One of the key elements of knowing How to ride a balance bike is to be under control at all times? The component that matters the most is the ability of the infant to come to a halt when needed. If you want to teach your child how to brake on a balance bike, these are the following tips.
How to Stop On a Balance Bike
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Stopping Without Brakes
At first, this may seem weird to you. If you grasp common sense, you are inclined to think you must use brakes whenever you need to stop. Contrary to your belief, try to notice how many children plant their feet on the ground to stop the bike instead of using the brakes. You will be astonished the next time you are at a playground.
Another defining factor is age. Children younger than 18 months old should go for brakeless bikes. This is because kids this age are more likely to drag their feet on the ground than actually use brakes. This happens out of instinct.
You should also consider that toddlers rarely possess the required motor skills to press brake levers to stop bikes. Hence it is sensible to get them a bike that can enable them to stop it with their feet.
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Stopping With Brakes
When is it correct to get a bike with brakes? If you are still wondering, age defines this too. The best age to have a bike with brakes would be 3-4 years as they have the strength now to use a brake lever to stop the bike.
For 18 months to 3.5 years in age, we would recommend no brakes due to the ability to stop faster and safer with their feet than a hand brake as they do not have the ability to use the brake at that age.
Kids these ages are more likely to be scattered all over the place, visiting unruly territory that calls for fast stops. When reaching this stage, inclines and other factors like speed will become their sidekicks, rendering placing feet on the ground insufficient. So, in short, you have to go for brakes.
How to Teach Your Child How to Stop the Bike
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Wear Protections
First things first. Here we are very adamant about children wearing all of their protective gear. At all times, you must regard your child’s well-being. This implies making them wear proper kids bike clothes, helmets, and wrist, knee, and elbow pads. Falling is part of learning too. Getting hurt shouldn’t.
Go Easy!
It can be tempting to thrust your child off an incline from the get-go. Instead, you should opt to find a large, even surface area free of hazards, where they can securely gain the needed skills to learn how to operate a balance bike.
Always look for well-maintained tarmac. The reason for going for tarmac is that it is much easier to gain speed and that they don’t need to do much to stop the bike, which can help with braking.
If they are using no brakes, you should teach them to slide their 2 feet on the ground until they fully stop the bike. If they are using brakes, you should first teach them the functioning of the brake levers and let them get used to them gradually. They can go for other riding spots with heavier braking use when ready.
Stop on a Balance Bike
Stopping on a balance bike can be scary, so it is your responsibility to help your child along the way. Always make sure they use their balance bikes within their limits.
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At our Australian company, we are dedicated to making cycling a fun and enjoyable experience for children. We specialize in designing and manufacturing lightweight bikes specifically for kids. Our range includes a unique next-generation design of balance bike that can easily convert to a first pedal bike when the child is ready, thanks to the included easy-ride pedal kit. We strongly believe that the lighter the bike, the easier it is for children to learn to ride and enjoy the experience as they progress. Many children’s bikes on the market are nearly as heavy as the child themselves! That’s why we took on the challenge of redesigning kids’ bikes, creating a lightweight yet strong aluminum frame and carefully selecting components that offer high performance without compromising on weight.
