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Cycling a Straight Line
By Ralph Banasiak
Posted: 2020-04-22T17:29:00Z

Young riders, graduating from sidewalk to street riding, have a few basic skills to learn.  One key skill is riding a straight line.  We parents and adult riders take it for granted, but it is a skill that takes practice.  For young riders just learning to balance on a bike, it is not automatic.

Luckily, neighborhood sidewalks provide a relatively smooth and vehicle-free runway for practice.  You can challenge your child to ride down the center of the sidewalk.  Follow from behind and check their “weaving” factor.  If they can manage a straight line, then challenge them to ride on the right edge of the sidewalk. 

 

Edge riding takes more concentration and offers less margin for error.  Besides, it’s a skill needed when passing anyone in the opposite direction.  If they are still weaving, insist on more practice.  If they slip off the sidewalk edge, it is hard for them to argue that more practice is not needed.

 

Finally, have your child combine straight line riding with turning a 90-degree sidewalk corner. Navigating the turn is one thing.  Resuming a straight line after the turn is another.  Again, this seems natural to us, but can be a struggle for young riders. 

 

Street riding assumes your young rider has mastered straight line cycling, turning a corner and swerving quickly to avoid hazards in the road.  Being able to maintain a straight line in the street keeps your child safe and also makes it safer for anyone riding next to or behind your young rider.



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