Q&A for How to Teach Your Toddler to Pedal a Bike

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How high should the seat be if they're just starting out?

Jonas Jackel
Owner, Huckleberry Bicycles
Jonas Jackel is the Owner of Huckleberry Bicycles, a bicycle retail store based in San Francisco, California. Jonas has over 20 years of experience managing bicycle retail stores and has operated Huckleberry Bicycles since 2011. Huckleberry Bicycles specializes in servicing, repairing, and custom building road, cross, gravel, touring, folding, and e-bikes. Jonas was also previously sat on the Board of Directors for Bike East Bay, a bicycle-advocacy non-profit organization based in Oakland, California.

Jonas Jackel

Owner, Huckleberry Bicycles

Expert Answer

The seat should be as low as possible so that they're able to place their feet comfortably on the ground. As they get older or better at balancing, you can raise the seat up.

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Question

What is a good age to teach a child to ride a bike?

Jonas Jackel
Owner, Huckleberry Bicycles
Jonas Jackel is the Owner of Huckleberry Bicycles, a bicycle retail store based in San Francisco, California. Jonas has over 20 years of experience managing bicycle retail stores and has operated Huckleberry Bicycles since 2011. Huckleberry Bicycles specializes in servicing, repairing, and custom building road, cross, gravel, touring, folding, and e-bikes. Jonas was also previously sat on the Board of Directors for Bike East Bay, a bicycle-advocacy non-profit organization based in Oakland, California.

Jonas Jackel

Owner, Huckleberry Bicycles

Expert Answer

I'd recommend exploring it whenever they express genuine interest in it. If you just force a kid to ride a bike, they won't stick with it. If they seem authentically interested, that's when it's time to get a bike.

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Question

Are training wheels as bad as everyone says?

Jonas Jackel
Owner, Huckleberry Bicycles
Jonas Jackel is the Owner of Huckleberry Bicycles, a bicycle retail store based in San Francisco, California. Jonas has over 20 years of experience managing bicycle retail stores and has operated Huckleberry Bicycles since 2011. Huckleberry Bicycles specializes in servicing, repairing, and custom building road, cross, gravel, touring, folding, and e-bikes. Jonas was also previously sat on the Board of Directors for Bike East Bay, a bicycle-advocacy non-profit organization based in Oakland, California.

Jonas Jackel

Owner, Huckleberry Bicycles

Expert Answer

No, there are no universal rules when it comes to teaching a kid to ride a bike. What works for one child is not going to work for another. If your child is more comfortable learning to ride with training wheels, that's totally fine.

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Question

When we pedal our bike in the direction of your arrows, the pedal stops and so does the bike, as we have applied the coaster brake. We find the other direction works better. Is our bike defective?

EMBend

Community Answer

Pushing back on the pedals should initiate the brake and pushing forward should make the bike go.

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Question

How can I control the bike?

Community Answer

You can grab the seat behind them and the edge of one of the handlebars, enabling you to push, pull, or steer, yet allowing them to do most of the work.

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Question

How do I control the balance in the cycle?

Community Answer

Try to balance for small amounts of time at first, and then for longer and longer amounts of time.

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Question

Do I have to buy a specific bike for my son to learn how to pedal?

Community Answer

Any type of beginner's bike with training wheels will do. Since your child will be growing very quickly, don't get one that is expensive.

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Can everyone learn to pedal?

Community Answer

Yes, any toddler should be able to pedal unless they have some kind of disability.

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