teaching children to ride

davek said:

You can imagine how proud I felt.

It's such a Proud Parent moment. Congrats :-)

Quoted message said:

I reckon at least one more session without pedals is in order - he's still
got to learn to use his brakes instead of putting his feet down or jumping
off the bike, but in one short afternoon session we've made such huge
progress that it would be mean to push him harder.

just make sure that he wears old shoes until he gets the hang of using
his brakes, or he'll have the toes out of his Good School Shoes in no
time. If he has no old shoes, get him a cheapo pair of trainers from
Shoe Express or wherever. Yes, this is the voice of (recent and
expensive) experience speaking.

A

--

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Following on from davek's message. . .

[good pedal-warming stuff snipped]

Quoted message said:

I reckon at least one more session without pedals is in order - he's still
got to learn to use his brakes instead of putting his feet down or jumping
off the bike, but in one short afternoon session we've made such huge

Something I didn't know until last week is that there is a limit-stop
screw which can be adjusted if the gape of the brake lever is too large
for tiny hands. Screw it in to reduce the maximum open position.

--
PETER FOX Not the same since the deckchair business folded
[email hidden]
www.eminent.demon.co.uk/wcc.htm Witham Cycling Campaign
www.eminent.demon.co.uk/rides East Anglian Pub cycle rides

"davek" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I had only managed to persuade him to come out on his bike after much
negotiation had led to me promising that I wouldn't take the
stabilisers off unless he was really happy about it. But once we were
up there I re-opened negotiations and persuaded him to just have a
quick go without stabilisers

Ooh, typical bloody grown up! :-) That's a sneaky trick, renegotiating
terms once the contract is agreed. One that no doubt I will take advantage
of as my son grows up 🙂

Graeme

Peter Fox said:

Following on from davek's message. . .

[good pedal-warming stuff snipped]

Quoted message said:

I reckon at least one more session without pedals is in order - he's
still
got to learn to use his brakes instead of putting his feet down or
jumping
off the bike, but in one short afternoon session we've made such huge

Something I didn't know until last week is that there is a limit-stop
screw which can be adjusted if the gape of the brake lever is too large
for tiny hands. Screw it in to reduce the maximum open position.

Ooh. As someone who has tiny hands (no, really, I do, it's not that
they're wimpy fingers, honest) do you know if STI shifters have such a
limit stop too?

--

Velvet

Quoted message said:

And when we got home he even told his mum
"stabilisers are rubbish"!

You can imagine how proud I felt.

Yup - a lovely moment. Many happy years of cycling to come no doubt :-)

Cheers, helen s

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

Quoted message said:

Peter Fox said:

Following on from davek's message. . .

[good pedal-warming stuff snipped]

Quoted message said:

I reckon at least one more session without pedals is in order - he's
still
got to learn to use his brakes instead of putting his feet down or
jumping
off the bike, but in one short afternoon session we've made such huge

Something I didn't know until last week is that there is a limit-stop
screw which can be adjusted if the gape of the brake lever is too large
for tiny hands. Screw it in to reduce the maximum open position.

Ooh. As someone who has tiny hands (no, really, I do, it's not that
they're wimpy fingers, honest) do you know if STI shifters have such a
limit stop too?

Don't think they do. You can however insert a ferule (metal tube)
between the lever and the entrance of cable into the sheath for some
levers to achieve the same effect. I have done this several times for
small hands. Not tried on STI but I would expect it to work. Ferule
needs to be about 1cm long.

My son's Trek did not have the adjusting screws so I did just this.

Poor diagram:

O-==-I----------> to brake
^ ^ ^ cable stop
ferule

cable end

kind regards,

Daren
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remove outer garment for reply

Daren Austin:

Quoted message said:

My son's Trek did not have the adjusting screws so I did just this.

I made sure that the bike had limit-stop adjusters on the brake levers when
I bought it - it bothers me greatly the number of kids I see out and about
who clearly can't reach their brake levers comfortably. Some of them seem
unable to reach the levers at all.

I may be guilty of riding at reckless speeds occasionally, but at least I
have brakes I can use. It doesn't matter how slowly you ride if you have no
means of stopping yourself.

d.

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

Quoted message said:

Daren Austin:

Quoted message said:

My son's Trek did not have the adjusting screws so I did just this.

I made sure that the bike had limit-stop adjusters on the brake levers when
I bought it - it bothers me greatly the number of kids I see out and about
who clearly can't reach their brake levers comfortably. Some of them seem
unable to reach the levers at all.

Absolutely. I frequently make adjustments to other children's bikes
when they ride up and down our street.

I did question Trek about the levers and their comment was that the
lever was a small design already. Not really small enough for a 5yo -
hence my adjustment. Probably OK for a 7-10yo (target market)

It was the Aluminium frame, dual drilled cranks and very adjustable
bars that sold the bike to me, and the fact that Lance rides a Trek
that sold it to Thomas :-)

kind regards,
Daren
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remove outer garment for rply

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

Quoted message said:

"davek" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Daren Austin:

Quoted message said:

My son's Trek did not have the adjusting screws so I did just this.

I made sure that the bike had limit-stop adjusters on the brake levers

when

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I bought it - it bothers me greatly the number of kids I see out and

about

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

who clearly can't reach their brake levers comfortably. Some of them

seem

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

unable to reach the levers at all.

Absolutely. I frequently make adjustments to other children's bikes
when they ride up and down our street.

LOL...got to admit, thats sounds funny as written!

--
Tumbleweed

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