Training wheels, known as stabilizers outside North America, are a pair of additional wheels attached to the rear wheel of a bicycle, effectively turning it into a quadricycle, for beginners learn to ride independently. Since the late 1990s, balance bikes have gradually replaced training wheels as a more effective tool for developing a sense of balance.

History

The American company Huffy introduced training wheels in 1949 with its 'Convertible' bike. The typical design for training wheels has not changed since this time. They are composed of two small wheels, one on each side of the rear wheel of the bicycle. They are attached laterally to a metal bracket or frame that extends outward from the bicycle frame, ideally keeping the training wheels just above the ground. The bracket is meant to be adjustable to accommodate different heights and angles of the training wheels, allowing for customization based on the rider's needs, but this is difficult to achieve in practice. The concept of training wheels can refer figuratively in English to any artificial support for a machine, especially in software development.

Use

The functionality of training wheels is based on the premise that a learner rider can gradually develop their balance and coordination skills by relying on the support of the extra wheels. As the rider gains confidence and proficiency, the training wheels are gradually raised or removed, theoretically allowing the rider to transition to riding without additional support.

Limitations

Researchers have demonstrated that training wheels delay the development of proper balance and steering skills. Reliance on training wheels prevents riders from fully experiencing the dynamic nature of riding a bicycle and leads to difficulties in transitioning to riding without them. Training wheels that prevent the bike from leaning also prevent countersteering, so that, as with a tricycle, children learn to turn the handlebars the wrong way, which must be unlearned later. Training wheels particularly become an obstacle to learning if they are adjusted incorrectly, because they prevent the bike from leaning if they are too low, and inhibit braking if too much weight is taken off the rear wheel by training wheels that are too low. Adjusting training wheels correctly, and raising them higher as the child's skill increases, helps to mitigate but does not completely eliminate these problems.

Replacement by balance bikes

Returning to the bicycle's origin in the dandy horse, balance bikes rapidly gained favour in cycling pedagogy after their introduction in 1997. Balance bikes are bicycles without pedals that allow children to develop balance and coordination naturally without the use of training wheels. Learning to ride with a balance bike delivers greater long-term benefits for young riders than training wheels. Balance bikes began to supplant training wheels globally during the 2010s.