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Mark Leishman Rotorua in Gear Development Advisor Sport Bay of Plenty |
Summer means many things. Beaches, Backyard cricket BBQ's, and any number of outdoor activity. But it is also a time to enjoy another classic Kiwi tradition – learning to cycle.
Photo: Avanti Bikes
Whether it's for Christmas or a birthday, a first bike is a classic kiwi gift. But that should only be a part of the gift. A commitment to helping that child master the skill of cycling is a lifelong gift. But how?
There is no correct age to learn the skill of cycling. Just because a child is four years old doesn't mean that they are "ready" to learn to ride a bike. Kids (and adults) are ready to learn to bicycle when they want to cycle.
This is often connected to a desire to replicate and copy what siblings or peers are doing. For some kids this maybe at two years old, while for others that may be adults at sixty-five years old. At whatever age this desire shows itself, it is important to support it.
A quick internet search on Google will turn up a wealth of information, often with great video's showing us the way.
Modern methods for teaching cycling tend to separate the individual skills require. Using such an approach, the initial experience for the student is far less overwhelming because they aren't trying to master everything (balance, pedalling, steering, etc.) at once. Separating the skills makes it easy for most, and consequently the whole process generally goes fairly quickly, without the frustration and bumps of traditional methods.
Key points to follow? Find a wide open space (grass is good) and follow this basic sequence (do your internet research for more detail).
- Find balance. Remove pedals from bike, and lower seat so feet touch the ground, and allow learner to 'walk” the bike. Then run it, then 'coast” with their feet up. When they have mastered this skill they are ready for more.
- Introduce and teach pedalling
- Ride straight lines, and stop.
- Now practice turning.
- Put it all together. Most importantly enjoying fun riding experiences with friends and family. Accentuate the positives!
Be patient. Don't expect it to all happen at once. Keep it fun and don't show any frustration. Once riding, don't trick your child by claiming you're holding on when you are not. If the child crashes, you erode trust, which erodes confidence. Most importantly, don't expect the learning process will be crash-free! Be ready to comfort, coerce, cheerlead and bandage.... and possibly to wait for another day.
Or for further information or ideas on how to kick-start your cycling, don't hesitate to drop us a line at Sport BOP with any questions. markl@sportbop.co.nz