Best place to train kid to ride a bike (sans training wheels)? (neighborhood, middle school)

[cBach]

I've been trying to train my son to ride a bike here in Steiner Ranch without training wheels, but it is so hilly here it's been a disaster. I'm looking for a very large parking lot, that is extremely flat (no slope at all) and where there is no traffic in it at all. When I grew up in Louisiana, we used to go to an old airforce base and I learned how to ride a bike on an old runway. I learned how to drive there too. I was thinking about something along those lines. I want to eliminate the gradient factor and I don't want cars crisscrossing the lot either. Is there anything like that here?

[h886]

How about go to one of your local schools? They're still out for the summer and while there may be some staff there Mon-Thu, it should be pretty deserted on weekends, evenings and Fridays.

[motherofthree]

That's what we did. The RRISD technology center that has a big parking lot with a small slope. The small slope helped a lot with getting my son to start pedaling from a stand still.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by cBach

we used to go to an old airforce base and I learned how to ride a bike on an old runway.

Depending on HOW old, that could also provide good sprint/interval training!

[cBach]

Thanks - I'll check the parking lots at the local schools. I believe that they are not flat but I'll check. Great advice.

[h886]

Originally Posted by cBach

Thanks - I'll check the parking lots at the local schools. I believe that they are not flat but I'll check. Great advice.

Or, if not the very most local school (if you're in a hilly area, for example), then I'm sure you could drive to one nearby and find a flat-ish parking lot. High schools will tend to have more parking lots to accommodate student drivers.

[Dr.Mom]

We just went through this stage with my oldest who was petrified to take off her training wheels.
A family friend gave us a great piece of advice - he taught all of his kids to ride on the grass first. They go slower, so they're not as scared and if they fall off, there are no skinned knees. A local school should have a flat grassy area near their playground or a soccer field that isn't in use.

[motherofthree]

I have seen people teaching their kids at the middle school track. That surface is spongy and flat. It's perfect!

[shmatbert]

I recently watched some videos on youtube regarding teaching a kid to ride a bike. There were several that recommended and showed how to teach your child on a grassy, gently sloped hill. As the earlier poster said, it's slower and safer - not as scary, and they can build a little momentum.

[10scoachrick]

Please make sure the child knows to look where they're going. From what I've seen just in our neighborhood, the tendency as they pull away that first time is to look back for Mom and Dad's approval--bars and front wheel follow...almost a guaranteed face-plant .

Then, please make sure that they understand that leaning the bike slightly is what will make it change direction...no longer will they need/want to turn the handlebars in order to turn the bike when moving...avoiding another face plant.

Another 'transition' is moving away from needing both feet on the pedals to start. The kids get used to sitting on a stable bike and getting their feet set in a perfect position. Once they realize that they can propel the bike with one foot(either) and THEN put the other foot on, it makes that dreaded dead start a lot easier(the slight down slope will also help) .

On the other hand, a young lady fell toward me at the beginning of a Mellow Johnny's ride a couple of weeks ago(we hadn't started yet). I figured she was having trouble 'un-clipping' from her road pedals...until I realized she was wearing sneaks and using flat platform pedals . She just froze and forgot to put her foot down!

Band-aids, helmet, elbow pads, ice pack, patience, humor...am I forgetting anything? Have fun!!!