Recommendations for a learning bike?

[Pastashop]

Good people,

What are your recommendations for a little bike for a 1.5-2 year-old kid to learn how to ride? I was thinking along the lines of a "push bike" and wanted to hear opinions (especially from those that have kids who tried them):

http://www.theportablebaby.com/walkingbike.html

... but Sheldon Brown was skeptical of these types of bikes:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/teachride.html

Thanks in advance!

[pdmtong]

I'd say wait and just get the 12"

our progression is as below. I've spent hours with her on bike paths and trails.
at 2 she was on a tricycle
at 2.5 she was on a 12" toysrus $50 special. once did 7 miles on the lake bikepath
at 3.5 she got a 16" schwinn - coaster with front/rear v-brakes. great model to learn hand brakes
at 5.75 she got a 20" 6speed specialized (a bit late)
at 7 she got a 24" full suspension specialized
at 8.5 she did my normal 25 mile loop with me on her trek kdr1000 and is able to climb almost all the XC hills I used to have to run up next to her as she leaned on me.

I'm lucky she turned out to have great skills and a motor. good luck, it just takes time!

[Louis]

I can still remember when I graduated to my first "real" bike and learned to ride. My grandfather taught me. He died when I was still pretty young and that's one of only two memories I have of him...

[stackie]

I started my daughter on 12 inch with training wheels. She learned to pedal and get some distance with this. At about 3, we got her a 'push' bike (the Skuut bike, to be specific). She learned balance with this. When I was sure that she could balance, I took the training wheels off the 16 inch bike (she'd moved up in size by age 4) and she just took off on the 16 inch without a hitch.

If I had to do it differently, I'd go push bike first, then get a pedal bike, perhaps skipping the 12 inch. My 2.5 yo son has a 12 inch (wife had to buy), but really has no interest in pedaling it. He is just starting to fit the Skuut (he's smaller than daughter) and it actually taking to it better than the 12 inch pedal bike. I hope by spring he'll be coasting on the Skuut and I can get him off training wheels a bit faster than his sister. We'll see.

Hope this helps.

Jon

[andy mac]

get on the e-rich list and they might be able to ride in college.

:beer:

[92degrees]

I taught my kid the hard way -- on a 12" bike with training wheels. My nephew started on a Skuut and it's amazing how much faster he picked up riding on two wheels.

http://www.amazon.com/Skuut-0001-Balance-Bike/dp/B000O8OUUY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1228313647&sr=8-1

[harlond]

This is a useful thread:

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=23714&highlight=pedals

I agree with Sheldon that you don't need the balance bike. Just get the 12" wheel bike and remove the pedals. I did that and had my 4-year old riding unassisted within a day:

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=418981&postcount=359

[bzbvh5]

This is a useful thread:

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=23714&highlight=pedals

I agree with Sheldon that you don't need the balance bike. Just get the 12" wheel bike and remove the pedals. I did that and had my 4-year old riding unassisted within a day:

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=418981&postcount=359
+1

[Chad Engle]

+1

Another +1. Get a bike that fits and take off the pedals. We tried everything I could think of before this. Once they "get" the balance thing all they have to do is pedal. Had her riding unassisted the same day we tried it.

[pdmtong]

my kid got the pedaling and steering cooridination on the bikes with trainign wheels. she actually got the balance from a razor scooter. once I saw her carve turns both regular and goofy on the razor, I knew I could pull the trainng wheels off. I'll never forget that day. we're at the top of the driving and she says "dad,let go, I can do it" and she proceeds to ride down the dreiveway and make a few loops in the culdesac. in 15 minutes she is turning left and right at high and low speed like she has been riding for years. I was stoked, but just a bit disappointed I never go to do all that running alongside her like our dads did for us.

for us, the 12" essentially acted like a trike. I never intended it to be one she could ride w/o training wheels. of course I see plenty o' kids pedalling their 12" w/o trainers. just wasnt us. regfardless, the hot tip is to lower the seat so s/he can touch the gorund while sitting. I know it doesnt maximize leg extension but it does maximize inital confidence about not FDGB.

[Steevo]

We used a hand me down 12 incher. I removed the pedals, crank & chain, and taught my daughter how coast, balance & steer. From there it was an easy next step to pedaling and riding a bike for real. She's way ahead of her training wheel dependent peers.

Learning to balance is the key. Everything else follows quite easily.

[alancw3]

two grandsons second (3) of which just finished learning to ride on a 12". definitely the way to go. look on craigslist and get a 12" bike with training wheels for your age and asap remove the training wheels. i have progressed from 12 to 14 t o16 for my two grandsons. the key is not to let them get frustrated and don't rush them. i have also found that a help bar is good (it mounts to he rear dropouts and lets you walk/run behind and hold the balance. good luck, i konw this is an exciting time. again, just don't rush it to frustrate them.