Upgrading from balance bike to 16inch?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

The brake lever is adjustable... so depending on your child's hand size. This was a plus.

At the price point of kids bikes, I cant disagree with you, but she loves it which makes me happy dad

It's a crap lever, the adjustability isn't the problem. I've just bought replacements 2 finger levers for my lightie's Hotrock (the precursor to the Riprock) and a new set of U brakes to put on the back for him. 

 

Also - V brakes would have been faaar better than the POS U brakes it has. If the Muna can spec V brakes, so can the Spaz. 

 

And yeah - mine loves his as well. Gets to ride with me. But the brakes were a problem. 

[GrahamS2]

Looking back on the purchase now, they could have done SO much better. V brakes back and front, no coaster hub and decent brake levers, to list 3 items that I wish they would have done. 

 

Those stock brakes & levers are shaite. IMO. 

The precise reason why my son got the Muna 14. Which I then rebuilt, lubed and set up perfectly. An engineers son simply CANNOT have a bike that is not properly built!

[breaker]

Thanx so much for the replies everyone, seems I'm not the only one in this predicament this year , Will be asking uncle chrisanta in the other thread about the Muna. 

 

The story with the training wheels is an interesting one. On the one hand I want her to start without it and just tough it out, BUT and this is a big BUT, I don't want her to get  discouraged and just not be able have as much fun as just getting on and pedaling.

I'm mindful that it will take one fall for her to ditch it altpgether, that is just her personality. That being said, its not if she will fall but when she will, and how she learns from it.

[worriesnot]

Thanx so much for the replies everyone, seems I'm not the only one in this predicament this year , Will be asking uncle chrisanta in the other thread about the Muna. 

 

The story with the training wheels is an interesting one. On the one hand I want her to start without it and just tough it out, BUT and this is a big BUT, I don't want her to get  discouraged and just not be able have as much fun as just getting on and pedaling.

I'm mindful that it will take one fall for her to ditch it altpgether, that is just her personality. That being said, its not if she will fall but when she will, and how she learns from it.

 

Mine is the same as this ^^^

 

Will have to feel it through with the training wheels.

Mine was (and still is) incredible on the little balance bike. Got onto the Muna and within 3/4 tries, and a few minutes, he was pedaling away - no issues. Until he came off... hard.

He blank out refused to get back on that bike and the only way we convinced him to try cycling again was by putting on the training wheels. 

 

We have now gone out four times to the park with training wheels and his confidence is back, so will start talking him up to letting go of the wheels.

 

Oh, and in the meantime he is still going ape on the balance bike, which we still have around (his little brother's inheritance).

[dirtypot]

Mine is also the same, and you could see that she was afraid at times of falling - so much so that occasionally being too stiff caused her to topple over.

What actually helped with this was showing her my grazes and roasties from when I'd gotten it wrong and saying that it's ok to fall and that it's bound to happen while learning and that even I sometimes fall.  She really took this to heart and changed her mindset completely.  Since then, there's been loads of confidence on and off road.

 

Also, we always ride with a minimum of helmets and gloves!  The crashes (when they rarely happen) are always at slow speed and the hands are undoubtedly the first things to hit the deck.  Minimizing damage helps a lot!

 

I still see no reason to use training wheels if they've got the balancing skills already.  It's a step backwards.  Learning to pedal is easy when you already know how to balance.  

[breaker]

As luck would have it the Muna has become quite scarcely available in cape town, and no one knows when the suppliers will be stocking up again.

Managed to secure one of the last ones at sportsmans, but taking daughter number 1 to fit it first.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Mine is also the same, and you could see that she was afraid at times of falling - so much so that occasionally being too stiff caused her to topple over.

What actually helped with this was showing her my grazes and roasties from when I'd gotten it wrong and saying that it's ok to fall and that it's bound to happen while learning and that even I sometimes fall.  She really took this to heart and changed her mindset completely.  Since then, there's been loads of confidence on and off road.

 

Also, we always ride with a minimum of helmets and gloves!  The crashes (when they rarely happen) are always at slow speed and the hands are undoubtedly the first things to hit the deck.  Minimizing damage helps a lot!

 

I still see no reason to use training wheels if they've got the balancing skills already.  It's a step backwards.  Learning to pedal is easy when you already know how to balance.  

THIS!!!!

 

It helped that I'd cracked my ribs just a few weeks before, so his falls were paltry by comparison because "daddy broke something" 

 

But seriously. DO NOT put the training wheels on. It will become a crutch, and it will take her backwards in terms of balance. She's learned how to balance, right? Now why take that need to continue balancing away in lieu of learning to pedal? Rather let her trust her balance and learn one thing at a time. 

 

Remind her that it's okay to fall. Heck, show her some of the "fails of the Month" on Pinkbike, and let her know that it's okay. It'll also go a way to get her to rethink that trait of giving up as soon as something is "difficult"

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

As luck would have it the Muna has become quite scarcely available in cape town, and no one knows when the suppliers will be stocking up again.

Managed to secure one of the last ones at sportsmans, but taking daughter number 1 to fit it first.

BUY IT, even if it doesn't fit her, it'll fit her in 6 months time. Continue to take her on the balance bike, and let her start learning how to pedal with you holding the seat. If she can reach the pedals with the seat slammed all the way, don't worry about her feet touching the floor just yet. That's for when she stops

 

And don't make a fuss of her falling, whatever you do! She's not a snowflake, she's a kid! Kids are supposed to get bruises and scrapes and stuff!

[Sarge]

Hi guys,

The move from a balance bike to a peddle bike is a big step for your youngsters, but it is also realy exciting to watch your child get the hang of it. Truely a magical time and one you will remember for ever.

I got my grandson is first peddle bike and told him to just scoot along like he had on his balance bike. In no time at all he was A for away.

Just enjoy it and be prowd

Sarge

[Beesrib]

Hi Sarge, I blame myself for lack of time to help my daughter.  So after this thread last night I cleaned her bike, took of the fairy wheels, cleaned the chain and the wheels.  Tonight we will put on her helmet and practice on the grass.  Will just have to keep on doing it until she is confident enough.  I can see the panic and fear in the little eyes, she is a very cautious little human!

[breaker]

BUY IT, even if it doesn't fit her, it'll fit her in 6 months time. Continue to take her on the balance bike, and let her start learning how to pedal with you holding the seat. If she can reach the pedals with the seat slammed all the way, don't worry about her feet touching the floor just yet. That's for when she stops

 

And don't make a fuss of her falling, whatever you do! She's not a snowflake, she's a kid! Kids are supposed to get bruises and scrapes and stuff!

 

You misunderstand about the fitting, I don't want to spend close to R2k on a bike shes only gonna use for a year. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

You misunderstand about the fitting, I don't want to spend close to R2k on a bike shes only gonna use for a year. 

Gotcha. But FWIW - that will be very easily sold in a years' time. 

[breaker]

Sooooo a little bit of feedback. Bought the Muna and kept the fairy wheels off.

Like Sarge said it was one of those moments, like when she went underwater for the first time = bliss and proud sense of achievement, probably more for me than her. 2nd time out and she was balancing without me holding the seat. Still early days though as she struggles to start and I've taught her how to stop, but bottom line is she is enjoying it. Not as much as all of her pals with training wheels on but she is enjoying it none the less. Still hasn't had a decent fall yet which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing.

However, you bright sparks who told me to take it off could have warned me about the amount of running I am required to do... joh    

Thanx again for the advice lehub

[AllAboutRides]

Sorry guys for popping in soate in this thread, please help!

 

Balancing bikes - Why use them? For what age? Benefits?

 

I've heard about "First Bike" but obviously there's a lot of other brands.

 

My litlle one still to young for any bike but would love to get your thoughts and help, she still enjoys riding with me on the Thule Ride Along (almost to small) :-)

[ChrisF]

Riaan our little one started on a bike with training wheels ... makes them "lazy".  They cycle at an angle - RIDING on one of the balance wheels .... and they dont learn to balance.

 

 

A "balance bike" has no pedals, and no training wheels .... so they kick forward, hold their legs in the air and have to balance to go forward.

 

 

Maritz spent about 1 or 2 weeks on the balance bike, and he got onto his bike, and was cycling properly in 10 days.  Bear in mind he was cycling with the training wheels for some time - we just could not get those training wheels off without the balance bike.

 

 

Maritz has a friend that is 6 years old, still RIDING that training wheel ... just cant get her to balance.  

 

 

 

so we recommend all our friends to get a balance bike as soon as the little legs can touch the ground.

[Knersboy]

Balance bikes are awesome. My laaitie was 2 when he got his, on the first day he got the knack of it. Was riding a 16 inch with pedals and no training wheels before he was 5.