Islabike rothan balance bike to cnoc 14 - stabilisers?

p1tse
p1tse Posts: 694
edited January 2013 in Family & kids cycling forum
Bought my 3 yr old a cnoc 14. Well he's 3 and a few months. He's had his rothan balance bike a year now and is comfortable steering, balancing with it

I was hoping he would be big enough for the cnoc 14 but he's still a tad small

He hasn't got the concept of pedalling yet.
I didn't get it with stabilisers, but now thinking as he can't quite reach floor to ride without I'm thinking maybe I should stick some on, thoughts?

I know people / islabike website suggest use without, but should I
a) continue to use rothan only
b) use rothan and cnoc 14 with stabilisers
c) use rothan and use cnoc 14 without stabilisers with limited usage ( as I will need to hold him him at all times as he's too small and doesn't pedal)
Wanted: Cube Streamer/Agree GTC Compact / Pro/ Race : 53cm

Comments

  • 16mm
    16mm Posts: 545
    Take the pedals off the cnoc, and wait till he's big enough and happy on it before you put them back on. Took about 5 months for ours. He got really good on the rothan in that time.

    Don't put stabilizers on the cnoc after using a balance bike just so that you can see the new bike being used. Its a backward step.
  • p1tse
    p1tse Posts: 694
    To be honest he's still a little small stood up on the saddle as he can't get flat foot to floor and tip toe on one side

    I would try without pedals if he reached ok but just not sure

    I can't remember the inside measurement on islabike chart but he was just boarderline
    Wanted: Cube Streamer/Agree GTC Compact / Pro/ Race : 53cm
  • 16mm
    16mm Posts: 545
    p1tse wrote:
    To be honest he's still a little small stood up on the saddle as he can't get flat foot to floor and tip toe on one side

    I would try without pedals if he reached ok but just not sure

    I can't remember the inside measurement on islabike chart but he was just boarderline

    He's probably still the right size for the rothan. It's frustrating waiting for them to grow:-)
  • p1tse
    p1tse Posts: 694
    I'll keep him on rothan but how do I teach him to pedal?
    Wanted: Cube Streamer/Agree GTC Compact / Pro/ Race : 53cm
  • 16mm
    16mm Posts: 545
    p1tse wrote:
    I'll keep him on rothan but how do I teach him to pedal?

    Get him on the cnoc without pedals first, to get the balance and braking sorted on the bigger bike. Then go somewhere where lots of people are pedalling (luckily we were at Centre Parcs) and he'll want to copy:-)

    I think we stuck dinosaur stickers on the cnoc, and then he wanted to ride 'dinosaur bike' with the pedals!

    Mine just went from cnoc 14 to beinn20 without a single swerve or wobble. The rothan to cnoc is the biggest jump, so try not to push it.
  • p1tse
    p1tse Posts: 694
    Thanks

    I appreciate the cnoc is much bigger to rothan

    Just would like to get the concept of pedalling too

    Will wait
    Wanted: Cube Streamer/Agree GTC Compact / Pro/ Race : 53cm
  • simon_e
    simon_e Posts: 1,706
    Be patient, he's only three years old!

    There's no standard progression rate. My daughter was reluctant to swap from her "horsey bike" (Rothan) to the Cnoc and she struggled with starting off and pedalling smoothly. Once she got the hang of it she was away, happily chasing after her brother.

    Let him enjoy it and don't dent his confidence or enthusiasm by rushing him onto the bigger bike. You'll know when he's ready.
    Aspire not to have more, but to be more.
  • p1tse
    p1tse Posts: 694
    Thanks

    He's keen to go on it with pedals but he's still a little small
    Hence thought stabilisers might bring him a bit of confidence in sitting on it but then I'll be worried the hard work of the rothan and balancing will be lost and he won't want the stabilisers on, so thinking I won't

    Not sure how he will react with taking pedals off too so will wait patiently
    Wanted: Cube Streamer/Agree GTC Compact / Pro/ Race : 53cm
  • simon_e
    simon_e Posts: 1,706
    p1tse wrote:
    He's keen to go on it with pedals but he's still a little small
    Hence thought stabilisers might bring him a bit of confidence in sitting on it but then I'll be worried the hard work of the rothan and balancing will be lost and he won't want the stabilisers on, so thinking I won't
    What he has already learnt won't be wiped away completely, but stabilisers will delay learning to ride properly andif he's like most kids it will probably take a lot more time and effort persuading him it's time to remove them than anything else. I think they are counterproductive and would urge anyone to avoid them like the plague.

    If you use the method Isla recommends - trot alongside with your hands under his armpits to keep him upright - he won't need to reach the floor. At least this way you could try it out and see how you get on.
    Aspire not to have more, but to be more.
  • Daz555
    Daz555 Posts: 3,976
    I'd take the pedals off if he needs confidence on the new bike (assuming he can reach floor ok) but I would not put stabilisers on it.

    If he's too small then he's too small - there is no rush, just wait.
    You only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
    If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
    If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape.
  • p1tse
    p1tse Posts: 694
    Little lad asked to go out on his new bike
    So he straddled it and he's too small for it without stabilisers, so will let he just straddle and touch it as he likes, but he also went back out on rothan.

    Decided will avoid stabilisers
    Wanted: Cube Streamer/Agree GTC Compact / Pro/ Race : 53cm

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