how to bike. Why is that? She used to be able to go really fast with her mini baby bike, but now everytime she tries to she ends up breaking. Why do kids do that? I thought all bikes are the same. I remember my son used to do the same thing, when he got is first bigger bike, he refuse to bike because it was so complicated.
Does anybody know why the bigger bikes are so complicated. I thought they do the same, peddle and it moves right?
i never knew how to bik because my parents did not let me have one. So I am not sure how it works. But i thought if you knew how to bike it will all be the same. her training wheels are still on too.
4 responses
@william2233 (225)
• Concord, California
7 Jun 08
There is an old saying in life. Once you learn how you'll never forget....
And I believe this.
First of all take her to a park or field some place with grass nearby, then see if she could do? going in a living room will cause problems. Can't get up enough speed to remain your balance. To slow and you'll lean and tip over.
Both my children learned at 5 and 6 years of age.
My daughter took out my bike witch is 26" at age 10, couldn't touch the ground, every time she stopped she wrecked. So I got her own 24" bike instead of a 16".
2nd, be sure her bike fit's her height? What do I mean?
as she is sitting on the seat on the bike see if both feet touch the ground? If not adjust the seat to a lower position.
Let me know how it works out
@ch88ss (2271)
• United States
10 Jun 08
these are great advice.
I finally got her a 12" and it was perfect for her.
My husband thinks it is too small, but we tried the 14" and he feet was not touching the floor.
Thanks for explaning the details it makes sense to me now.
tks
she loves the bike this time. Becuase it was just her size.
@heathcliff (1415)
• United States
6 Jun 08
Wow, how big is your living room? I wouldn't let my kids ride a tiny tricycle through mine!
On point, though, the younger kid's chain bikes still have reverse braking, which is a pain when you're not used to it. Moving up to a multi-gear (5-speed, 10-speed, etc) will remove that problem, but then you have to get used to the gears, and they're even more expensive. More expensive than a full-size adult bike with the same gear structure, even (go figure!).
Only time and practice will help.
Good Luck!
@ch88ss (2271)
• United States
6 Jun 08
Hi thanks for the explanation about the reverse brakes and different gear. I thought about getting her a bike with the chain but then there is more problems.
She is too big now for the kiddy bike - though I know she would prefer those bikes because she zip through them so quick.
My living room- lets see. At my old house which I sold a year ago was the best. She can ride her bike because the living room was large enough. I put a couch in the middle, and she just bike around it.
Now our living room is smaller 1/2 the size, but still enough room for her to manuever around.
I tend to put my furnitures against the wall to make room for the kids to play.
My whole house is arrange for the convenience of the kids. If I could, I like to build a sunroom where the kids can play inside instead of outside away from all the icky stuff. She likes to eat dirt sometimes. (yep go figure, she is autistic and her favorite snack is dirt from my garden).
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
6 Jun 08
I agree with the other response. It could also be that this bike is bigger and a little scarier and that insinct to tense up is what is actually causing her to brake so much. I'm sure she'll be just fine with a little more practice, she knows how to bike, this bike just has a feature she's not used to...brakes.
It's not really that big bikes are complicated, it's that they made the baby bikes way too simple. My 5 year old still flies around on his but I know as soon as we get him a bigger one, he'll be clueless on what to do. It doesn't really help the kids to teach them to ride at such a young age when in reality the baby bikes don't work the same as a big bike...but the little ones have fun and it's just the transitions to the big bike that gets a little discouraging.
@ch88ss (2271)
• United States
6 Jun 08
Wow, yes it is discouring when I see my girl struggle with her new bike. Afterall I paid $86.00 for this new bike and I hope she will like it. I know she liked it because she picked it out herself, but I am afraid the brakes will discourage her to ride and never go on a bike again.
What do I do? I am so exhausted running after her and holding her feet down so she know which way to peddle.
Help.
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
6 Jun 08
Kids brake because the brake works by your feet pushing back wards instead of forwards. I think in their excitement they forget to peddle forwards and then accidentally brake. I hope that helped some. I wasn't sure if that was the answer you were looking for.
