Training Wheels off the Bike

Updated on September 28, 2010
J.V. asks from Newbury Park, CA
12 answers

How old were your kids when you took off their training wheels from their bike? What are the signs of readiness?

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M.O.

answers from Phoenix on

My son was 3, he came to daddy and asked him to take them off. After about 10 miin. of hoding onto the back of his seat he was ready to go. Good luck

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D.M.

answers from San Diego on

My girls were both 4 - they are very coordinated. Some boys are around 3 when they try, depends on how coordinated they are. I wouldn't wait past 5 though. Most kids ride two wheelers by the time they are 5 or 6. I don't know if there really is a sign of readiness, just try it, and if they can't go a few feet after 5-10 tries, put the training wheels back on for a few months.

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S.H.

answers from Huntsville on

We don't plan on even using training wheels. Balance bikes are the best way to teach kids to balance on a bike. In my opinion, taking off the training wheels is just like moving them straight from a tricycle to a real pedal bike.

Can your child reach the ground with his/her feet while sitting on the bike? If so, you could try taking off the training wheels and let him/her walk with the bike and push on the ground as if it's a balance bike. This will help learn to balance before trying to also pedal.

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M.K.

answers from San Diego on

Just before her 5th birthday, because she begged me too. Didn't think her biking skills WITH the training wheels were that strong, but she surprised me with how quickly she learned. So, I'd say when they are interested in learning and motivated to take a few bumps that come with the process. It seems like a lot of kids have them off by 5-6, so wanting to be "big kids" is a strong motivator.

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A.G.

answers from Provo on

My daughter had them off when she was five and got pretty decent and riding with no training wheels...than we moved and when she started up again just recently (now she's 6)...it took a little practice in the beginning...but she picked it up quite fast. When we first took them off her bike when she was 5...my 3 year old decided he wanted to ride her bike...and he actually picked it up faster than she did....but, for some reason, when we moved and got him a bike here...he decided he wanted training wheels on it...I don't know why...he can ride without them...and occasionally he will...but I'm not going to stress about it. I don't remember how old I was when my parents took mine off. I think the biggest sign that they're NOT ready...is if they don't want to...it is certainly not worth any conflict...you want to keep it a positive experience! My kids had helmets, knee pads and elbow pads...if they fell...it hurt...sometimes they cried...and if they wanted to...we put the training wheels back on for a bit. Just my two cents...there's so many things at that age that they may not be able to control...I would give them the control over whether or not to have training wheels on their bike. :) Good luck!

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L.B.

answers from Stockton on

My son is 3 and was so eager to ride a two wheeler that he borrowed the neighbors tiny little bike and with my husband's help at first, off he went. Needless to say we bought him his own. It is tiny, only 12" wheels but he's riding like a champ, stands up on the pedals and tries to pop a wheelie (gets the wheel about an 1/8" off the ground, lol. My other boys were around 4 when we took off their training wheels. I think the most important thing is to make sure their bike is the right size for them, too big and you're asking for a fall from which they won't want to get back on. A sign of readiness would be the training wheels spend more time off the ground then on and of course your child's eagerness to get rid of them. Have fun!

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J.S.

answers from San Diego on

Signs of rediness are when you see your kid completely comfortable on their bike. You see them almost balance on the tire without tetering off to the sides. My brother and I took our youngest brother to an empty parking lot and took off his training wheels. He was so comfortable because there were no obsticles in his way to worry about that he focused solely on his balance on the bike. It only took 2 spills and he was just about an expert rider. Ha ha ha
I remember my Dad having us ride on our street and I kept falling and it took about a week and lots of band aids handy. All I was focused on was not hitting anything such as parked cars, the mailbox, people walking, and even riding in the street.
Good luck.

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S.L.

answers from New York on

one of my children was four, one was five and one was seven, so I dont htink there's a right age. I thinks its about how badly they want it their level of fear, determination, persoanlity etc

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I was in first grade when I learned to ride a bike. My Mom wouldn't believe me and wouldn't take the training wheels off. I had to show her on my friends bike (which was too big for me to sit on the seat and pedal at the same time) that I had mastered riding without falling over. It surprised the heck out of my Mom, but she finally took those training wheels off my bike. I still have my bike. A green American made Schwinn 'Slik Chik'. I spent most of my time on that bike right up until I learned how to drive. I'll never part with it.

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B.C.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter was 5 when we took them off, but she's always been a daredevil! lol. I guess they're ready when they say they are. I wanted mine off when I was 7.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

My granddaughter was 9. As long as she had the training wheels on she relied on the training wheels. I suggest taking them off no later than a couple of weeks after you put them on if they're old enough to learn to balance and they ride the bike frequently to have had practice trying to ride without relying on the training wheels.

I learned to ride a bike before the time of training wheels when I was around 9. The bike was a Christmas present. My Dad held onto the seat as I rode. By the end of the day I could ride by myself.

I don't know how at what age a child is capable of balancing on a bike. My 7 yo grandson absolutely cannot balance even with training wheels. His brain doesn't co-operate with his body. This is a new diagnosis which I don't understand yet but It does answer the question of why he hates his bike after having tried and tried to ride it. He can push a scooter but not well. He loves his scooter.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

It does not depend on age.
It will vary per child.

My daughter's training wheels came off when she was 6 years old.
My Husband taught her how to ride a bike. After that, we took off her training wheels. SHE wanted to. SHE wanted to learn how to ride a bike with only 2 wheels. SHE was ready.

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