This is the first in what will be a series of post about how we are teaching Clara-Bear to independently ride a bicycle. Clara-Bear's Bicycle Path isn't a location, it's her personal journey. After doing a bit of research into the hows of bicycle riding we have decided to take a kind of layered approach to preparing Clara-Bear for her first traditional bicycle.

One of the layers is centered around strengthening the muscles used in bicycle riding. Working on the sensory issues that make it difficult for Clara-Bear to tolerate wearing a bicycle helmet is another. My favorite layer involves strategically selected riding toys. The toys don't just work on skills needed to ride a two-wheeled bicycle; they also have the potential to get Clara-Bear some independent mobility sooner than she might if we were literal and only used a traditional bike or trike.

One thing that all the layers have in common is patience. Clara-Bear has both Down Syndrome and Autism. Her muscle tone is low even for Down Syndrome and her focus is affected by Sensory Processing issues. At age 5, she is still developing the stability, stamina, and coordination needed to ride a bike. We have a vision for her, but we're in no rush! Bicycle riding is about fun and independence. Clara-Bear's Bicycle Path needs to be a safe place where she can have fun while learning to ride a bike.

Clara-Bear is not without some pre-cycling skills. She can move a riding toy along by paddling her feet (like Fred Flintstone) but she is too weak to move most of the riding toys available in her size. She can keep her feet on bicycle pedals as they move, but she does not push down on the pedals to help. She used a rolling walker when she first started walking, so the concept of two handed steering is not new to her. The Boot Scoot Balance Bike seemed like a perfect addition to our layers.

The Boot Scoot Balance Bike is a pedal free bike designed for children ages 2 to 6. Children learn to steer and balance as they paddle their feet. As they gain speed and momentum they pick their feet up and are riding and steering without training wheels!

Here in the States, some parents remove the pedals and lower the seat to help teach their children to ride a bike. In Europe, they use Balance Bikes (aka glider bikes or learning bikes) and introduce children to a two wheeled balance bicycle with no training wheels at a much younger age than we do here.



Training wheels can come in handy. But they can also create drag and add extra weight. Balancing and controlling a bike with training wheels is not the same as balancing and controlling without the training wheels. Some children are pushed out of their new found independence and need to relearn how to ride their bikes when the training wheels are removed. Nothing insurmountable, but all this could make a difference for a child with Special Needs like Clara-Bear.

Since Boot Scoot Balance Bikes are designed for children as young as two, they are lightweight. They can accommodate an inseam from 14 inches to 20 inches and the largest model can support up to 80 pounds. Unlike some other balance bikes appearing on the U.S. market, the Boot Scoot is made of metal.

Molded plastic products are durable, but if a car seat manufacturer will not guarantee the stability of their plastic parts after 5 to 6 years, how can a bicycle manufacturer promise that their plastic won't degrade over time? I guess I'm old fashioned about some things. A two wheeled bike is supposed to be handed down and loved for years.

We have had our Boot Scoot Zoomer since the beginning of June (I told you patience was part of Clara-Bear's bicycle path!). The weather was on a bad roll when it arrived, so we started off using it inside.

I'm actually glad we did this. The drag of the carpet seemed to help Clara-Bear and Alan with steering. They both had better control of the front wheel on the carpet than they did on the linoleum. The carpet also gave them a soft landing when they fell. Seeing how they both reacted the first time they fell made me really appreciate no pedals. They both got kind of tangled up in the bike, but they did not get banged up. Neither one was so traumatized that they weren't willing to continue trying. Falls are easy down, easy up with our Boot Scoot!

Alan was still a young 3 year old and had absolutely no interest in riding a bike at that time. I blame part of this on the lack of level ground here in Middle Tennessee. Nothing is flat, even if it looks flat. He was just starting to ride a traditional tricycle when we began playing with the Boot Scoot. He could start pedaling from a stop on our deck but needed a push to get moving on the sidewalks around our house. He couldn't understand why sometimes it was extra hard to ride his trike.

Alan quickly became discouraged and clingy. Honestly, I also think that as the sibling of a Special Needs child, he wants equal attention when it comes to learning something new. Riding a bike had become one of those areas where he wanted a grown up to help him like he sees grown ups helping Clara-Bear.



The Boot Scoot really helped get him over his reluctance to try riding a bike. He only had to ride it a couple of times before he was able to ride it in circles around our dining room table. I would tell him it was time to go potty and he would shout "I have to ride my bike there" and happily scoot to the bathroom. He would carefully get off his Boot Scoot and park it against the door frame. I would definitely recommend working on bike handling skills inside if your child is a reluctant learner, has a cautious personality, is afraid of getting hurt, or has Special Needs.

Little Brother Alan now loves to ride his Boot Scoot. I was worried that his old lack of enthusiasm would start up again when we moved the bike outside and he realized that he would not be able to keep up with the 6 year olds. Instead, he was very proud when one of the 'big kids' asked, "how come he can ride a bike without training wheels?" My 3 year old proudly answered, "Well, it has no pedals, you know."



Naturally, he can't go as a fast as them. He doesn't seem to care. He is still riding bikes with them and he loves it! He is also starting to pick his feet up and glide for one or two feet. That is so exciting to see! The falls are continuing to happen, but they aren't related to balance. He gets too busy looking around to pay attention to steering then trips over his own feet as he runs off the sidewalk. I say a silent "thank you" for no pedals with every fall. He would have quit trying the first time he got bruised by a regular bike.

Clara-Bear took longer to warm up to the Boot Scoot. She seemed eager to get on, but after just a couple steps would get herself off by walking backwards as she pushed the bike away. Since walking backwards was not something she did often and we were in no rush, I let her do her thing. If all she would do was a couple of steps than that was all we did that day. This phase lasted longer than expected, but since she can't tell me what her concerns are, I followed my instincts and gently pushed her on some days and gave her space on others.

Clara-Bear had a sick start to her summer, then her poor heat tolerance kept us inside with the Boot Scoot for much longer than we hoped. We did not move it outside until last month. Clara-Bear seemed to feel the difference in moving from the carpet to smooth ground more than her stronger brother, so she needed a little time to trust the Boot Scoot again. Time and persistent encouragement helped her regain her enjoyment of riding her Boot Scoot.

We took the Boot Scoot to Physical Therapy for the first time this morning. Clara-Bear's PT and I are trying to decide if she needs the seat a little higher since she's walking while straddling the bike instead of sitting and scooting. The Boot Scoot has a lever to adjust seat height so it is very easy to make custom changes like this on the spot. Our PT agrees with me, that even if Clara-Bear is not using the Boot Scoot the way it is intended, she's still going somewhere with it and she enjoys riding it. This is what Clara-Bear's Bicycle Path is all about!



Boot Scoot Balance Bikes are available in Grass Green, Sky Blue, or Sunrise Pink. The smaller Zoomer model retails for $75.00 and the larger Cruiser retails for $85.00. They can both be purchased directly from the Boot Scoot Online Catalog or through local retailers. Fun and motivational bicycle accessories can also be purchased directly through Boot Scoot.

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