Rethink the Definition of Riding

What defines riding?  Does pedaling define riding?  Downhill mountain bikers don’t pedal, road bike riders descending a highway don’t pedal, BMX riders in a halfpipe don’t pedal, and motorcyclists don’t pedal.  They are all riding.  So what do they all have in common?  The ability to balance on two wheels, and lean through turns regardless of what put them in motion.  For children, walking and running are the natural means of propulsion.  The simplicity of Strider bikes allows children to concentrate on the fundamental skills of balancing, leaning, and steering while propelling the bike in a natural way.
 

Advantages of Riding a STRIDER

Research shows that learning balance and coordination with exercise jump-starts a child’s growth and development during the important formative years of early childhood.

• STRIDER bikes are ultra light weight and easy to control.
• STRIDER bikes increase balance, coordination, and confidence.
• STRIDER bikes allow children to focus on learning balance first.
• STRIDER bikes are free of chains, pedals, and protrusions that can harm a child.
• STRIDER bikes provides a safe, smooth, and natural transition to a pedal bike.
   

Learn to Ride at Home

Adjust the bike to fit the child!  Saddle height is the most critical adjustment, followed by handlebar height. Set the saddle height so the child’s feet are flat on the ground and both knees have a slight bend in them when seated. A good starting point is 1” less than the child’s inseam. Set the handlebar height with respect to the saddle. If the saddle is at its lowest setting, set the handlebar also to its lowest setting, etc. Kids grow quickly. Be sure to adjust the bike every couple months.   Be a Cheerleader, Not a Coach.  Children will instinctively throw a leg over the Strider and want to go. Encourage them to do this and give them praise for any amount of time they spend on the Strider.   Let the Child Set the Pace.  Some kids jump on the bike and go, go, go. Other kids are more cautious; some may not even sit on the seat at first. This is okay! Their security is in their feet at this point, and we want them to feel secure. As they get comfortable walking around with the bike between their legs and working the handlebar, they will start to ‘trust’ the bike and the saddle. Let them learn at their own

pace... they’ll be striding along with feet up on the footrests before you know it!

4. Support the child - NOT the bike!  We instinctively want to help the child by holding onto the bike to keep it from tipping; don’t do this. The child must be allowed to feel the bike tip sideways to be able to learn how to keep it from tipping. If the adult supports the bike when it tips to one side, the child mistakenly thinks that the most stable place for the bike is tipped over to the side. This is the fallacy of “training” wheels.  If the child needs assurance, simply walk next to them and hang onto the back of their shirt so that they can feel safe.