I remember learning to ride a red tricycle with the assistance of my mom and then again at an older age, maybe 4 or 5, a red bicycle with training wheels.
Thinking...I must have liked the color red, or maybe my mom did.
I thought I would never learn how to ride by myself. But after much work and practice, and practice, I finally achieved and mastered steering a bicycle.
I also remember my red bicycle featured a small white basket in the front. I thought I was a “hot-shot” riding my shining red bicycle with a white basket in my neighborhood. My friends, I think, were jealous of my white basket. I remember carrying my purse or a baby doll in the basket.
With the help, support and assistance of my mom and older brother I succeeded and graduated to an adult English Racer bicycle.
Back in the 60’s, my brother and I rode our bicycles to elementary school, which was three or four blocks away from home.
Bicycling, once a thing of the past, is here to stay nowadays.
The following, courtesy of Newspaper Metro, gives bicycle riding tips for young toddlers:
The milestone of riding a bike is a big one for kids and their parents. With new equipment, toddlers can reach that two-wheeled milestone earlier than ever and enjoy many sidewalks and bike paths together.
According to experts, children 12-to-18 months are not bicycle-ready, as they lack pedaling skills and their neck muscle strength is insufficient to allow them to support the weight of a helmet and to endure riding on rougher terrain. Instead, children in this age group can build their strength and balance by using items such as rocking horses.
Trailers are a sound alternative for bringing the baby along. They are lightweight, sturdy and roomy enough for additional items. Parents are advised to make sure the trailer is equipped with a tall flag alerting traffic to its presence. If the trailer’s bulky size is daunting, you can opt for a mounted seat instead.
Once a child reaches 18 months, mounted bike seats are sleek, easy to install, and give parents another way to ride a bike with a baby. However, when dismounting, keeping the bike upright can be difficult, experts say. Though front-mounted seats offer better balance, they can interfere with the rider’s ability to pedal and steer, so it is recommended to test out both seats before choosing.
Once a toddler wants his own set of wheels, ride-ons and tricycles will help him or her get used to bike riding and will help improve coordination and learn balance. If your child exhibits signs of pedaling and steering abilities, it may be time to graduate to a two-wheeled bike -- and without the need for training wheels.
Nowadays, kids transition straight to balance bikes, two-wheeled bikes without pedals. This concept has parents very pleased by how quickly their little kids learn to ride a real bike.
Accent Editor Myra Miller can be reached at myra.miller@eunicetoday.com
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