Spring stabilisers?

[Rampage]

Has anyone used these Spring stabilisers on their kids bikes?

http://www.halfords.com/kids-zone/kids- ... tabilisers

 

[FSXStumpy]

No. Just standard ones adjusted to allow some "rock" to accommodate the uneven driveway. Never much of a trouble. They can't go far with training wheels on anyway.... As soon as they're proficient pedaling, teach'em 2 wheels. Takes an afternoon, tops.

J

 

[gradeAfailure]

Balance bike as soon as they're old enough, then once they can scoot along with their feet up unaided, move onto a standard bike. Omits the stabiliser phase entirely (which is counterproductive anyway).

http://www.twowheelingtots.com/beyond-t ... -the-hype/

 

[FSXStumpy]

I agree with that! A cheap balance bike can be a kid's bike with the crankset removed....

 

[Rampage]

Re:

He's not very good on his balance bike and is now too big for it.
I believe the purpose of these ones is to simulate some leaning of the bike while riding to increase balance skills.

 

[xerxes]

Re:

I think the problem with stabilisers and tricycles is that it messes up the steering, you turn the handlebars to the right to go right, whereas when you ride on two wheels, you always counter steer to initiate a turn, consciously, or not.

 

[Rampage]

Re:

I think these Spring ones make you lean when steering too

 

[Thias]

My two boys learned to ride on a balance bike. I got a used, solid steel type with a rear brake and spoke wheels, not one of those plastic crappy wobbly walmart toys.
The boys both loved that thing. And when the time was there to switch for a real bike the only problem was learning to pedal. One hour of trying (for themselves!) on an empty parking space later they were cra(n)cking on!
They both teached themselves driving. I had noting to do but spraying fresh paint on the frame from time to time and putting new tyres on. (I took those from our old pram. They were really thick and looked quite badass on that balance bike :roll: )

 

[gerryattrick]

Re:

The replies to this thread remind me of the Harry Enfield character - "you don't want to do it like that", and made little attempt to answer the op's question.

My kids never used them but spring stabilisers seem like they should be an improvement on the rigid ones, but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter whether you use stabilisers, balance bikes or just jump straight into two-wheeler.

Kids will learn to ride two-wheel anyway whichever method you use, without too much difference in time between the methods chosen. When they're bombing down hills in their teens it won't make any difference how they learned ten years earlier.