How to teach your child to ride a balance bike quickly and simply | Cycling UK

A step-by-step guide to teaching your toddler to cycle on a balance bike from Cycling UK (formerly CTC), the national cycling charity in the UK. For advice and reviews of balance bikes go to: www.cyclinguk.org/balance-bike
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[@CyclingUK]

Have you taught your child to ride a balance bike? Maybe you're going to after watching this video? Let us know in the comments ⬇

[@kuromiCatrina]

I don't have one

[@kuromiCatrina]

Where's the bell? And pedals?

[@AmyStephAilie]

😊😊❤

[@George-cy3yz]

We started both our kids on balance bikes when they were two. At first it's slow-going, but as they adapt and get bigger, they can really zoom along on these things. Our youngest would keep up with his mom, dad and older brother who would all be on pedal bikes by the time he was 4 (of course we weren't going full-on speed, but at a leisurely pace). Parents, you don't even have to be riders. Take the bike along on walks, and let the kids have at it. Both of my boys learned to ride a proper pedal bike, pretty much immediately, same day within 10 or 15 minutes or so of trying, because they'd already mastered balance. They both began riding pedal bikes by age 5. The only thing that differed on a pedal bike, was the pedals (and a slightly larger bike). Totally awesome for kids. Forget training the training wheels - get them a balance bike, even if they are older, 3, 4, 5, 6. No matter. It's still more fun than plodding along with those silly training wheels. Kids love to ride bikes; it does them a great service to learn how early and with the right skills (meaning with the right balance and agility). Great video, thanks !

[@PrincetonTV]

54 years ago I didn't have a balance bike ... or a helmet. I learnt how to ride in an afternoon, because I was tired of falling and getting hurt. Your method seems like a lot more fun.

[@navara9096]

This comment makes me laugh a little 🤭

[@mikelittwinprincetontv117]

@@navara9096 Good. While my comment is truthful, it was my intent to amuse.

[@zohanowens8928]

I’m 34 years old and I’ve gotten so many bruises trying to ride, where was this in the 90s

[@MsMichaela999]

@@zohanowens8928 I can so relate 😅 no helmets, protection pads etc. I remember falling off so much that I left my bike somewhere on the side of the road and my dad had to go to pick it up 😅😅😅

[@zohanowens8928]

@@MsMichaela999 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@salb714]

This help my little 2 year old when i first got him a balance bike. Its been 13 months and he still loves it. I even made a youtube video of him riding it. Great video.

[@Northernblades]

I found that the 2 biggest steps towards getting mine riding the bike was "sit sit run run" Making sure their BUM IS ON THE SEAT when they run. If they stand over the bike they learn little to nothing. Next, IF you help them at all, always place your hand in the center of their back, just to push gently. (especially up hills) this gives them the ability to learn to glide, without having to go down hill and risk losing control. NEVER touch the seat, NEVER touch the handlebars. Using the hand in the center of the back, gives them the opportunity to glide longer, to keep moving, and they "feel" safer with your hand there. even though it does not help them balance.

[@joeyguy202]

Love the advice......can't wait to try this today!!!!

[@katarinag2167]

Thank u

[@CBull015]

What age was your child? I’m having a hard time getting mine to sit

[@Northernblades]

@@CBull015 My eldest. did not pick up the concept till 3. The younger one much sooner. they are driven to catch up, and driven to copy. The younger one was gliding by the end of the first day. I do not consider my children particularly physically gifted. But that have been involved in bike riding from the beginning. Maybe I post a video of the little one later. Just found the number one thing, was getting the bum on the seat.

[@AnnyLovesPink]

Just bought one for my 17 month old. He tried it out in the store but of course he's still a little wobbly and needs more practice time but he loves his balance bike already

[@salty-as-heck9915]

I learned using the "Scrape Method". Basically, I fell and scraped my knees and elbows dozens of times, and probably my forehead too once or twice. Being born in a 3rd world country we didn't exactly have balance bikes or knee and elbow pads, or bothered with helmets. Someone just pushed you downhills and eventually you figured out how not to bust your rear end after having done so a few dozen times.

[@iwanttowatchyoutubenow]

Yup

[@astro5842]

Great! I bought this for a 17 year old, it was beautiful to see his first steps on it.

[@Realnigga10000]

Lmao

[@cristinasorensen2985]

This is perfect. I used these tips for an older child who had no riding experience. He was able to learn in a week. I'll be using it again for my other children. Thank you!

[@TomsProductReviews]

How did it get so many dislikes? The video does exactly what it says in the title. Muppets

[@lyka1370]

Sometimes kids who are watching accidentally dislikes it.

[@shannonkeighn9641]

@@lyka1370 yah like my lil bro

[@laurenb2407]

Personally keen to dislike because of the lack of helmet…

[@TimothyTranEnjoysLife]

Because it doesnt do exactly what it says in the title

[@iTzReliccc]

“If you choose that your child should wear a helmet” I’m thinking most people watching are from America, most counties have laws where under 16 or 18 have to wear a helmet. Also why wouldn’t you encourage your child to be safe? That may have contributed to the dislikes.

[@taylahmosley7019]

Balance bikes where the best invention my boys loved them and they went straight from those to big bikes without training wheels

[@Jinxed129]

My 3 year old got his first balance bike for Christmas this year. Didn’t even need telling what to do just got on and bloody ran. Better on a bike than I am 😂😂

[@gustavju4686]

Neat! When I was a kid, we learned with a tricycle then a bike with training wheels and then a normal bike.

[@elicentric]

Perfectly balanced as all things should be

[@shahrushin09]

Thank you for this video. It helped to train our toddler using balanced bike 🚴

[@anthonythorne8963]

An interesting spin on this concept; use a scooter to teach the balance and steering concept. I did this with my son and when I noticed that he could balance the scooter and glide after about 2wks so I decided to see if he could transfer those skills to a bike. Sure enough it worked he was riding at 3 1/2 yrs old. Same worked with is sister she used the scooter for 7 mths them just jumped on a BMX and just started to ride balance and streering long since under control only pedaling to master which took no more than 5 mins. She is 7 1/2 yrs old.

[@_asteriixx_ig9628]

As someone said, "Perfectly balanced as all things should be"

[@childrenstoystv6589]

My 2 year old is a natural on his bike. Goes so fast. I wouldn't ever let him on it without his helmet. He loves wearing his helmet because its a fireman's style helmet. Makes it fun whilst being safe to. We've made a video of him pretending to be a fireman.

[@ainsgb]

He does lol! Looks like fun. We chose the specialized hotwalk for our boy to! Great little bike. Although no brakes!

[@lordofwar1234]

What bike is the green one, the little girl is riding with a rear brake

[@Icureditwithmybrain]

My parents gave me a bicycle with training wheels then one day I saw another kid without training wheels and I asked my parents to make my bike like the other kids bike. When they took off my training wheels I rode my bike without it no problem as if I always knew how.

[@aureajmakesvideos6306]

Luckyyyyy

[@mihiustv]

Thanks!

[@gamesonandopsofentertainme5235]

Is their moped and motorcycle like designs for sale too on the balance bike user IP hip alternative

[@SpecTennis]

hey do you have some balance bike footage you can share with me? I need footage for a video project where I compare balance bikes with a method of learning tennis

[@mrbikelover2327]

Valuable tips for teach a kid to learn balance.

[@daveanderson8011]

Good video and advice, our 2 yr old grandson comes round often, was at the park one day and noticed another kid had a balance bike, sounds strange but never heard of a balance bike till then, really good Idea, We're of to buy one latter Any suggestions on what to look for or ones to avoid?

[@jenro3313]

Thank you for the making this video!!

[@DinnerForkTongue]

Starting early, nice and easy should teach these kids to eventually Live Free, Ride Hard and Get Stoked!

[@roomatoid440]

Next bike's a Harley.

[@andrewpitzer245]

And then get them hooked on single track sampler videos

[@DinnerForkTongue]

@@andrewpitzer245 As long as Alex actually uploads!

[@terrydonoghue4343]

I am so thankful for this video. Do you have an established curriuclum for educators?

[@lienbijs1205]

I am Dutch and we just moved the sidewheels a little bit higher every month and finally removed them.

[@azkiyaaliyyaafiya]

I have and me daughters has been using normal bike ini 2 weeks after learning pushbike.

[@SekarSekar-lk2ue]

Nice👏 it is good

[@mariashchetynska4419]

Thank you for the video! My child is 20 months old now. Can I already take the bike for her? We were thinking of taking a roller for her, but many people advice us to take a bike like this. I am just unsure about the age.

[@Saartje05]

Sure. Dutch kids start at that age also.

[@alwinbenjamin]

👏🏻👏🏻

[@alexalexandre9873]

Acho fantástico o acompanhamento dos pais nesse momento parabèns..

[@d23g32]

Isn't teaching balance pretty much what practicing on a regular kid-size pedal bike with properly adjusted training wheels does? We have five kids, and after a short time with training wheels none of them took more than a day to learn how to ride their pedal bike without training wheels while they were still preschoolers. Adjust the training wheels so they're not both in contact with the ground all the time but they're still there to prevent a tip over and in my experience the kid soon learns to pedal and ride without depending on the training wheels to catch them. They already know how to pedal so it's not a very big step from there to training wheels off, an hour or two of assisted practice, and away they go. You could also accomplish the same thing as a "balance bike" without buying a separate, specific "balance bike" by taking the pedals off (and chain off if the main crank going around is a problem) and letting them push themselves around as much as they want. When they're ready to learn how to pedal, put the pedals back on. Voilà. Same bike.

[@querahim91]

this is amazing tips.... my 2yr old son still learning. I have his 1st ride video on my channel

[@DoomFinger511]

Damn, I wish I had that as a kid

[@wellsfamilylife3623]

What a great video. Thinking about getting Sofia one for her 2nd birthday. This has helped!!

[@minagyawali9558]

thank you for this viedo

[@323koopatroopa7]

When did humanity invented balance bikes ?

[@marimtz15]

For those new generation kids that can't take a bump on the head like us 90s kids

[@kcinkcin3808]

@@marimtz15 that's nothing comparing our parents generation,they used to play a game rockwar,the aim was try to hit the other in the head with a rock

[@323koopatroopa7]

@@kcinkcin3808 😂 Yeah I mean, want your kid to learn how to ride a bike ? Get him a fckn bike 😂 one for his or her age of course, training wheels if anything, but balance bikes like wtf 😂

[@caymusic17]

I feel like I would have to invest in a balance bike AND very soon after a regular bike with removable training wheels because they would obviously get the hang of this quickly before wanting a real one.

[@Baqu84]

thank you for this video !

[@WhiteSox1837]

Stupid question, is the rear brake typically on the left hand side in the UK? In the states the rear brake is on the right hand side.

[@apelabs1]

Yes typically, although i have always prefered my rear brake on the right so i swap mine around.

[@Addybhoot93]

So cute kids 😘

[@musicboy7823]

Wow

[@valeriedubuc631]

my 2 years old won't sit on the seat and just walks over the bike like 'normal' but with the bike in between her legs. When I tell her to sit, she sits and stop trying to move her feet. When I tell her move your feet she goes up again not touching the seat. Anyone have advice for that?

[@rolypoly1689]

i bruise a lot when learning to ride a bike. glad theres safer option for our children

[@tigerboy4516]

Hold the bottom of the seat folks. You just need to take the load off the amount of bike they need to control. When you control thier balance they are not learning control :-)

[@the_brick_bali9956]

My cousin is 7 and is still struggling on how to ride one 😭😭 he’s on his iPad all day

[@rowancrouch4789]

Smash the ipad with a hammer

[@the_brick_bali9956]

Rowan Crouch he finally learned today out of no where! Lol. He fell a couple times though :(

[@marisaevehallberg2412]

The_Brick_Bali I know how you feel, my lil sister is your cousins age and she can ride and she has a really nice cannondale, but she got a phone for her birthday and she is on it nonstop. I relly wish that she would enjoy bikeing with me and my dad, we both enjoy road bikeing, and I enjoy mountain bikeing and box racing, and no I am not a boy, I wish there were more girls on the bmx Track. Sry for such the long comment, have a good day!😀

[@the_brick_bali9956]

Two Sisters And A Bro nah it’s ok. You too!

[@jaishambosainath4469]

@@marisaevehallberg2412 gift a skateboard

[@TravellingGurus]

Great detailed video. We chose the Kazam Balance Bike and love it!

[@TicklingToddlers]

Nice video, useful information.

[@ikesundays738]

Great video!!!!!

[@TerusJalanTerus]

nice tips.

[@xoise7147]

Que marca es la bicicleta de la niña?

[@bxlawless100]

“ always stop before your child becomes tired, bored or hungry” Me, too.

[@thimmappavnithin1686]

Super

[@whitey211]

We started it oldest on a balance bike at two and by three he was on a pedal bike and two months later he's riding on rocky paths and going down short but steep hills. He caught on so quick that now with our second son I'm thinking I'm doing something wrong because he's not zooming around after a couple days!

[@kubertrasad]

excellent.

[@Galrath101]

I scraped my knees and elbows too learning to ride a bike as a kid. But who really gives a fuck. If there’s an easier way for kids to learn, while getting hurt less often, I’m all for it!

[@RevoltingRudi]

learned it the hard way. no assistance wheels, no helmet. just a 20" bmx and hoping for the best at age 6. :D

[@eonmwncraigsmith1574]

This is a useful instructional vid. However, an important safety check has been missed! You should always check if the handlebars are secured tightly! The green handlebars on the 4 year old's bike at 1:33 are barely attached to the stem- they are off centre by nearly 20 mm, and the stem has gripped only 20% of the fat midsection of the handlebar.

[@fins59]

You're right, the bike has probably been dropped & the handlebar has moved sideways through the clamp.

[@liondoctor47]

Good video once it got going. The start was unnecessarily slow. Helmets should be encouraged, not seen as a possible choice.

[@RhinestoneCowboy357]

Nannies should be discouraged, not given a platform.

[@joekisonu6993]

This lady looks like she eats kids.

[@sadiasaboor6938]

starts in 1:47

[@carrieguo3327]

Great video. We are maufacturer of children toys in China.

[@RhinestoneCowboy357]

Great video!

[@wmorenoiii]

My mom let me drink out of the hose when I was a kid.

[@saa3957]

Best comment !!!!

[@mariedavis3132]

Uhhh that’s disturbing

[@Karapatri]

Same!

[@rhonda4171]

The best comment of The year

[@aboredjojofanyt5387]

Влад Василишин advertising in youtube is a shitty move

[@dreemac]

"if you choose for your child to wear a helmet"...if?

[@RhinestoneCowboy357]

RIH nanny

[@Stevo_YouTube]

Yep. If. It's a choice.

[@Dahamp2003]

Stevo's KZbin it's only a choice if you're stupid.

[@carriepierson4844]

dreemac has

[@OkiDingo]

E in Miami those kids should get their bikes taken a way

[@unnidonelbosco1518]

My 20 months old son just started to use his new balance bike but he is always walking in the standing position, he does not use the saddle. How can we "convince" him to use it? Maybe he is too young and will naturally progress in the next few months?

[@heatherkinsley899]

Deborah GothicVegan 1mdlosoMamakakaKakkakkjjajjaiaaoooo!

[@heatherkinsley899]

Deborah GothicVegan. . ..9ZZZ a . q fskwlk3**&&^ 4dkeiie÷sorrow powwow 0 +qq1q0pjajssjaul 2

[@schues317]

I don't know if you'll even get this since it's an old comment, but for anyone else who might be reading, they usually "get it" eventually without you doing much of anything other than praising and encouraging them. My two sons have both ridden balance bikes. First one started at 2 years (got it for his 2nd b-day), second around 20 months. Both just walked around with the bike for probably a couple of weeks, but eventually just naturally started sitting and pushing. Both had started actually doing some balancing/coasting within a month or 2 (first one probably a bit faster since he was older when he started). First son moved to a regular bike with no training wheels around 3.5, second will be 2 in a couple of days and already scoots around pretty good on the balance bike (when he's not distracted by a dog, a car, a person....lol). They LOVE their bikes and I am so glad I started them this way!

[@cristinatrofim2777]

Deborah GothicVegan d fc f

[@MrAki1960]

You just answered your own question. Children develop at different times. He will naturally progress.

[@79MrZeus]

Using this balance bike is way much better than the old fashion way. My two daughters learned to ride a bike very well at 5 years old by riding this balance bike before.

[@Fork.l]

spending $500 dollars for my kid to walk on a beam with wheels, great use of money!

[@kristinpower-blaiklock7350]

I bought a $60 balance bike for my 18 month old and he still rides it at age 3 1/2 even though he also can ride his pedal bike now. Yes, it was a great value for the money. You can find used ones even cheaper, sometimes free when neighbors are passing along outgrown things.

[@nokia6600ify]

my first bike lesson is to down hill,

[@dianaortega6909]

ke chevere

[@Krishna_rationalist]

'Tiny star' rides a bike.... Motivation is the first step to learn bikes....!

[@helenflanagan5967]

Jessica mullins

[@colinoldncranky]

I appreciate your effort to inform and the clever idea of a balance bike. However it is clear that with the best of intentions the designer of this bike knows little aobut how to design a bike to WANT to steer straght. The geometry of the bike yo are using is inherently NOT going to steer a straight line as the front wheel axle has zero offset from the axis of the forks. Check out bikes and you will that the axle needs to be for ward of the forks axis. High performance bikes for highly skilled competition riders will have less, others for those with less offset than bikes for the less ambitious and less skilled. But even those bikes will have SOME forward offset. The bike you are using has ZERO offset. It is an all too common design mistake in learner bikes that are designed by people with no understanding of bike geometry. Those bikes will have NO tendency to track a straight line.

[@B2dz_16]

Which brand or model of balance bike would you recommend?

[@dashpash]

It’s not about the exact model of bike. Clearly you missed the point.

[@moonstruckjl]

Colin Christensen I want to know more about that you’re saying. Can I send you a photo of my son’s balance bike?

[@moomanster7738]

I’m 12 and I don’t know how

[@alt_f30rblx25]

that explains why i dont understand the bikes in this video. wait why am i even here?

[@helenloke7814]

Baby bicycle

[@alt_f30rblx25]

Helen Loke mo its in britain, thats why

[@anandkeshri4382]

Martha is very very cute....

[@sung94132]

Bike seat must be re designed to protect kid's ball.

[@ritusarawgi7906]

My daughter is not make balance what I can do for this

[@Lakalddsksk]

Incase you wanna watch the how to ride a bike video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5DdlGRvaptmjtE

[@utakatikmobil]

363 parents fail to teach their kid cycling

[@sharifaainiemaadil4514]

its good to a child who did know how to ride a bike balance bike its interesting

[@robertdelarosa5115]

h sch i

[@apelabs1]

Sort the bars out on the white bike, they're not central in the stem

[@nideiki3815]

I bought a used bike for $10 then simply removed the pedals. Within three days she was ready.

[@Carreidas]

Disappointed that a Bicycle ridning instructor wouldn't always promote and teach safety. Helmet is not an option.

[@RhinestoneCowboy357]

I'm disappointed that you are such a nanny.

[@R_L_A_G]

Some kids can't wear a helmet comfortably. Also don't even force kids to wear a helmet that has no paddle. It worse than no helmet.

[@OkiDingo]

Rebecca George so if your kid complains the car seat belt is uncomfortable you would let them go without it?

[@R_L_A_G]

No, however some people get injured from seatbelt. So even things are not always safe, even if that is a the intention.

[@nickanthony90]

Dean R English lmao yes that's a perfect comparison. A 2 year old in your front yard riding a bike around in an extremely controlled environment vs being in a car on the road with other nutballs.

[@Gipsz_Jakab]

man my friend started with poked out wheels why would younger generations need theese pedalless things?

[@albertcabrera6641]

I Dont need that bike i know how to bike Pedal bike but my mom dont know how do a bikr

[@Bofa_dz]

This invention would be way better if it had 2 pegs the kid could rest their feet on after pushing because holding ur legs up is pretty tiresom lol

[@jennifermurphy9981]

im 8 and I know how to ride 2 wheels on a big bike.

[@jennifermurphy9981]

I have a little cousin that I tought him how to ride a 2 wheel bike without the balance bike.

[@primusinterpares99]

Its not of you choose a helmet. Its if you government Forces you to wear one.

[@bhalchandrasarang4740]

I learn how to ride a cycle without a balance cycle

[@gamesonandopsofentertainme5235]

Or tire of pedal soar a IP a too on op relaxing op alt user on budget a electric etc etc

[@dmcdgames2388]

Or we can just give them training wheels and gradually take them off instead of buying a bike that has no pedals or gesrtrains.

[@bunnysm]

Then you have to wait until they are 3.5-4 years old while this one they can enjoy with 2. Not to mention that balance is more important than pushing the pedals and the first is being mastered with this bike, while the second is being learned first with the training wheels.

[@HealthyNix]

I was riding a bike with training wheels at two and I had the training wheels taken off at 3. This balance bike is pointless who wants to ride a bike without pedals lol.

[@BobbyJrAi]

The background music is too loud. It’s difficult to understand the speaking

[@maddgabbtv3663]

I rather get my kid a regular bike because than he going to need to learn. To pedal

[@johndoby]

1:33 Nice bar setup there. Now go ride down this steep hill.

[@jasonsantos4487]

I already know how to pedal on bike and balance I know how to ride a bmx a bmx has no brakes

[@sadiasaboor6938]

4:15

[@satyanandmandal6977]

nice bike