Bike Riding

Grandpa and Grandma got Anna a really neat balance bicycle a while back, but we couldn't find a good place to walk/ride until just recently. Balance bikes are recommended for ages 2-5. They are made without pedals in order to emphasize learning to balance on two wheels and steer. You sit down and push it with your feet kind of like a scooter. Once you get good at balancing, you then go straight to a regular bike (no training wheels).

Anna was not a big fan at first....she loved pedaling her outgrown tricycle, wanted a cute girly bike with training wheels like her friends (peer pressure starts EARLY!), and she REALLY didn't like to wear the helmet. [I have to say that the peer pressure actually helped with the helmet...we have been riding with a couple of friends and they HAVE HELMETS, TOO! Now, the helmet is just part of the process and is not a big deal. Whew!]

The turning point was finding a long enough stretch of smooth, gently sloping downhill. Once Anna discovered that she could GO FAST with this bike, her interest really took off. Instead of walking beside her as she walks the bike, we now have to RUN to catch up while she builds up speed and coasts!

I have to also mention that Grandpa is a cyclist.....so his interest in this is pretty keen! He doesn't mind running beside a laughing four-year-old who is squealing with delight at going fast on a two-wheeled bike.