Baby had been eyeing his big sister’s bike for several weeks and this morning, he finally decided to ride it. But pedaling turns out to be more difficult than he thought …
Learning to ride a bike: a matter of coordination
Learning to cycle does not require new knowledge. But it requires the child to coordinate several psychomotor behaviors acquired previously. This is only possible around two years old, when walking has become automatic. To push on the pedals, Baby will also need muscles strengthened by daily walking.
If your child has already mastered the tricycle, he or she will probably have less difficulty handling their first bicycle. But the latter is still higher and less stable than its three-wheeled cousin.
The bike, also a matter of synchronization!
Sitting on this somewhat shaky object, it must be able to synchronize:
- the action of his two legs, to push a blow to the right, a blow to the left;
- the movement of his arms and legs to hold the handlebars while pedaling.
Before 3 years, loss of balance is frequent. The child pushes on the arms or coordinates the movements of his legs poorly. Concentrated on what he has to do, he also often forgets to look ahead! Badaboum!
How to choose the right baby’s bike?
To avoid falls, choosing a good bike is essential. Ask yourself the right questions at the time of purchase.
- First and foremost, your child’s bike should carry CE mark, which indicates its compliance with the European safety standards in force.
- The bike must be adapted to the size of the child. When seated in the saddle, the little one must not only reach the pedals without difficulty but also be able to put his feet flat on the ground, especially if he is a toddler or if he is uncomfortable on the floor. A bike.
The best is to choose a bike that suits the size of the child when the saddle is at its lowest : he will be able to use it longer by gradually raising the saddle.
However, be careful not to not mount the saddle beyond the safety line indicated on the seat post.
And instead, if he touches the ground with his tiptoes, even when the saddle is at its lowest, the bike is too big. There is a risk of falling.
- The knees should not rise higher than the navel, nor touch handlebars when the child is pedaling, so that the little cyclist can pedal and move around easily. When the knees go up too high, it means that the bike is too small.
For 2 3-years, A model 10 or 12 ” (diameter of the wheels in inches, ie 25,40 cm or 30,48 cm) is generally perfect… These bikes for beginners have in principle a low frame (to facilitate the step over) and a handlebars half-raised, easier to hold. To be sure of your choice, it is best to have the interested party try the bike.
Namely
A child of 4,5 to 6 year-olds measuring between 105 and 120 cm will be comfortable on a 16 inch bike.
De 6 to 9 year-olds, either a size de 1m20 to 1m35, prefer a bike 20 inches.
Last but not least, après 9 ans (1,35 to 1,50 m), choose a bike 24 inches.
- The bike must of course be stable. Sufficiently heavy, the machine must be fitted with “small wheels” (preferably reinforced steel) at the rear.
- Le braking system must be adapted.
For smaller children, who do not yet know how to operate the manual brakes, the bicycle must have a fixed gear system or a coaster system.
Then choose a model with soft brakes and the size of his little hands and a “freewheel” system (so the pedals don’t hit his feet when going downhill).
Furthermore, it is preferable that the transmission channel is inaccessible to small hands (thanks to a protective cover). This will also prevent sludge stains on the pants!
Finally, when the child’s knees hit the handlebars with each pedal stroke and the saddle and handlebars have already been raised to the maximum, it is time to change the bike (usually every three years).