Everything You Need To Know About Training Wheels - Rascal Rides

Parents often ask me questions about training wheels in hushed voices. That’s because they know I’m a big proponent of skipping training wheels in favor of transitioning directly from a balance bike to a pedal bike (more on that later).

That said, I certainly don’t judge parents who have their kids on training wheels. In fact, even my son tried out a bike with training wheels for a little bit before he learned to pedal.

Here are some of the most common training wheel questions I get.

Why are training wheels bad?

Training wheels are NOT bad. I learned to ride with training wheels, and you probably did too. Most professional cyclists probably learned to ride with training wheels, and they turned out okay!

The reason training wheels have fallen out of favor, and the reason that I don’t recommend them to parents, is that learning to ride is actually much easier without them.

With the advent of balance bikes, parents realized that if kids learn to balance first, before learning to pedal, the whole process goes much easier.  It is not uncommon for a toddler to start on a balance bike at 18 months learn to pedal by 2.5 or 3 WITHOUT training wheels.  No tears, no crashes – none of that painful process that you probably remember as a kid.

If you don’t believe me – here is a picture of my son pedaling sans training wheels at 2.5.

The other reason that training wheels aren’t great is that they make riding on uneven surfaces really challenging. If a sidewalk is cracked or slanted, the training wheels get off-balance or high-centered – and the kiddo ends up spinning their wheels or tipping over. This tends to be really frustrating for kids and can discourage them from wanting to bike.

Finally, you may want to skip training wheels simply because all the best kids bike brands–Woom, Prevelo, etc–are designing bikes without them. If you want a high quality bike for your child, chances are you’ll need to forgo training wheels for this reason if for no other.

Should I buy a balance bike or a bicycle with training wheels?

A balance bike!  Seriously, in almost all circumstances I’m going to recommend you start with a balance bike first, and then transition to a pedal bike without training wheels.  Even if your child is older, still start with the balance bike. You can check out our list of the best balance bikes for 3 to 5 year olds.

If your child is really athletic, and has exceptional balance (or you just can’t justify the cost of another bicycle), you could skip the balance bike.  Temporarily remove the pedals from their bike, and get them to practice scooting and gliding on the bike. Once they have the hang of that, put the pedals back on and follow the instructions in our article on how to teach your child to ride a bike.

How do I transition my child away from training wheels?

If your kiddo is already riding a bike with training wheels, don’t panic.  You haven’t ruined them forever! 

You have a couple of options at this point.  My first recommendation is to ditch the pedal bike and go back to a balance bike until they have a great sense of balance. 

Then you can introduce them to the pedal bike again without training wheels. If you don’t have a balance bike, just try temporarily removing the pedals from their bike and using it like a balance bike.

Some kids aren’t going to go for the balance bike idea – they are already attached to their pedal bike. In this case, try raising their training wheels so that they tip side-to-side. This will force them to begin working on their balance.

Once they have a good sense of balance, take the training wheels off and follow my suggestions in this article on teaching your child to ride a bike.

Another thing that can help is having them ride bikes with other kids that aren’t on training wheels. Chances are they will quickly become frustrated with their inability to go fast and do tricks like the other kids. There is nothing like a little peer pressure to get kids biking without training wheels.

At what age should they be removed?

As soon as possible! The younger kids learn to balance, the easier the whole process is.

Take the training wheels off (or at a minimum, raise them). If they don’t have great balance yet, put them on a balance bike or make your own by removing their pedals.

But my child LOVES their training wheels and doesn’t want to take them off. What do I do?

Follow their lead. If they are having fun riding their bike, that is the important thing. When you push them too hard, they will lose their joy and motivation for riding bicycles.

If training wheels make them happy, let them be happy.  I promise they won’t ride to junior high on training wheels, and eventually peer pressure will do the job for you.

Are they supposed to be uneven?

It depends! If your child is uncomfortable with them being uneven, you may want to temporarily lower them so that they become more even.

As they get more comfortable with riding however, you should raise them again so that your child tips slightly side to side. This forces them to learn to balance and will make it easier to remove and transition away from the training wheels.

How do you adjust training wheels?

To raise or lower training wheels, as mentioned above, you need to loosen the nuts that hold the training wheels to the bicycle frame. Position the wheels where you think they should be, and then re-tighten the nuts.

Watch your kiddo ride the bike. If they are still having difficulty, lower the training wheels to give them more support. If they are rocking and rolling, continue to raise the training wheels over time to teach them to ride without them.

How do I make sure training wheels are installed safely?

If you’re using training wheels, safety should be your top priority. Improperly installed training wheels can lead to accidents and make the learning process more difficult.

First, make sure you’re using training wheels that actually fit your child’s bike. While some training wheels claim to be universal, they often don’t fit properly on all bike sizes and models. If this ends up being the case for you, take the bike to your local bike shop for assistance.

Once the training wheels are installed, you should check them regularly to ensure that the mounting bolts are tight (they have a tendency of rattling loose). If you can wiggle the training wheels with your hand, they need to be tightened. However, don’t overtighten them as this can damage the bike frame.

Also, check that the training wheels aren’t bent or damaged. This is especially important if your child has had a crash or the bike has been dropped. Training wheels tend to be made pretty cheaply and don’t hold up forever.

Which ones should I buy?

If for whatever reason, you still feel that your child needs training wheels after reading this article, then I would recommend ones that are durable are easily adjustable.

My favorite are the Wald 1216 training wheels.  They fit 12″ to 16″ bikes and can be purchased at Amazon or many local bike shops carry them.

More Articles To Help

• How To Teach Your Child To Ride A Bike
• Best Kids Bikes: How To Choose, Reviews, & More!
• Kids Bike Sizes: 3 Tips To Help You Pick The Right Size Bike

About Us

The Rascals are a family of three. Kristen (mom), Blair (dad), and Parker (kiddo). We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for biking. As we learned, we shared. Over the years, we’ve tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.

Kristen is a licensed USA Cycling coach and NICA coach, and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. Parker is our resident tester and inspiration.

If you see us out on the trail, make sure to say hi!

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