This is a fun way to learn to cycle without training wheels:
1) Find a park with grassy slopes.
2) Slide down the slope on your bicycle to learn how to balance yourself on it.
3) Once you are confident; start pedalling as the wheels build up momentum, rolling down the slope.
Keep repeating that process and you will soon get the hang of it. Once you are able to keep your balance on the bike, click on the following link to learn how to mount and dismount from your bike:
This chart provides a general idea of the type and wheel sizes of bicycles your children can ride on, based on their age.
The best bike, from your children’s point of view, will be the one that is:
-suitable for their age as one that is too big scares them.
-in the colours that they like.
-printed with images of their favourite cartoons (for the younger ones).
-similar to that their friends are cycling on (for the older kids).
-meet their purpose, example, BMX for kids who enjoy performing tricks or road bike or fixie for those who enjoy speeding down the road on large wheels or MTBs for those who like to cycle on rough terrains.
From different parents’ point of view (I have met many), the best bicycle for their children will be the one:
-that is safest to ride on, which is usually smaller in size than the one recommended by the bike shop because they are worried that their children cannot handle them and will be hurt.
-that is the cheapest one in the shop because they are frugal or they have a budget to meet.
-that is easy or not costly to maintain, example, with no gear components installed because they do not trust that their children will take care of the bike well.
-that can also be ridden by other members in the family because they are practical or there are too many members in the family to get each child a bike.
-that have more accessories installed like carrier, mudguards, bell and basket.
-that comes with lots of free gifts like helmet, bell and lights.
From a bike shop owner’s point of view, the best bike for children will be one:
-that the child can ride over a longer period of time (but that is bad for my business).
-that can be shared amongst siblings and, if possible, adults in the family (but that is bad for my business).
-that are installed with carrier, basket , mudguards, bell, front and rear light for children who rides to school or run errands on them.
If you are looking in that direction, consider getting adult folding bikes for your children. As you can see, the seat post and stem height on a folding bike are adjustable to cater to riders of various heights. This also allows the cyclist to sit in a more upright position.
So, an adult folding bike in wheel size of:
-12″ and 14″ can be ridden by a child age 4.
-16″ can be ridden by a child age 5 and above.
-20″ can also be ridden by a child age 6 till adulthood.
Also, the handlebars on some folding bicycles can be removed if they are bolted on to the stems or there is a quick release mechanism to release them from their stems.
If the distance from the seat to the handlebar is too far to reach. it allows the parent to replace the current handlebar to one that is curved towards a shorter rider in the family.
There are adult bicycles in the market with smaller wheel size that their children can also ride on. This is a 16″ wheel size bicycle made for the Japanese market. A child age 5 or above should be able to ride on it.
This is also made for the Japanese market. Its rear wheel is 16″ while the front is 24″.
Some 20″ wheel size bicycles for children can also be ridden by adults. A child age 6 should not have any problem cycling on a 20″ wheel size BMX. However, if the top tube length is too long, the handlebar can be pushed towards a shorter rider to enable him to reach it.
Just note that getting the child a BMX with a longer top tube length means that he will be able to ride it for a longer period of time.
When the child is taller replace the seat post to one that is laid back. The increased distance from the saddle to the handlebar will make the child's ride more comfortable.
The carrier on this 20″ wheel size bicycle can handle load as it is welded to the frame. This is a suitable bicycle for a child who rides to school or have to run errands on it.
Changes can be made to a bicycle to meet the purpose for buying it. For example, the customer of the above bicycle, opt to attached a removable padded rear seat to the bicycle so that she can ferry her younger sibling. The original saddle was replaced with one that is larger so that seniors in her family can sit on it comfortably. A stem extender was also added to increase the height of the handlebar so that someone taller in the family can ride on it with comfort.
Here is another 20″ wheel size, low cost and low maintenance bicycle to consider getting for children age 6 and adults to ride on. It looks like a folding bike as its top tube is low.
If you plan on getting a bicycle for your child to ride to school on, consider getting one with full mudguards installed as it rains all year round in Malaysia.
The height, fore and aft adjustment for saddle is the same for all bicycles. You will find very clear instruction with photos from “Raleigh Bike Manuals & Quick Start Guide”.
From there, you can click on link to Raleigh bike Owners Manual. If the links I shared are broken, you can refer to the following question I answered earlier for other links and learn how to find your own bicycle owner's manual.
I extracted the following information from an older manual from Raleigh that I have:
“To adjust the saddle height, loosen the clamp bolt using an Allen key, spanner or the quick release lever and adjust the seat post to the required height. Adjust the height of the saddle so that when cycling along, your leg will be slightly bent with the pedal at its lowest point.
Important: When altering the height of the saddle, you must not pull the seat post out further than the limit mark (17). This must not be visible.”
Some clamps on seatposts are different but they are fitted to slide along the rails of the saddles in the same manner. These are the type of seat clamps that are often seen on alloy seatposts.
This is how the clamps with titanium bolts on a Prolite seatpost looks like.
This is how the saddle is attached to this lightweight seatpost from GUB.
There are alloy and steel seatposts without clamps on them to attach to the saddles. Instead, the clamps are already attached under the saddles. As these clamps are heavier, you will not see them installed on road bikes. They are usually seen on saddles for cruisers or lower end bikes. For such, you loosen the nuts at both sides of the seat clamp to move the saddle forward or backward along the rails.
Cyclists of Canyon bikes, can even read about how they can adjust their saddle position and angle at the following link of their site.
Take a look at saddles usually installed on bicycles for long distance rides and you will know that for a comfortable ride, a wider plushy saddle is the better choice.
Manufacturers tend to provide saddles that are smaller and less padded in order to reduce the weight of bicycles.
This is why customers who have just started cycling tend to change the original saddles installed on the bicycles they purchased. As it will take about three months for the gluteal muscles at the buttocks to develop, saddles that are padded or larger in size provide them some relieve from the aches they have to endure when they started cycling.
Cyclists with pronounced posterior tend to choose the most padded saddles they could find in the shop.
Some may feel embarrassed about being seen with a larger saddle installed and will opt for padded foam or gel saddle covers.
Some may also opt to wear padded cyclist shorts.
There are many type of saddles in the market. Some brands supply them in different shapes and sizes for male and female cyclists. The ones for female riders tend to have shorter nose which can be uncomfortable for some male riders. Female riders tend to have wider hips which can make it uncomfortable for them to sit on saddles for male riders which tend to be narrower.
If you prefer hard saddle, the one you should consider getting should be made of leather. It is more expensive but as you sit on it over a period of time, the leather will conform to the shape of your butt to give you a more comfortable ride.
Just make sure that you install it correctly on the seat post as that can also affect the comfort of your ride.
Sight is one of your five main senses that you should value greatly. You can choose to wear it based on:
-the weather condition you will be facing. -the environment you will be at. -the activity you will be engaged in.
Your eyes will be uncomfortable if any of the following particles of nature are constantly hurting your eyes:
-sand -dust -wind -snow
Wearing sunglasses can protect your eyes from flying debris hitting your eyes while you are out on the road, especially while riding on a bike or bicycle, that does not provide much protection. Corneal injuries can occur even when small particles hit your eyes at high speed because they can become deeply lodged in them. Sunglasses can also reduce the chances of pollutants ending up on the surface of your eyes which can trigger inflammation. You will be stressed out and not be able to enjoy the activities for the day if you have:
-blurred vision. -swelling and itchy eyes. -eye strain.
These may cause headaches and make you feel tired sooner.
If you are often out under the sun, consider wearing sunglasses with lenses that provide UV protection as prolonged exposure to UV rays can increase the risk of:
Do you know that there are helmets for cyclists with sun shields attached? They can be retracted or removed when they are not required. Most later models have magnetic studs to hold the shields in place on the helmet.
The sun shields are made of plastic. So, if your sun shield is attached with magnetic studs, it is best that you remove it from the helmet first before you put it on or take it off your head. This is to prevent the sun shield from accidentally slipping off the helmet and landing on the ground which can cause scratches.
This is a multisport helmet with sunshield.
As the shield curves around the face when the helmet is worn, it a better option over getting a pair of regular sunglasses. It works better at protecting the cyclist from getting hurt by dust particles blown into the eyes.
This model is supplied with two retractable sun shields in different shades of colours.
This model also include a visor for days when you do not require the sun shield.
I like this model for kids with full face shield attached.
Though such helmets are not SIRIM approved for motorcyclists, some of my customers buy them for their children to wear when they take them out for rides on their motorcycles. This is because it is difficult to find helmets in smaller size that are well fitted for their children to wear. Most children are attracted by the cute images printed on the helmets and will consider wearing them.
I think it is also useful for children who are too small to wear masks. The full face shield will give them some protection against getting infected by Covid-19 virus while out in public.
You should not have any problem mounting a flag to your handlebar if you get yourself an umbrella holder for bicycle.
You can check out how it can be mounted on a bicycle or wheelchair by watching this video.
There are also many types of handlebar capacity organisers that you can make use of to attach your flag if you run out of space there.
You will have to figure out how you can attached your flag to the organiser based on the kind of pole it is attahced to.
There are also bicycle light holder that you can use for mouting your flag. This model has a quick release mechanisam which makes it easy for you to consider installing on other locations like the seatpost or top tube. Just make sure that the holder you buy can be rotated in the correct position for the flag to be raised up.
These are other holders for bicycle light that you can consider.
You can wrap the pole with paper or cut strips of punctured tubes if the gap is too large for the pole of your flag.
Just make sure that you attached the flag securely to your bicycle so that it will not fall out of the holder and accidentally hurt someone close by.
I have written earlier about Mamachari. It is also known as "Mom's bike" or Dutch-style city bike.
Let me, as a bike shop
owner, share my views, on why Japanese cyclists prefer "Mom's bikes"
or Dutch-style city bikes over other types like mountain bikes (MTB). In Japan, such bikes for
adults are available in wheel sizes of 24″ and 26″..
This is what a MTB
looks like.
There are single speed and geared models available in the market. Lower end models are heavier as they are usually steel frames MTBs. In Malaysia, they can be purchased:
in frame size of -S, M, or L -13″ (rarely), 15″ up to 19″
in wheel size of:
-20″ -24″ -26″ -27.5″ -29″ (29er)
Most MTBs in wheel sizes of 27.5″ and 29″ are geared bikes. It is not the kind of bicycle that can be shared by family members of different height or age.
Most leisure or city bikes supplied in Malaysia are single speed bikes. They are available in wheel sizes of 20″, 24″, 26″ and 700C. Most are steel frame city bikes.
You can find higher end models with alloy frame and gears components installed. They are usually in wheel sizes of 26″ or 700C.
These are the notable differences between the bicycles, which will explain why city bikes are popular in Japan:
The top tube of a city bike is placed lower down the frame compared to a MTB.
-mounting and dismounting from a city bike is easier for cyclists carrying a load or ferrying a child.
-it is a safer bike for seniors, especially if they have poor gait.
-due to lower average height of Asians, a 24″ wheel size city bike can be ridden by a child age 9 till adulthood.
-the low top tube makes it one of the common bike choices for companies running rental businesses as it can cater to adult riders of any height.
The stem of a MTB is shorter and the handlebar is usually straight or with low rise. The handlebar on a city bike is high rise and curves toward the cyclist. That is preferred as:
-it provides easy reach for shorter riders.
-cyclist can sit in a more upright position on a city bike which is good for seniors and cyclists with back issues.
All city bikes are installed with full mudguards, rear carrier, basket and stand. These accessories are usually not installed on MTB. Also tyres on city bikes are slick for urban rides. Tyres on MTB are knobby for ridding over rough terrain.
-it can be noisy to ride a MTB on paved road.
-it can be tiring as you need more exertion to move the knobby tyres over paved roads.
-it is easier to run errands on a city bike since you are able to carry stuff on the carrier or in the basket.
-you will have to find a place to lean the MTB on but you can park the city bike easily by lowering the stand.
-you can ferry your children on a city bike by installing child seats. -child seats that can be installed on rear carrier is cheaper compared to those that are seat post mounted.
Child seats supplied by OGK in Japan are very unique.
They have a model that can be installed on the handlebar of a city bike.
Mamachari are popular with women and they are the most common type of bicycle for everyday use. Though known as mom's bicycles, they are actually unisex bikes. There should not be any problem installing a child seat on the rear carrier and another on the handlebar of a city bike.
For your information, folding bikes are also popular in Japan. In urban areas where space is limited, they are a practical solution as, once folded, they are easy to store in small apartments or offices.
It is also convenient for cyclists who have to use public transport part of the way. They can bring along their folding bikes as long as they are kept in lightweight rinko bags which can be purchased from their local bike shops.
Mamachari can also be packed into a rinko bag but it will be a hassle as you will have to remove the front wheel and attached it to the rear as shown in the following video. Fellow passengers will not like it when you board a train with a large bag, especially, when it is crowded.
In fact, I think that folding bikes are the best bike for most people, young or old. You just have to find them in the right wheel size for your height.
