Teaching to Ride a Bike

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Hey everyone,

So my son turns 5 next month (has ASD) and for the past 2-3 years he's been trying to ride a bike, a trike, etc. without much success and it frustrates him beyond words when he can't do something, this is just another hurdle. I've read it's pretty common for ASD kids to have a lot of trouble learning to ride a bike, it really tests their coordination, balance & strength.

I know he'll get there eventually, he always does but I've read about using a balance bike instead of a regular bike with training wheels. The idea being to focus on balance first before introducing pedals. Before I commit to that for a bday gift, I just wanted to know if anyone else has struggled with this and what worked for them? Have you tried a balance bike?

Thanks,
Gov

I'm not sure how old I was when I learned to ride a back but I was definitely older than him - maybe 7,8?
I hated learning it, I wanted to have the wheels all the time, I couldn't stand my grandpa holding the stick attached to the back of my bike when they took the wheels off. I knew he is going to let the bike go as soon as I get the balance and I didn't want to experience this (he was saying he won't do it but I was not stupid - I stopped believe him when he let me go a few times).
I was so stubborn they decided to attach the wheels again and give up.

After a while I learned to ride on 2 wheels by myself. I was alone, riding on a parking area. It had a 1,5 meter long line of 1cm higher asphalt in one spot, the parking wasn't well made. I got on the line by mistake once and I overbalanced. But instead of getting scared I got fascinated by this part. I started to ride there over and over. Till I was able to hold the balance. It was very rewarding to learn keeping the balance all by myself. Without supervision. Later on the same day I told my grandpa to remove the wheels. Forever.

Perhaps you should put the wheels on his bike a little higher so he is not going to fell down if he loses balance but he has to practice the balance to ride straight? And make it a play, a challenge. Don't tell him to learn how to keep the balance forever. Draw lines on street and tell him just to try to hold balance from point A to point B.

Thanks Kiriae - His problem is he doesn't have the coordination to peddle. He's peddled 1 full loop just 1 or 2 times in the past 2 summers trying but he's never been able to repeat it and it's not without lots of practice.

A balance bike has no peddles so they just basically walk/push themselves around to learn balance first, it's how a lot of Europeans teach their kids how to ride a bike instead of training wheels so I thought it might be worth it to try. I just don't know how if I should spend another $100 to try it out or maybe the peddling just takes more practice and patience.

What kind of bike is he using right now? It isn't too small or too big for him, right?
I remember having problem learning how to use pedals but the bike I had was just uncomfortable - a three wheel with pedals on front wheel. But I got it fast when they brought me a new bike - regular children bike with side wheels attached, regulated handlebars and saddle. It took a while to adjust it (I couldn't use the pedals at all when the saddle or handlebars were too hight or too low) but when it got comfortable I just sat and started to ride (with 4 wheels).

Is he able to do the "bike" leg exercise? I remember they were telling us to do it in preschool. It was the same move as you do when you ride a bike so perhaps it would also help?

BTW. I find it easier to ride a bike when pushing pedals is hard (high derailleur). I like to feel the resistance and see the bike really speeds up when I push the pedal every single time. I know children bikes usually don't have derailleurs but perhaps there is a way to adjust the bike so it reacts more to the pedals.

It's just a regular bike with training wheels, like below. He can touch the ground with his feet and legs straight so I think it's adjusted right. I usually end up walking beside him pushing his feet down myself over and over to try and show him, just not working.

OK, I wasn't as bad with the bike thing, but I will say that at 4 years old I got a bike with training wheels. I was determined to ride it, and the wind blew me over. OK, OK, I was probably just uncoordinated. I rode a bicycle with training wheels until I was 12. 12! I didn't realize you had to move up or other children would make fun of you. I literally demanded my training wheels be taken off right then. It took me days of trying ALL day to learn. A few months ago, as an adult, I learned that the bike is supposed to be a tad bit taller than you when you ride. I have learned that I can't ride a bike again. LOL

Honestly, what about big wheels? I learned on those first. Did you try showing him by peddling a bike of your own? Is it possible your explanations are a bit too complicated? Did you try getting him to stand up on the peddles and literally push his weight down? Is the saddle uncomfortable? Are there any bumps on the sidewalk that prevent him from moving?

It doesn't look too comfortable to me. It is very much like the three wheel one I had.
The wheels are so small - the bike doesn't move much faster when you pedal than when you walk, right? And it requires so much legs move to pedal, while the pedal don't give you any resistance. In fact it moves itself even if you don't give it any strength... I don't like it. It is pointless. - thats what I would think when I was a child and they wanted me to ride this.

I first learned to ride on something like that: (but way different model, it was almost 20 years ago so I won't find it on the net, my didn't have the cover):
[img][650:500]http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/286892349/high_quality_child_font_b_bike_b.jpg[/img]

And by the way. I just recalled. A few years after I outgrow it and got an adult bike I made a leg scooter out of the children bike by removing almost anything from it (chain, saddle, pedals) and attaching a board - I was curious if I can make it usable since it was broken from staying in basement for too long. But I was riding it for fun, not because I needed. It was funny because I knew I was able to create the leg scooter all by myself from the old, broken bike.

So perhaps you don't have to waste money on a balance bike if you decide to get one? You can just remove pedals from the one you got (if I was able to do it by myself when I was a child you or one of men in your household/neighborhood should also be able to do it). The kid will outgrow it soon and it isn't a good tool to practice using pedals anyway so no waste.

I think I found a possible tool to help!! !

I did not learn to ride a bike as a child. I tried and tried, but did not get it and gave up when I was 12. Finally, in my 20s, I learned to ride a bike.

My oldest daughter (6,ASD) had no issue with pushing the pedals or the steering, like me her issue is the balance and some fear. I don't forsee the training wheels coming off anytime soon.

My youngest daughter (4, supposedly NT), on the other hand, really had a hard time figuring out the pedals. She turned 4 in march and really only just got it this month. Up till maybe 3 weeks ago she would get on the bike and couldn't figure out how exactly to push on the pedals (never figured out her trike either, it was so frustrating) even if I used my hands to do it for her. Steering was also an issue if she happened to get going for 15 seconds. Then, suddenly, she got the pedalling and when she did the steering came with it. She has training wheels, but I could see them coming off when she is like 6 or so. Ever since she figured out the pedals, shes a bike maniac and is outside on the bike all the time.

I didn't know about balance bikes until after my son had struggled to ride a bike and at the age of about 8, gave up entirely. He's now 12 and has zero interest in learning how to ride a bike.

His main issues were a lack of muscle strength to pedal on anything other than a very smooth, very flat surface. The slightest incline or even a slightly rough surface meant he couldn't get the pedals to move at all. He found it very hard to judge speed and braking distances. All of this with stabiliser wheels on.

My own feeling is that a balance bike would have let him develop a feel for the movement and speed of the bike, and be able to balance and learn how to adjust his own body with the movement of the bike, without the added complication of pedalling, which is yet another skill and complex set of actions.

Would it be possible for your son to spend some time trying out a balance bike in the shop before you buy?

am LFA and had never been able to ride a bike-not just the physical side of it but also because have got severe visual perception difficulties and have a lack of connection to the environment which makes it very dangerous.

however,quite recently,had started attending a bike club at a safe athletics track which is especialy for disabled people and has a load of specialist bikes; recumbents,double recumbents,hand powered bikes, trikes, wheelchair adapted bikes etc,heres a post had made about it including photos of self on a favourite semi recumbent bike;
http://theresidentialautist.blogspot.co ... endly.html

personaly find hand powered bikes easier to use,but it depends on the person plus woud have to try one out before buying because these are very expensive.
woud recommend going along to the club if in manchester,uk.

KoR brings up a good point, maybe a differnt style of bike would be better? I seriously couldn't get it as a kid and just gave up. I can do it now, but it's a bit dangerous as my balance is still iffy.I had put some thought into getting an adult trike or a recumbant (however it's spelled) for myself, but I wonder if that would be good for a kid too?