Nothing can shatter your fledgling young bike rider's confidence like a nasty spill down the driveway, scraped knees and all. To keep him in the saddle, literally and figuratively, consider a 2-wheeler with training wheels. Because they're mounted on the rear of the bike with a metal crossbar, training wheels can be a great aid in teaching your child balance. The wheels are generally positioned low to the ground, for then most stability; as your child becomes a more proficient rider you can raise them slightly (about a half of an inch at a time) to create increasingly more wobbliness. The idea? Your child will eventually learn to compensate for the unsteadiness of the bike instead of relying on the training wheels to do it for him. When the wheels are practically off the ground and your child has good mastery of the bike, you know he's ready for that 2-wheeler!
What to Look for
Since balance is the name of the game, look for the widest wheel you can find--a fat wheel will offer more stability than a thin one. What's more, a substantial wheel will wear better than a skinny one. Also, check the crossbar. Make sure the metal is solid and not bent (besides being unsafe, a flimsy crossbar doesn't bode well for the overall quality and construction of the bike) and that the bolts are in place and tight. Last but not least, be sure the wheels can be adjusted up and down. The idea is to eventually have your child graduate to a 2-wheeler as his balance skills improve.
Common Pitfalls
Since they're marketed to the younger set, bikes with training wheels come with a lot of bells and whistles. Just because your child is clamoring for that bike with the sparkly streamers or the one with his favorite character emblazoned on the front, doesn't mean it is the right bike for him. When you're buying a bike with training wheels, look at structure, not style. Make sure the bike and its wheels are well constructed and well assembled. While the ticket price may be higher, buying from a reputable bike shop where trained bike mechanics put the bikes together may be a better option than buying from a toy or department store.
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