R: Fw: Tip on Teaching Kids to Ride a Bike

[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

I have been meaning to ask the listserve about bike tips for a long time now,

and we are definitely going to try this. We have tried a lot of things with

Zacky (now 10 with DS); training wheels which are probably too flimsy now to

work properly and have been removed, running beside holding on to him, and a

device like a trailer hitch that attaches his bike to an adult bicycle and

supposedly gives him stability. He is heavy enough now that when panic sets in

(i.e. as soon as he lifts both feet off the ground!) he leans off to one side

throwing the person on the adult bike off balance, so that has been abandoned

too. I know he would really like to be able to ride independently like the

other kids his age but I cannot help him right now because I broke my leg a few

months back and I am still hobbling around on crutches!

Eunice (in Italy)

Mamma to Zacky 10 y/o with DS, and 13

Da: [mailto: ] Per conto di

susan kotsovolos

Inviato: giovedì 15 aprile 2010 20:09

A: svDSnet ; lapods ; ;

DOWN-SYN@...; Down Syndrome Treatment

Oggetto: Fw: Tip on Teaching Kids to Ride a Bike

Fwding from another list in case someone is interested. Looks like a good tip

that I could use in the future....

----- Forwarded Message ----

HomeEducationAndDownSyndrome

<mailto:HomeEducationAndDownSyndrome%40>

Sent: Thu, April 15, 2010 9:00:00 AM

Subject: [HomeEducationAndDownSyndrome] Tip on Teaching Kids to Ride a Bike

Hello friends.....

We so much appreciate all the ideas and leads that you all add to this

listserve.

Our Josh, 11 years old, learned to ride a bike last year. It gives him such joy.

We smile too watching him ride a two wheeler independently.

I wanted to share out experience as maybe it would be useful to others.

We tried the normal ways kids learn. First a trike then training wheels He rode

very well with training wheels. He quickly learned how to pedal but could not

transition to balancing by himself. We tried running along side and all the

other tricks.

The when he was 9 he went to the Lose the Training Wheels camp. We were filled

with great hope. He made a little progress but could not get the balance. He

returned to riding with training wheels. The program was great but did not work

for Josh.

Then a friend who is an avid bike rider and scientist gave us the breakthrough

methodology. We took off the pedals off his bike (the training wheels were

already off), and lowered the seat so that Josh could push the bike with both

feet. It was his scooter. He rode that way for about 6-9 months. He got faster

and faster and started balancing more and more. He became able to go a half a

block balancing and steering with his feet up. He loved it and rode the 4 blocks

to school everyday. Then when he clearly had gotten the balance concept we put

the pedals on and raised the seat a little. We keep the seat low so he could

still easily put his feet down. Last September, when he was 10 off he went the

first time we put the pedals back on. He rides with enthusiasm and confidence

now.

We would encourage anybody to try this technique. Apparently it is used in

Europe quite a bit.

Let us know if you have any questions

Tony and Boo Witt

Josh (DS) and Noah (6)