Top Tips for Learning to Ride - Part 3 - Helping Your Child Work Out Balance Speed

One safe way to do this is to have the seat really low so both feet can touch the ground and your child feels very secure. If you can remove the pedals it is even better. Then, like a double-legged scooter, the bike is pushed along with the feet while seated until a balance speed is reached and both feet can drag freely along. This is balance speed, and the child will feel safe knowing the ground is close by and their feet are going to save them if they slow down too much.

I am sure most people will now have seen balance bikes, like E200L or E250L flying around parks and shopping centres: these kids are learning balance speed and control without the fuss and extra weight of pedals. All bikes can be balance bikes, the principles remain the same, keep the seat low and feet should easily be able to touch the ground.

Warren Key, Melbourne bike retailer and designer of ByK Bikes for Kids