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

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.

leedgreen wrote:

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

yes, more likely to be nintendo players.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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