What Did You Say, Bikes With No Pedals!

Do you remember your first bike? I know I do. It was white and pink with a little white basket, a bell, and training wheels. Something like the one below, only mine had streamers hanging from the handel bars. I remember not even having a helmet! 

Just like all my friends, I was eager and excited to learn how to ride my new bike. But first there were some lessons to be taught. First, you have to learn how to pedal, that means feet pushing the pedals forward, but at least the bike didn't fall down if you didn't know how to pedal. Then once you got the hang of how to get your feet to stay on the pedals, you're off and going. I had to have wooden blocks put on the pedals. My dad said it was because my legs were to short. I think it was because my bike was to tall. But wait, what if you have to stop! Oh, well that's easy, you push your feet backwards. Piece of cake, right? Wrong, that took a little more time to master. But in time, I did. Then about 7 months later, I came home from school one day and the training wheels were gone!!! Now what do I do? Well, I had to learn all over again how to ride my bike. I had to learn to balance so I wouldn't fall. My safety net was gone. 

Fast forward to 2015!

To pedal or not to pedal--that’s the question on every parent’s mind when it comes to teaching little kids how to ride a bike.  While balance bikes have been around a while in Europe, they’re still just gaining recognition in the U.S. That's no reason not to take them seriously; strider bikes actually provide many important physical, developmental, and emotional benefits for tykes learning to ride. 

Here are the top five reasons why balance bikes are the best option for little ones just getting in the saddle. 

1. You can start ‘em young: 
Children as young as 22-months-old can learn to balance on their own. At the age of 4 or 5, when they get taller and stronger, they smoothly transfer to a pedal bike without ever needing the counterproductive training wheels.

2. Without "crutches":
Unlike training wheels, which don’t impart any real skills, balance bikes teach skills like balancing, steering, braking, using caution, as well as basic traffic rules--the skills needed to ride a traditional pedal bike. Plus, kids gain confidence, enthusiasm for biking, and the benefits of exercise from an early age. Moreover, training wheels appear on the black list of many pediatricians due to their negative impact on a child's spine.   

3. The lighter, the better:  
Balance bikes are two to three times lighter than pedal bikes with training wheels which is crucial for two or three-year-old children. Toddlers can ride several miles without getting tired, keep up with their parents and older siblings, and run up hills they would never conquer on pedal bikes with training wheels. What we often do not realize is that little kids have to manage pedal bikes with training wheels of almost their own physical weight. Just imagine yourself riding a 130, 150 or 170 pound bike! No wonder little children have problems pedaling and keeping those (relatively) heavy machines moving.

4. They reduce risk: 
Because there are no pedals, toddlers and preschoolers benefit from the security of having their own feet on the ground. Kids learning to ride on bikes with pedals are likely to keep their feet on the pedals when they are about to fall down, increasing the risk of toppling, along with the bicycle. With balance bikes, children instinctively plant their feet to slow down and stabilize, reducing the risk of tipping. Some balance bikes also have rear, hand- controlled brakes; steering limiters for a smoother ride; and non-swivel seats, to further reduce the risk of falls.

5. They foster positive parent-child bonding: 
Bike riding is something families can do together. It’s free, encourages physical activity and outdoor exploration, and gets the whole family moving, together. While pedal bikes with training wheels don’t allow younger children to keep up with their parents or older siblings, balance bikes keep the entire family happily on the go. 

No training wheels!! No pedals!! No brakes!! Well, not exactly. There are no training wheels, your feet are the pedals and the brakes! And you wear a helmet. Because of the above things mentioned we had a parent who teaches classes in bike (motorcycle) safety come to the center and help the children understand the difference in the Strider bike and the bikes/trikes they already knew how to ride. It was amazing how so many of the children were able to ride this bike. Watching the children try to ride with no training wheels and using their feet to go and stop took me back to my childhood and fond memories. It never surprises me that the more things change, the more they stay the same. 

Oh the joys of childhood!!