How Audrey Learned to Ride Bike by Riding with Dad

A milestone we’ll never forget

The backstory

Like many parents, we started with the traditional plan: training wheels on Audrey’s little bike. She loved pedaling fast and cruising the neighborhood, but balance was never part of the picture.

Wanting to do things right, we even bought her a balance bike after that — figuring it would teach what training wheels couldn’t. But truthfully, it never caught her interest the same way. Compared to her “big kid bike” with pedals, the balance bike felt slow, almost boring.

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Why we bought the Shotgun seat

Last summer, we planned a family trip to Itasca State Park. We wanted to go on longer bike rides without lugging around a trailer or pulling the kids behind us. That’s when we bought the Kids Ride Shotgun seat, so Audrey could ride right up front with me, seeing the trail, feeling the wind, and being part of the adventure.

It wasn’t even bought to teach her balance. It was simply a practical solution to keep the family riding together.

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The weekend it all changed

It only took one weekend of riding with me on that seat for everything to click. She leaned into the corners. She felt the bike shift beneath us. Without either of us realizing it, she was learning exactly what balance on two wheels felt like.

The moment I knew she was ready

One day, not long after, we were riding down our street. Audrey was perched on the Shotgun seat, telling me to “watch out for cars” parked along the curb. As we approached, I gently leaned and swerved around the first car.

By the second car, something happened. I could feel her steering us — instinctively shifting her little body, guiding us back to the side of the road. That was the moment I realized why she was learning so fast. She already understood balance.

The day the training wheels came off

Shortly after, we decided to try removing her training wheels and pedals, she went down the driveway a few times no problem so we stuck the pedals back on, mom positioned her in the yard and pushed her off. Audrey started pedaling through the yard like it was nothing. No frustration. No fear. Just the joy of finally being free.

Upcoming Youtube video

In my upcoming YouTube video, I’m sharing:

• How to install
• Quality of the build
• Why we bought it
• How it taught balance (the big story)

Final thoughts

This milestone wasn’t just about learning to ride. It was about building memories and trust — teaching her to balance by literally balancing together. It’s a story we’ll tell for years, and a moment we’ll always cherish.