Learning to ride a bike

April 2, 2004

Hi, Colleen -

Using the tape that way makes me feel a little bit better. I also went to a

wonderful woman at our Easter Seals - she's in charge of the Lekotek lending

program - and asked her if she had any suggestions. She said it was so easy!

She suggested attaching a small block of wood to the pedal (with screws) - the

wood raises the foot just enough to make it a little more difficult to let it

slip off the pedal and gives an incentive to push down on the pedal more. In

addition, though, (and since Josh had worn orthos this wouldn't be anything new

for him), attach velcro strips to the wood at a criss-cross that would hold his

foot onto the wood block. I can't wait to give this a try!!

Also, this woman asked me if we wanted to use one of the adaptive bikes that

ES has on hand - I said I didn't even know they had one - she said they have 2

or 3 and " don't we tell you parents anything?? " She was so excited about Josh

using one - it looks more like a big-boy bike than a tricycle - I'm going over

in about an hour and a half to take a look at it and borrow it until he learns.

I've asked his teacher at school to ask the PT if they will work with him on it

- there's an educational component to this - it's a mode of transportation to

and from school, the movements can be transferred to other things in PE, and, as

with other kids his age, he needs to learn the safety aspects of walking/riding

to school and being aware of traffic (in anticipation of those driver's ed

classes in high school!). She (the Lekotek woman) suggested we still do the

tricycle route as well so Josh can get the benefit of both and the tricycle is

easier to transport to Grandma's house!

I am so excited about all this - I just remember the freedom I felt when I

really started riding a bike and so want Josh to have that feeling! Our

daughter always hated riding her bike but Josh really seems interested.

Sherry

April 2, 2004

Original Message: 5

Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 14:11:55 -0800 (PST)

From: sherry silvern <srsilvern@...>

Subject: Re: Re: Learning to ride a bike

I was wondering this too but Josh is still at the tricycle stage (we've got

a tall one) - we can't seem to get him to keep his feet on the pedals at

all! One person suggested duct tape since the chances of falling off the

tricycle are pretty slim but I just don't know about that duct tape! He

keeps looking at bicycles in stores - he sees other kids ride - and he wants

to, too. Any suggestions on how to keep his feet on the pedals?

Hi Sherry,

We use velcro on my daughters shoes and on the pedels. It works like a

charm.

April 2, 2004

It was the DDAT (DORE) Centre that did it for us and lots of visualisation, just

imagining yourself riding successfully, balancing and pedalling. Mind you, my

son was nine before it happened! Also good was that my younger son had a friend

who also couldn't ride a bike and he took him out and taught him as well, also

using visualisation!

Sara

> I was wondering this too but Josh is still at the tricycle stage (we've got

> a tall one) - we can't seem to get him to keep his feet on the pedals at

> all! One person suggested duct tape since the chances of falling off the

> tricycle are pretty slim but I just don't know about that duct tape! He

> keeps looking at bicycles in stores - he sees other kids ride - and he wants

> to, too. Any suggestions on how to keep his feet on the pedals?

>

April 3, 2004

My son's PT gave us a catalog for a company that makes a product to keep

children's feet on the pedals (http://www.equipmentshop.com). I have not yet

ordered it, but maybe I will try 's idea first of using velcro and save

some money! Good luck!

Re: Re: Learning to ride a bike

>

> I was wondering this too but Josh is still at the tricycle stage (we've

got

> a tall one) - we can't seem to get him to keep his feet on the pedals at

> all! One person suggested duct tape since the chances of falling off the

> tricycle are pretty slim but I just don't know about that duct tape! He

> keeps looking at bicycles in stores - he sees other kids ride - and he

wants

> to, too. Any suggestions on how to keep his feet on the pedals?

>

> Hi Sherry,

>

> We use velcro on my daughters shoes and on the pedels. It works like a

> charm.

>

June 3, 2005

I found that teaching my son early did the trick. He was 4 years old when he learned how to ride a 2 wheeler. he was skeptical at first but it took about 10 minutes and he was riding like an expert. Has been since. Not even my NT son who is almost past that age can do it yet. And we have tried.. believe me..... So my suggestion is this... Pad em up and start em young... If they are willing of course...... on <srobertson@...> wrote:

Hi All,I've read numerous posts on the list lately that mentioned difficultiesteaching a kid on the spectrum to ride a bike. Having AS, I certainlycan associate with your kids on that. I didn't learn to ride atwo-wheeler until 8 or 9. I scanned through the Usenet newsgroups andfound a couple of posts that might be helpful for you. The posts appearbelow. Also, here are a couple of helpful URLs on the subject ofteaching a kid how to ride in general that I passed along to a friendwith an AS kid recently:http://urlcut.com/bikelearnhttp://urlcut.com/learn2ride-"Hi, This subject came up on the OASIS forum a few months ago and one momwrote inwith an idea that worked with her child.She suggested that they

remove the pedals and let the kids treat the*bike* likea scooter (sit on the seat and push the *bike* along using their feet).Oncethey've gotten the balance issue down and have become comfortable on the*bike*,put the pedals back on.Apparently a few parents from the forumtried this method and it worked within a very short time.I have 9 year old NT twins who have yet to learn to ride their bikes(partiallyour fault because we don't have very many flat areas, no sidewalk andlive on avery busy street and we haven't really pushed the issue) But we plan ongivingthis method a try this summer.I'll let you know if it works.-BarbOASIS http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/<http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/>""Dear allI am NT but never managed to ride a *bike* without side wheels until

I wasabout 7-8 years old (I am now 21 and love to ride - as long as the surfaceis flat). I remember my father holding the *bike* by the seat and theneventually (after many months) standing behind and hold onto the back ofthe *bike* seat and letting go. I have used this method to teach otherchildren to ride and it works - but you do get a bad backhope this is of some help.sarah"

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June 3, 2005

I don't beleive it is that way with all AS kids. My 13 year old with AS, learned to ride his bike without the training wheels at age 4 1/2. He was actually pretty good at it too. He now doesn't prefer riding a bike, he'd rather play video games, which is sad! He doesn't seem to like doing anything that involves effort. He will gripe about it! It was surprising though to me that he was able to ride a bike at such an early age because he was so clumsy at doing so many other things, like skipping, which he still hasn't figured out and running, and of course his handwriting is terrible! Well, I guess to each his own. on <srobertson@...> wrote:

Hi All,I've read numerous posts on the list lately that mentioned difficultiesteaching a kid on the spectrum to ride a bike. Having AS, I certainlycan associate with your kids on that. I didn't learn to ride atwo-wheeler until 8 or 9. I scanned through the Usenet newsgroups andfound a couple of posts that might be helpful for you. The posts appearbelow. Also, here are a couple of helpful URLs on the subject ofteaching a kid how to ride in general that I passed along to a friendwith an AS kid recently:http://urlcut.com/bikelearnhttp://urlcut.com/learn2ride-"Hi, This subject came up on the OASIS forum a few months ago and one momwrote inwith an idea that worked with her child.She suggested that they

remove the pedals and let the kids treat the*bike* likea scooter (sit on the seat and push the *bike* along using their feet).Oncethey've gotten the balance issue down and have become comfortable on the*bike*,put the pedals back on.Apparently a few parents from the forumtried this method and it worked within a very short time.I have 9 year old NT twins who have yet to learn to ride their bikes(partiallyour fault because we don't have very many flat areas, no sidewalk andlive on avery busy street and we haven't really pushed the issue) But we plan ongivingthis method a try this summer.I'll let you know if it works.-BarbOASIS http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/<http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/>""Dear allI am NT but never managed to ride a *bike* without side wheels until

I wasabout 7-8 years old (I am now 21 and love to ride - as long as the surfaceis flat). I remember my father holding the *bike* by the seat and theneventually (after many months) standing behind and hold onto the back ofthe *bike* seat and letting go. I have used this method to teach otherchildren to ride and it works - but you do get a bad backhope this is of some help.sarah"

June 4, 2005

He now doesn't prefer riding a bike, he'd rather play video games, which is sad! He doesn't seem to like doing anything that involves effort. He will gripe about it!

OHHHHH THIS IS SO MY KID!!!!!!!!!

which he still hasn't figured out and running,

THIS TOO!!!

Charlotte

June 4, 2005

Just be careful if they have SID symptoms because they may be unable

to catch themselves or balance adiquitely at younger ages. Tyler at

age 9 finally had his training wheels removed, and on that first day,

he ended up in emergency getting stitches three layers deep and still

has major scars (yes, he was wearing properly fitted helmet, arm

pads, and knee pads). His OT later told us that he didn't have the

ability at the time to react quick enough to be safe on a bike... If

your child walks into walls, falls without being able to catch

himself, can't stand very long on one foot or with both arms and legs

together, or if equalibrium is at all an issue, please talk to your

ot first!!!

~hugs~

Rabecca

(whose son ended up scared on a couple occasions due to his late

dx/treatment at age 9 1/2)

> I found that teaching my son early did the trick. He was 4 years

old when he learned how to ride a 2 wheeler. he was skeptical at

first but it took about 10 minutes and he was riding like an expert.

Has been since. Not even my NT son who is almost past that age can do

it yet. And we have tried.. believe me..... So my suggestion is

this... Pad em up and start em young... If they are willing of

course......

June 4, 2005

THIS POST COULDN'T COME AT A BETTER TIME!i'M SO EXCITED. MY SON FINALLY LEARNED

TO RIDE HIS BIKE TODAY,WITH NO TRAINING WHEELS AND WITHOUT BEING SCARED . I'M SO

PROUD! HIS BROTHER GOT ONE FOR HIS BIRTHDAY,AND CLAY ASKED MY HUBBY TO HELP HIM

..HE SAID ,THERE'S JUST SOME THINGS YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO DO ON YOUR OWN. I GOT

BACK FROM THE STORE AND HE WAS RIDING IT!I GUESS I'M EXCITED BECAUSE HE'S

TEN,AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO TEACH HIM SINCE HE WAS 3 OR 4. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PROGRESS:))

From: rabecca_whalen <rabeccawhalen@...>

Date: Sat Jun 04 01:58:45 CDT 2005

Autism and Aspergers Treatment

Subject: Re: Learning to Ride a Bike