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Video: "Amazing" - Danny MacAskill's verdict on BMX skills of NZ twins aged FOUR

Watch Jake and Theo run through their repertoire - and have the odd mild wipeout

When Danny MacAskill describes someone's bike handling skills as "amazing," its worth taking notice - and when it's twin brothers aged just 4 years, the video just has to be worth watching.

Twins Jake and Theo Riddle from Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island have their fair share of spills in this video posted to YouTube a couple of months ago, but thinking back to our own experiences at their age on the bike, they're on another planet.

We still needed stabilisers back then, after all... and we reckon the twins could have a big future on two wheels.

Even if they don't, they've certainly got a handle on the most important part of cycling - having fun, and lots of it.

You can listen to their story here on Radio NZ.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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21 comments

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Jonathan Knight | 9 years ago
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My grand daughter is one in July - hmm... maybe I should get her a bike for her birthday. She's almost walking so it's about time she started cycling.

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balmybaldwin | 9 years ago
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I love this. This is how kids should be brought up not wrapped in cotton wool. If they are having fun, then let them.

Reminds me of my childhood riding round in circles over home made jumps on the lawn

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joemmo | 9 years ago
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Cheers for the info oldridgeback. I've seen those strider sessions on YouTube - look like a lot of fun but he's only 2 and a half so I'll let him enjoy just scooting about at his own pace for a bit.
Balance bikes are great though, stabilisers should be condemned to history.

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OldRidgeback replied to joemmo | 9 years ago
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joemmo wrote:

Cheers for the info oldridgeback. I've seen those strider sessions on YouTube - look like a lot of fun but he's only 2 and a half so I'll let him enjoy just scooting about at his own pace for a bit.
Balance bikes are great though, stabilisers should be condemned to history.

Yep, balance bikes are great and stabilisers are fit for the bin. My eldest took about 200m with me holding him under his shoulder before he was able to ride and my youngest, having seen his brother, took about 100m.

Here's another tip when you get to it. When your child does move on to pedals, Do Not Hold Onto The Saddle. If you do that, the child is not riding the bike and you're holding them back from learning. Hold your child under the arm.

My youngest started riding with the BMX club when he was four and is now racing. You will probably want to get a BMX to ride with your child and a cruiser's a good option as it has a 24" wheel size and better suits older riders.

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leedgreen | 9 years ago
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Love it.....no xbox for these kids....  16

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joemmo replied to leedgreen | 9 years ago
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leedgreen wrote:

Love it.....no xbox for these kids....  16

yes, more likely to be nintendo players.

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anarchy | 9 years ago
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Their Dad is dead when their Mam sees this

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OldRidgeback replied to anarchy | 9 years ago
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anarchy wrote:

Their Dad is dead when their Mam sees this

The first time I saw my then four year old son slamming down off the berm at the local BMX track and hauling his heavy little Raleigh into the air on the first jump, I admit my heart was in my mouth. BY the third time he did it with his legs pedalling furiously on those short cranks, I'd realised he knew what he was doing. My wife had the same initial reaction as myself.

I expect to see this pair riding at the BMX Worlds in a few years. BMX is big in NZ.

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farrell replied to anarchy | 9 years ago
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anarchy wrote:

Their Dad is dead when their Mam sees this

Brilliant!

My own riding at around that age resulted in my having very little in the way of front teeth until I was much older.

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joemmo replied to anarchy | 9 years ago
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anarchy wrote:

Their Dad is dead when their Mam sees this

Showed this to my wife this morning since our 2 year old likes tootling around the fringes of the local skatepark on his balance bike. "Don't even think about encouraging that" was the response. I did think about it though... could maybe build him a little ramp in the back garden when she's out.

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OldRidgeback replied to joemmo | 9 years ago
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joemmo wrote:
anarchy wrote:

Their Dad is dead when their Mam sees this

Showed this to my wife this morning since our 2 year old likes tootling around the fringes of the local skatepark on his balance bike. "Don't even think about encouraging that" was the response. I did think about it though... could maybe build him a little ramp in the back garden when she's out.

Dunno where you are but several BMX clubs do strider bike sessions for little 'uns. A BMX track is probably better for a kid on a strider bike too as crashing on a dirt jump doesn't hurt as much as a concrete one. Most tracks will have at least one straight with jumps that aren't so high. Letting kids roll off a big jump and then push themselves over a series of smaller ones is a good way to learn. That's how we do it.

The child will need a full face lid, gloves, long sleeves and long trousers and if you have skate pads for knees and elbows, they're a good idea too. Most clubs have a few club helmets. They also often have club bikes for a parent to have a shot as well.

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Roberj4 replied to anarchy | 9 years ago
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anarchy wrote:

Their Dad is dead when their Mam sees this

Totally agree and amazing..but as a parent think I'd have them wearing knee/elbow pads and gloves

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gthornton101 | 9 years ago
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they are brilliant!

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indyjukebox | 9 years ago
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Very impressive. Loved the very last bit of the clip.

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livestrongnick | 9 years ago
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It reminds me that growing up in New Zealand was the greatest place i could of ever imagined!  105
Miss those days of long hot summers and no shoes on, riding the streets for hours with no cares  16

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Mart | 9 years ago
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I remember enjoying stunt riding as a kid.
when I was 4ish a failed stunt ended with ambulance, police and firemen turning up and after an hour being cut free from my own bike.
It was all very exciting (but painful) as I remember it, not sure my mum was too impressed.

Kudos to the kids and the parents for letting them have fun. Could be some names to keep an eye out for in the future.

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movingtarget | 9 years ago
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Wow. I don't I was ever that fearless even when I was doing back flips on a 4-inch wide leather covered piece of wood 4ft off the ground. I hope they never lose that feeling. Amazing.  41

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Gkam84 | 9 years ago
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They are doing things I would never even think of trying at any age. Apart from the foam pit. I was really hoping they were going to attempt back flips  40

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fukawitribe | 9 years ago
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Not only stunning skills - but those skate/bike parks look absolutely fabulous... oh Lordy, really want to pull on some Vans and get the board out of the loft now  1

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OldRidgeback | 9 years ago
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Pretty impressive - my younger son was getting air on his little Raleigh at the BMX track aged four (having learned to ride aged three) but the jumps weren't as big as these.

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Flying Scot | 9 years ago
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I had my youngest daughter riding confidently at 4..... But nothing like this!

Well done boys, reminds me of when I was 6 on my Raleigh Tomahawk !

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