We bought Thomas a balance bike before he turned 3. It was winter in London and Ella Mae was a new arrival to this world. His feet just touched the ground when he sat on the saddle. I would push him on his bike inside house and pretended to be a bus / train / rocket. We would do this activity until my back ached. He would squeal with excitement when we zoomed under our clothes that were drying on the living room door frame!
Ridgeback Scoot Balance Bike ticked many of our boxes:
- 2 seat post stem lengths
- Adjustable seat
- Right hand brake
- Easy to carry
- Exactly the same brand and colour as Kim's Ridgeback Comet
- Pneumatic tyres
His maiden outdoor ride was with Kim to a park surrounded by council flats nearby. It didn't take him long at all to get used to the idea (left, right, left, right, pick up your feet, glide). We gave him encouragement when he yearned for it but his endless determination to master the bicycle meant that he didn't need much from us. He spent a lot of time on it. He used it to go to kindergarten, playgroups, shops, parks, and city.
We went everywhere with it. I would push the pram with Ella Mae in it while he would ride next to me. Otherwise, I would carry her in the Baby Bjorn baby carrier or when she was older, the Little Life Cross Country S2 Baby Backpack while he rode. The best thing about the Scoot was that we could bring it in lieu of the pram/stroller/buggy board. As it is small, we could bring it onto the buses as well as trains. Therefore, we could go further and for longer.
Early on, he followed simple instructions such as:
- stop
- look
- listen
- pedal
- left
- right
- off the saddle
- run up
- slow down
- ring your bell
The dangers we look out for:
- vehicles backing out of driveways
- vehicles pulling into driveways
- vehicles not signalling while turning
- sudden change of directions of another child/dog/cyclist on a bike
- passing cyclists not ringing their bell
- potholes
- different surfaces on the same path especially gravel
I preferred him riding next to me if the pavement was wide. However, if it was not possible, he would ride just in front of me. He also stayed in line of sight especially if he decided that he wanted to ride further and around the corner. I could always see the back of his wheel. But I normally discouraged that as vehicles backing out of driveways were not able to see him due to his height.
We are indebted to the Children's Traffic Club DVDs and workbooks. These were great educational tools for the children to learn how to keep safe especially on the pavement and road.
We set the rules quite early on as we think safety is important for everyone's enjoyment of riding the bicycle:
- ride with a helmet
- high viz jackets
- bright clothing
- correct footware
- bell
- lights on at all times of the day (if possible)
- no talking while crossing the roads
- keep left on the pavements
- ring a bell before passing pedestrians
- slow down while passing pedestrians
- slow down in the presence of a dog and child
While we lived in Assisi, Italy for a little while, the Scoot was a good fun for Thomas. This meant that we could cover more ground and explore. I found that my pashmina was one of the most useful items in my luggage that worked well in tandem with the balance bicycle. It was multipurpose:
- cover my shoulders when entering a church / places of worship
- cover my shoulder when the sun gets unbearable
- drag the balance bicycle up the hill
- stopped Thomas from going too fast down the hill while on the balance bicycle.
He built his riding confidence on Scoot. We are very grateful to it. Cycling is definitely one of his passions. As we are well prepared with rain-suits, riding in the rain becomes part of the fun. Also, us getting rained on is no big deal.
The bicycle was not only a form of transport to the children. They are continuously using their imagination with their bicycles. In this instance (video below), the bicycle was a bus.
Once he was tall enough, he was promoted to the next bike, Ridgeback MX 16. It took him two short sessions to be zippy! He was so happy. He was already used to the right hand brake. So, I showed him the left. Also, I demonstrated to him why we do not go downhill and brake the back wheel to stop. We are glad that we didn't ever buy him a bicycle with back pedaled brakes. This made learning to ride a normal bike so much more straight forward.
His first ride on the road made him very happy. This was after teaching him:
- road rules
- signalling
- how to watch out for car door opening
It was amazing to watch him ride 5km, then 10km, 20km and then 30km. Before we knew it, he is riding over 50km! Before he turned 7, he rode 52km to raise money for
Brain Tumour Alliance Australia.
As he is growing, we finally found a suitable bicycle for him: Frog Hybrid 50 with bicycle rack. Before long, he was covering over 70km. He rode 100km within two consecutive days for Guide Dogs Victoria.
All the while, Ella Mae has been watching her brother with awe. She didn't take long to be comfortable on the Scoot. She is different to her brother. She doesn't like the handlebars as much as they imprinted lines on her hands. The gloves seemed to solve the issue. Later on, not having gloves is not a big deal except when she rides long distances.
She too was given the rules and regulations of riding a bicycle. Her brother tries his best to help her.
About a year of riding on the Scoot, she was promoted to the MX16. Perhaps because she was taller than him at the same age, her confidence on the bicycle was not as advanced as Thomas. So, her getting fully acquainted with the MX16 is taking a little longer. Her hands are smaller and they cannot reach the brakes. Her balance is perfect as she learned that on the Scoot. Starting and stopping are the skills that are constantly being worked on. The concept of getting off the saddle while riding up a hill is yet to be learned.
We celebrated the moment when she was inspired to ride home from kinder without being hitched onto the Followme Tandem. I hopped off my bike and pushed her up the hill while she maintained her balance. Once she learns to pedal up the hill while being off the saddle, she will be flying!
So, as she is getting more confidence every week, we alternate between encouraging her to ride on her own or hitched her bicycle on the Followme Tandem. Also, when we do the big family rides, we unhitch her bicyle when we feel it is safe and the terrain is easy enough to build on her confidence.
Reminisce
As a child of the 70s, my first outdoor vehicle was a baby blue Vespa pedal tricycle. I remember this with fondness. I think the most memorable funny moment was when I was pedaling on the grass and fell. The grass softened my fall. But falling onto an anthill was a different matter. I screamed from being bitten by the red ants and my mother picked me up and ran into the wet room. Immediately, she dipped me into a trough full of cold water! The ants floated.....and I itched for a long time.
When my parents could afford to buy us a bicycle, they bought ONE for three of us to share. It was a step-through, a basket at the front and a rack at the back. It had dynamo lights, a built-in lock and a bike stand.
We taught ourselves how to ride. Needless to say, we had to learn quickly as our cul-de-sac street was a gravelly one. Three of us even rode the bike at the same time! My brother was at the front, standing on the frame and holding onto the handlebars, my sister steering the handlebars and pushing the pedals and I sat on the back rack.
One time the bicycle was steered towards the open drain system and I jumped off before it landed into it with my siblings still on it!
Another time, we over-filled the back tyre and the tube exploded. The force of the explosion, split underside of one of my thighs. We rode on and learned quickly not repeat that mistake again.
Ridgeback Scoot Balance Bike ticked many of our boxes:
- 2 seat post stem lengths
- Adjustable seat
- Right hand brake
- Easy to carry
- Exactly the same brand and colour as Kim's Ridgeback Comet
- Pneumatic tyres
His maiden outdoor ride was with Kim to a park surrounded by council flats nearby. It didn't take him long at all to get used to the idea (left, right, left, right, pick up your feet, glide). We gave him encouragement when he yearned for it but his endless determination to master the bicycle meant that he didn't need much from us. He spent a lot of time on it. He used it to go to kindergarten, playgroups, shops, parks, and city.
We went everywhere with it. I would push the pram with Ella Mae in it while he would ride next to me. Otherwise, I would carry her in the Baby Bjorn baby carrier or when she was older, the Little Life Cross Country S2 Baby Backpack while he rode. The best thing about the Scoot was that we could bring it in lieu of the pram/stroller/buggy board. As it is small, we could bring it onto the buses as well as trains. Therefore, we could go further and for longer.
Early on, he followed simple instructions such as:
- stop
- look
- listen
- pedal
- left
- right
- off the saddle
- run up
- slow down
- ring your bell
The dangers we look out for:
- vehicles backing out of driveways
- vehicles pulling into driveways
- vehicles not signalling while turning
- sudden change of directions of another child/dog/cyclist on a bike
- passing cyclists not ringing their bell
- potholes
- different surfaces on the same path especially gravel
I preferred him riding next to me if the pavement was wide. However, if it was not possible, he would ride just in front of me. He also stayed in line of sight especially if he decided that he wanted to ride further and around the corner. I could always see the back of his wheel. But I normally discouraged that as vehicles backing out of driveways were not able to see him due to his height.
We are indebted to the Children's Traffic Club DVDs and workbooks. These were great educational tools for the children to learn how to keep safe especially on the pavement and road.
We set the rules quite early on as we think safety is important for everyone's enjoyment of riding the bicycle:
- ride with a helmet
- high viz jackets
- bright clothing
- correct footware
- bell
- lights on at all times of the day (if possible)
- no talking while crossing the roads
- keep left on the pavements
- ring a bell before passing pedestrians
- slow down while passing pedestrians
- slow down in the presence of a dog and child
While we lived in Assisi, Italy for a little while, the Scoot was a good fun for Thomas. This meant that we could cover more ground and explore. I found that my pashmina was one of the most useful items in my luggage that worked well in tandem with the balance bicycle. It was multipurpose:
- cover my shoulders when entering a church / places of worship
- cover my shoulder when the sun gets unbearable
- drag the balance bicycle up the hill
- stopped Thomas from going too fast down the hill while on the balance bicycle.
He built his riding confidence on Scoot. We are very grateful to it. Cycling is definitely one of his passions. As we are well prepared with rain-suits, riding in the rain becomes part of the fun. Also, us getting rained on is no big deal.
The bicycle was not only a form of transport to the children. They are continuously using their imagination with their bicycles. In this instance (video below), the bicycle was a bus.
Once he was tall enough, he was promoted to the next bike, Ridgeback MX 16. It took him two short sessions to be zippy! He was so happy. He was already used to the right hand brake. So, I showed him the left. Also, I demonstrated to him why we do not go downhill and brake the back wheel to stop. We are glad that we didn't ever buy him a bicycle with back pedaled brakes. This made learning to ride a normal bike so much more straight forward.
His first ride on the road made him very happy. This was after teaching him:
- road rules
- signalling
- how to watch out for car door opening
It was amazing to watch him ride 5km, then 10km, 20km and then 30km. Before we knew it, he is riding over 50km! Before he turned 7, he rode 52km to raise money for
Brain Tumour Alliance Australia.
As he is growing, we finally found a suitable bicycle for him: Frog Hybrid 50 with bicycle rack. Before long, he was covering over 70km. He rode 100km within two consecutive days for Guide Dogs Victoria.
All the while, Ella Mae has been watching her brother with awe. She didn't take long to be comfortable on the Scoot. She is different to her brother. She doesn't like the handlebars as much as they imprinted lines on her hands. The gloves seemed to solve the issue. Later on, not having gloves is not a big deal except when she rides long distances.
She too was given the rules and regulations of riding a bicycle. Her brother tries his best to help her.
About a year of riding on the Scoot, she was promoted to the MX16. Perhaps because she was taller than him at the same age, her confidence on the bicycle was not as advanced as Thomas. So, her getting fully acquainted with the MX16 is taking a little longer. Her hands are smaller and they cannot reach the brakes. Her balance is perfect as she learned that on the Scoot. Starting and stopping are the skills that are constantly being worked on. The concept of getting off the saddle while riding up a hill is yet to be learned.
We celebrated the moment when she was inspired to ride home from kinder without being hitched onto the Followme Tandem. I hopped off my bike and pushed her up the hill while she maintained her balance. Once she learns to pedal up the hill while being off the saddle, she will be flying!
So, as she is getting more confidence every week, we alternate between encouraging her to ride on her own or hitched her bicycle on the Followme Tandem. Also, when we do the big family rides, we unhitch her bicyle when we feel it is safe and the terrain is easy enough to build on her confidence.
Reminisce
As a child of the 70s, my first outdoor vehicle was a baby blue Vespa pedal tricycle. I remember this with fondness. I think the most memorable funny moment was when I was pedaling on the grass and fell. The grass softened my fall. But falling onto an anthill was a different matter. I screamed from being bitten by the red ants and my mother picked me up and ran into the wet room. Immediately, she dipped me into a trough full of cold water! The ants floated.....and I itched for a long time.
When my parents could afford to buy us a bicycle, they bought ONE for three of us to share. It was a step-through, a basket at the front and a rack at the back. It had dynamo lights, a built-in lock and a bike stand.
We taught ourselves how to ride. Needless to say, we had to learn quickly as our cul-de-sac street was a gravelly one. Three of us even rode the bike at the same time! My brother was at the front, standing on the frame and holding onto the handlebars, my sister steering the handlebars and pushing the pedals and I sat on the back rack.
One time the bicycle was steered towards the open drain system and I jumped off before it landed into it with my siblings still on it!
Another time, we over-filled the back tyre and the tube exploded. The force of the explosion, split underside of one of my thighs. We rode on and learned quickly not repeat that mistake again.
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