4ucycling

Cycling, just like swimming, is a beneficial life skill. But not everybody has the chance to learn how to do it as a child. That shouldn’t mean adults who can’t cycle never will, though — and helpfully, the process involved in learning how to cycle is the same no matter how big or old you are. Matt Lamy explains all. Although our dad ran a bike shop, my brother Ritchie never actually learned to cycle as a child. There were quite a few attempts to set him off on what would always become a slow-speed fall, but because his balance was fairly poor — probably due to the fact he suffered from quite severe glue ear — eventually the idea of riding a bike was abandoned. However, a couple of years ago and now in his mid-30s, Ritch decided he wanted to try to ride a bike again. I used the same techniques with him that I had used previously with my own children and — hey presto — within hours, he was pedalling away unaided. So, genuinely effective and fully used and approved by my brother ...

For Yourself, Consider A Bike With Flat Handlebars Whether you're using a childseat, a trailercycle or a trailer to take your kids along, you'll probably want to do so on a bicycle equipped with flat handlebars. These are higher and wider than dropped bars and provide more control against the destabilizing forces of the additional weight you're carrying. You feel this the most with a trailercycle. If Junior squirms around a lot, it can be quite difficult to steer a straight course. Set Some Rules If you're having trouble controlling the bike because of a rambunctious child in the seat behind you, consider setting some rules. Usually, if you tell him that he can't ride unless he rides safely, he'll get the point quickly and behave. Or try bribery: Promise a treat at ride's end if all safety rules are obeyed. Trailers are much more forgiving in such situations. Kids can even play a favorite card game or amuse themselves with other safe-to-travel-with playt...