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Comment by robga | Hacker News Reader

I taught my kid how to ride using training wheels 4 years ago. She rode 4 times in 4 weeks using 2 training wheels. 1 hour on 1 wheel the next week. The next weekend within 20 minutes of no wheel she was fine and cycled perfectly since. Truth be told I didn’t teach her any more than encourage her.

I was sceptical of the balance bike method. She didn’t need it. I remain highly skeptical that it offers any advantage whatsoever.

Away from kids, when I watch adult riders, a high proportion (30%+) have the seat far too low, maybe 3-5 inches too low. If you can flat foot sit, add 2 inches.

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How old was your kid? My daughter was riding a normal bike without training wheels at 3 years 11 months thanks to learning on a balance bike. She's the youngest and had the benefit of watching her older siblings so YMMV.

Reading this thread you'll see a lot of the balance bike proponents saying the same thing: that their kids were riding normal bikes by age 3.

I can’t actually recall, history blurs. Somewhere 3.5-4.5.

I did try her on a balance bike. She wasn’t interested and just ran everywhere. Within 2-3 months of hopping on a pedal bike she had no training wheels.

I don’t doubt your or other commenters experience at all. I am just adding my data point. It feels like ‘proponents’ claim some proven superior method. I wonder if there are any blind studies that actually prove the notion? How large is the effect?

My own experience is the opposite. My son learned to use a balance bike since 2 years old, a couple of weeks before his 3rd birthday we got a regular bike, on the same night we ran alongside him riding his bike grabbing his jacket in case he fell. He started riding the same night.

This is obviously not a competition, but the faster your kid learns the more fun they will have. If you are ok with training wheels that's fine too.

> Away from kids, when I watch adult riders, a high proportion (30%+) have the seat far too low, maybe 3-5 inches too low. If you can flat foot sit, add 2 inches.

That's still way too low. If you want good bio-mechanics, try putting your seat so high that you can comfortably reach the pedal with the balls of your feet.

Though if you want to get a good leg workout, having your seat way too low might be beneficial?

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