Sooner or later, parents are faced with the question of how to choose a bicycle for their child. Children are of different age, height and build, some are just going to ride a three- or two-wheeled horse, and someone already requires an adult mountain bike. We will try to understand this issue.
How to choose the right bike for a child?
It is important to choose it with the children.
Basic parameters when selecting:
- children's tricycle. On it you can learn to ride from two years old. The bicycle should be suitable for the toddler for growth, the knees do not rest on the steering wheel, the legs should be easily reached to the pedals. For your comfort, choose a bicycle with a handle for you from behind - to safely move with the baby street;
- if your child is older, but he still does not know how to ride - choose a two-wheeled bike, but with small wheels behind for support. The main thing is that they are just above the main wheel - only to keep the balance at the very beginning. Then they can be removed;
- the presence of a foot brake - in extreme situations the child can forget and do not squeeze the manual brake;
- the steering wheel and the seat must be adjusted in height - so that you can always adjust to the growing baby;
- the steering wheel should be fixed so as not to rotate 360 °;
- the circuit must be in a protective casing;
- be sure to buy elbow pads, knee pads and a helmet!
Here you have correctly picked up a child a bicycle, now it's up to you to teach him how to ride!
How to teach a child to ride a bicycle?
Usually this question arises when buying a two-wheeled "iron horse". Choose an equal asphalt pavement, you can with a slight slope. Try not to have any of the spectators. And now is the time to teach a child to ride a bicycle:
- Equilibrium. An important point is to teach the child to keep his balance. Be prepared for the fact that you have to walk near the child, bending over, holding him by the wheel and seat. Explain to the child that the balance is maintained while driving, when you stop - then the bike falls. Teach your child to smoothly move, without making sharp turns of the steering wheel. You need to look forward to the road. While holding the child on a bicycle, periodically release it, giving you a sense of movement and balance.
- Ability to fall. The second important stage is the ability to fall. Without it, perhaps, does not do the training of anyone. To begin with, the child can wear knee pads and elbow pads. Teach your child to fall carefully so that your feet do not get mixed up in wheels and chains.
- Braking. Teach your child to smoothly slow down the movement and, when the bicycle almost stopped tilting it slightly to the side, exposing one leg.
If so far there is no possibility to teach the child, and you want to ride a bicycle - buy a special seat for the child on the bicycle. It can be mounted on both the steering wheel and the trunk. The first is preferable, since you have eye contact with the child. The second, thanks to the back, better fixes the child, if he suddenly falls asleep on the road. Be sure to choose an armchair with pedestal for the feet of the child, to prevent clothing and legs from getting into the spokes.