Hello everyone.... and bike manuals....

[jimboalee]

+1

Totally agree 2nd hand bike for 5 year old. Unless you stumble into Hawk Cycles and they're having a sale.

My first bike, hmmmm... 20" early 1950s single speed boys all steel. Rod brakes. Back brake on chain stays.
Second hand from postcard add in newsagent. £5.
Hand painted pillar box red, silver hand painted mudguards and chainguard.( looked like a miniture postie bike ).

I never did use stabilisers. I had a Raleigh Tricycle. The one with the bread bin between the rear wheels. I got to riding it up on two wheels, so Mum thought I needed a bicycle.

Went to see the 20" with my pocket money in hand, bought it and made Mum run all the way home.

 

[Slim]

I'd consider ditching the stabilisers on the little un's bike. I got our 6 year-old riding without them in a couple of weekend sessions. Remove the pedals (remember the left side pedal unscrews the "wrong way" - it's righty loosey), lower the saddle and have him/her scoot along. After a while they will move the bike along further with each push and be able to glide the bike. At this point their balance will be fine and you can put the pedals back on and raise the saddle a bit.

Oh! and I'd also check out http://bicycletutor.com/ for maintenance tutorials.

Have fun


HTH

 

[pardalis]

I'd consider ditching the stabilisers on the little un's bike. I got our 6 year-old riding without them in a couple of weekend sessions. Remove the pedals (remember the left side pedal unscrews the "wrong way" - it's righty loosey), lower the saddle and have him/her scoot along. After a while they will move the bike along further with each push and be able to glide the bike. At this point their balance will be fine and you can put the pedals back on and raise the saddle a bit.

Oh! and I'd also check out http://bicycletutor.com/ for maintenance tutorials.

Have fun


HTH

Thanks everyone for your advice.

On the stabilisers thing - that's my thinking to be honest. I can remember learning to ride a bike without them in an afternoon. Just going at it until I got the hang of it. I can remember a few grazes as a result! The youngest is still inclined to throw a paddy when he can't get the hang of something though so we can always shove them back on for the sake of harmony and a 'good' end to the day!

It's a bit annoying having to wait until Christmas though to get them on the bikes!

 

[Andy in Sig]

Bicycle Technology or The Bicycle Repair Book by Rob van den Plas contain what is probably all the info the normal mortal will ever need to know about bikes.