Two days ago, my ten year old son FINALLY learned to ride a bike. Yes, he's ten. And he's never learned.
It's not that we haven't tried to teach him. In fact, we just bought him his fourth bike. There are long stories behind each of the other three bikes and attempts to teach him…sigh.
Anyway, part of the problem as he started getting older was that the bikes that could accomodate his unusually tall self got bigger…and that means a farther fall to the ground (and he tends to be a bit…timid.) Plus, it's hard to put training wheels on larger bikes. So we got him a new bike on Monday, and since we live across the street from his school's soccer field, we took him there to learn. The grassy field kept him from going too fast, and provided a soft landing when he fell.
It worked. Within an hour he was riding like a pro. And yesterday, he did well on pavement. Yay! My kid can finally ride a bike! 
Next, we're getting bikes for all of us so we can go on family rides in the evenings and weekends, and we can take the bikes with us camping. Now we just need to find the time to do all that! 
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That’s so great, Larissa!
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My son was also 10 years old before he learned to ride a bike. Our trick was to get him a razor scooter. He learned balance on the razor scooter and then had no trouble with the bike.
by sandy l
on June 13th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
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Bonnie–I’m just relieved! LOL
Sandy! I forgot about that! We did the same thing. We got him a razor scooter in March, and it took him about a week to figure out the balance thing…and we speculated that it would help him figure out balance on a bike. Those razor scooters work wonders!
by Larissa
on June 13th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
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WTG Larissa! You’ve given me hope that my 8yr old will be able to learn .We just need to find a grassy park *g*.She’s been asking when we’re going to take her training wheels off.
by danette
on June 13th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
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Oooh, good tips! I’ll remember that when I teach my son. 
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LOL, Danette! Do try the grassy area! I think that made a HUGE difference for our son. That, and the razor scooter helping him figure out how to handle balance.
Michelle, it won’t be long, will it? 
by Larissa
on June 13th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
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And we made him wear a helmet when he was on the razor scooter!
by sandy l
on June 14th, 2007 at 8:49 am
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Sandy, we did too!!! Which isn’t a shock to my husband; he calls me a “helicopter mom,” because I hover…
by Larissa
on June 14th, 2007 at 8:59 am
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My oldest never did learn how to ride a bike… Till he got a dirt bike. More power. Argh.
by Suzanne
on June 14th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
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My next-door-neighbor is trying to get her ten-year-old off the training wheels, too. The eight-year-old picked it up in about five minutes, but the older boy? Doesn’t want to do it, so he’s putting up quite the fuss.
I keep asking him what he’ll do when they haul the bikes out in gym class in the fall and he can’t ride and all the kids make fun of him.
