Adult training wheels

John said:

My wife is learning to ride a bike, without much success. My LBS is at odds
with itself on whether an adult learner benefits from training wheels. One

<SNIP>

Quoted message said:

So. Should I start out with a Goodwill single speed special and training
wheels? I'm thinking we could upgrade to a comfort bike once this one is
mastered.

I taught both of my kids to ride a bike in about an hour by using a
bike with the seat lowered and the pedals removed.

Bill

--------------------------------------------------------------
| They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little |
| temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. |
| --Benjamin Franklin |
--------------------------------------------------------------

John said:

My wife is learning to ride a bike, without much success. My LBS is at odds
with itself on whether an adult learner benefits from training wheels. One
salesperson tried to sell us a single speed cruiser with training wheels.
Another said the cruiser handlebars had too much leverage for a bigger, the
gear ratio was wrong, etc.

I figure the only experts will be someone who actually taught an adult using
training wheels and as luck would have it, usenet reaches a wide audience of
bike enthusiasts.

So. Should I start out with a Goodwill single speed special and training
wheels? I'm thinking we could upgrade to a comfort bike once this one is
mastered.

Training wheels do not facilitate learning the necessary skills and
conditioned responses for cycling, because they don't let you steer the
way you do when actually riding.

Best method: use a bike that fits properly. Then lower the saddle until
the rider can plant her feet on the ground, and remove the pedals from
the cranks. Let the rider "scoot" while she learns to use the brakes,
and gets used to the sensation of turning by shifting body weight.
Since she can touch the ground, she should feel safe.

When she feels comfortable starting, stopping, lifting both feet off
the ground, and changing direction, it's time to reattach the pedals
and, as confidence grows, raising the saddle.

The first few practice sessions could reasonably take place in a park,
on soft grass, but I never found that necessary with the kids I've
instructed using this method; they never fell.

I don't think this approach will work very well on bikes with coaster
brakes. I've never worked with coaster brakes (since I was a kid
myself, 45+ years ago), and don't have any useful insights about
learning to ride with them.

RichC

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

John said:

My wife is learning to ride a bike, without much success. My LBS is at

odds

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with itself on whether an adult learner benefits from training wheels.

One

Quoted message said:

<SNIP>

Quoted message said:

So. Should I start out with a Goodwill single speed special and

training

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

wheels? I'm thinking we could upgrade to a comfort bike once this one

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

mastered.

I taught both of my kids to ride a bike in about an hour by using a
bike with the seat lowered and the pedals removed.

Bill

Bill,

Did you do that just to help/improve thier balance? I'd think that this
method would be hard because pedaling is such an integral part of cycling.

regards,
Cully
http://comatimes.blogspot.com/

John who? said:

My wife is learning to ride a bike, without much success. My LBS is
at odds with itself on whether an adult learner benefits from
training wheels. One salesperson tried to sell us a single speed
cruiser with training wheels. Another said the cruiser handlebars
had too much leverage for a bigger, the gear ratio was wrong, etc.

Quoted message said:

I figure the only experts will be someone who actually taught an
adult using training wheels and as luck would have it, usenet
reaches a wide audience of bike enthusiasts.

Quoted message said:

So. Should I start out with a Goodwill single speed special and
training wheels? I'm thinking we could upgrade to a comfort bike
once this one is mastered.

From my experience, "training wheels" is a misnomer, they having
nothing to do with bicycle training. You could just as well ride a
tricycle and claim it was bicycle training because it uses pedals for
propulsion.

Most children who do not come naturally to bicycling, something that
most do, is to ride with one training wheel on the ground, leaning to
one side. I think you will make better progress with a lowered saddle
so that both feet can reach the ground easily.

The problem, as I see it, is the same uncertainties that a child sees
as a beginner, except that these have been thoroughly ingrained by the
passage of years, making it a more difficult task. Mainly it is a
fear of leaning into curves because that seems to be the beginning of
falling to the road. Because leaning is essential for steering a and
steering a is essential for balancing, fear of leaning precludes
bicycling.

Jobst Brandt

Aagh no, don't use training wheels. The way you steer any vehicle
that stays flat, like a tricycle or a bike with training wheels, is
almost exactly opposite from the way you steer a bike that leans.
One thing that does steer the same way as a bike is a scooter. If
you can find one of those little scooters that were popular a couple
of years ago they might make an easy start, since your feet are
essentially on the ground all the time

Jeremy Parker

"John" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So. Should I start out with a Goodwill single speed special and training
wheels? I'm thinking we could upgrade to a comfort bike once this one is
mastered.

If you could afford it, I'd start out with a tandem. Get your wife used to
sitting up there, hanging on, and pedalling. The act of balancing on a
single could be added later.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
Sponsor me for the Big Climb! See: www.active.com/donate/cpetersky06
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

Claire Petersky said:

Quoted message said:

So. Should I start out with a Goodwill single speed special and training
wheels? I'm thinking we could upgrade to a comfort bike once this one is
mastered.

If you could afford it, I'd start out with a tandem. Get your wife used to
sitting up there, hanging on, and pedalling. The act of balancing on a
single could be added later.

I'm not sure this would actually help her learn to ride a bike, as
steering and balancing are very intertwined when riding and IMHO, the
most difficult part of the riding process.

Someone can "sit up there, hang on, and pedal" on a stationary trainer,
but I think that adds little to learning the most difficult part of the
skillset necessary for riding.

I'd opt for the "low seat, no pedals" approach already mentioned.

However, riding on the back of a tandem might be so much fun that it
gives her the motiviation to learn to ride.

Rich

Rich wrote:
....

Quoted message said:

However, riding on the back of a tandem might be so much fun that it
gives her the motiviation to learn to ride.

Or the front of a Counter/Viewpoint!

HTH

--Karen D.
there's a reaosn I know this...

"rdclark" wrote: (clip) The first few practice sessions could reasonably
take place in a park, on soft grass,(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The soft grass idea would be fine for making the learner feel safe, but I
think there is a downside that should not be overlooked. With no pedals,
the propulsion will be suffling and coasting. The coasting part is where
she will learn balance. Coasting on grass doesn't work too well. I would
stay on paved paths, with few pedestrians. Have her wear a puffy OLD jacket
and gloves.

I learned to ride with my father holding the back edge of the seat, and
running beside/behind me. He KNEW when I was getting the bike balanced on
my own, and stopped helping. I was riding on my own, literally before I
knew it.

I have always wanted to build a pair of training wheels that are spring
loaded, so they provide more support, the farther you lean. And this spring
support would be made adjustable, so as the rider gets more experience, the
support could be backed off gradually. What do any of you think of this
idea?

http://bwieland.com/

The token tricyclist
http://community.livejournal.com/tricycles_unite/

Quoted message said:

John said:

My wife is learning to ride a bike, without much success. My LBS is at odds
with itself on whether an adult learner benefits from training wheels. One
salesperson tried to sell us a single speed cruiser with training wheels.
Another said the cruiser handlebars had too much leverage for a bigger, the
gear ratio was wrong, etc.

I'd also opt for the no-pedals, low-seat combination for learning to
balance in lieu of any 'training wheels.' The main considerations for
the bicycle to be used are that it have 1) removable pedals (in
prinicipal this should always be the case but sometimes rust makes it
difficult), 2) at least one hand brake, and 3) a small enough frame so
the seat can be lowered enough for the learner to comfortably put their
feet flat on the ground while seated.

Instead of a grassy area or path, I'd recommend a large empty parking
lot to start. Corporate lots on weekends or church lots during the
week are frequently available. Coasting works much better on a paved
surface than on dirt or grass and with the seat low enough there should
be very minimal risk of falling. The large parking lot lets the
learner concentrate on balance without having to worry about steering
or running off the path.

Start with the pedals off and have the learner just push themselves
along 'hobby horse' style and gradually practice taking longer and
longer coasts between putting their feet down. Most parking lots have
a very slight slope to them for water drainage and it's best to
practice the coasting in the downhill direction. Once the learner is
comfortable with some extended coasting between steps they can start
practicing a few turns as well. If they can easily make some S-turns
without any need to drop a foot to the ground then it's time to add
pedaling to the skill set. Reattach the pedals but leave the seat low
for now. Have them practice pedaling first in a straight line and them
adding turns and some stops and starts. As they gain confidence you
can gradually raise the seat to a more appropriate height.

Sounds like a lot of steps to go through, but it shouldn't take more
than an afternoon or so and should be entirely "fall-free."

rdclark said:

John said:

My wife is learning to ride a bike, without much success. My LBS is at odds
with itself on whether an adult learner benefits from training wheels. One
salesperson tried to sell us a single speed cruiser with training wheels.
Another said the cruiser handlebars had too much leverage for a bigger, the
gear ratio was wrong, etc.

So. Should I start out with a Goodwill single speed special and training
wheels? I'm thinking we could upgrade to a comfort bike once this one is
mastered.

Best method: use a bike that fits properly. Then lower the saddle until
the rider can plant her feet on the ground, and remove the pedals from
the cranks. Let the rider "scoot" while she learns to use the brakes,
and gets used to the sensation of turning by shifting body weight.
Since she can touch the ground, she should feel safe.

After a few moments' thought, I've got to ask -- how can you get a
bike that fits properly without knowing how to ride? The best I can
see is the "stand over the top tube" fit; anything more needs someone
to check out the bike as the cyclist is riding it.

Pat

Email address works as is.

Veloise said:

Rich wrote:
...

Quoted message said:

However, riding on the back of a tandem might be so much fun that it
gives her the motiviation to learn to ride.

Or the front of a Counter/Viewpoint!

See <http://www.bilenky.com/viewpnt.html>.

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

Claire Petersky said:

"John" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So. Should I start out with a Goodwill single speed special and training
wheels? I'm thinking we could upgrade to a comfort bike once this one is
mastered.

If you could afford it, I'd start out with a tandem. Get your wife used to
sitting up there, hanging on, and pedalling. The act of balancing on a
single could be added later.

I find the key to stoking on a tandem is to NOT try to balance or steer
the bike.

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

Training wheels don't help anyone learn how to ride, if anything, they
hinder it.

Take the pedals off, lower the seat so she can reach the ground with her
feet while on the saddle and go find a clear, grassy hill (not too
steep).

- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

My web Site:
http://geocities.com/czcorner

To E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net

John said:

My wife is learning to ride a bike, without much success. My LBS is at odds
with itself on whether an adult learner benefits from training wheels. One
salesperson tried to sell us a single speed cruiser with training wheels.
Another said the cruiser handlebars had too much leverage for a bigger, the
gear ratio was wrong, etc.

I figure the only experts will be someone who actually taught an adult using
training wheels and as luck would have it, usenet reaches a wide audience of
bike enthusiasts.

So. Should I start out with a Goodwill single speed special and training
wheels? I'm thinking we could upgrade to a comfort bike once this one is
mastered.

See <http://sheldonbrown.com/teachride.html>.

I like the push scooter idea for learning balance, since adult size [1]
push scooters are fun in their own right.

[1] E.g. <http://www.sidewalkerusa.com/>.

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

Cully_J said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

I taught both of my kids to ride a bike in about an hour by using a
bike with the seat lowered and the pedals removed.

Quoted message said:

Did you do that just to help/improve thier balance? I'd think that this
method would be hard because pedaling is such an integral part of cycling.

Correct. Balance seems to me to be the first and most difficult thing
a cyclist has to learn. (I should mention that you should NEVER try this
method on a bike without hand brakes.) Once the kids had gotten confident
with balance, I put the pedals back on. The great thing about it was that
I never once had to do the "run behind holding onto the seat" bit. I just
rode alongside on my own bike harranguing them about looking where they
were going.

Bill

__o | When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair
_`\(,_ | for the future of the human race.
(_)/ (_) | -- H. G. Wells

Tom said:

See <http://www.bilenky.com/viewpnt.html>.

My site's better:
http://home.earthlink.net/~veloise/CPOINT.HTM

--Karen D.
"We are trying to get the Viewpoint owners' forum back up in 2004."
WUWD??

Veloise said:

Tom said:

See <http://www.bilenky.com/viewpnt.html>.

My site's better:
http://home.earthlink.net/~veloise/CPOINT.HTM

The German competition <http://www.hase-bikes.com/ens/pino/index.php>.

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley