How to Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike

Use our step-by-step guide for teaching your child how to ride with Flex Guiders.

Before You Begin...

As parents ourselves, we’ve learned a thing or two about teaching our children to ride a bike. First, 90% of learning depends on your child’s confidence and desire—so, be patient. Don’t feel like you need to push them onto the next step before they’re ready. Your job is to help them feel secure and in control. Give them lots of support and words of encouragement!

Other helpful tips

Set-Up

• Lower the bike seat: This reduces the rider's center of gravity for easier balance.

• Choose the right location: Well-paved, mostly flat with a slight incline, and wide open.

• Install the Flex Guiders:

Balance Basics

1. Have your child mount their bike with their feet on the pedals

2. Tilt their bike until their foot leaves the pedal to catch their balance, practice this skill

3. Teach them to turn in the direction that their foot comes down on

Guided Motion

1. Adjust the Flex Guiders to setting 3 (tightest setting).

2. Place a hand on their mid to lower back and walk with them as they pedal.

3. Push down on the handlebars slightly to tilt the bike and allow them to practice up-righting themselves by turning out of the lean

Pedaling

1. Adjust the Flex Guiders to setting 3.

2. Teach:

   1. “Toes forward” and “Top foot down” to go forward.

   2. Rotate your hands forward; have them mimic.

   3. “Heels backward” to stop.

   4. Rotate your hands backward; have them mimic.

Gradual Integration

1. Adjust the Flex Guiders to setting 3.

2. As they ride, instruct them to lean and turn.

3. Repeat at lower settings as they improve.

4. Remove the Flex Guiders!