How to Put Training Wheels on a Bike: How Should They Fit?

This article covers everything you need to know about training wheels, why they're important, and how you can easily install them on your bike.
By
John Watson
John Watson
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John is an experienced cycling enthusiast and a great asset when it comes to writing skills. He's a Bachelor of Arts and a talented journalist. John is in charge of our blog read more
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Jessica Kingston
Jessica Kingston
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Last updated: August 11, 2023
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Training wheels are beneficial, and your knowledge on how to put training wheels on a bike can be very valuable. Training wheels help immensely reduce your need to worry about your kids having an accident or crashing and suffering an injury when you’re teaching them how to ride a bike. With the extra support they provide, which, of course, guarantees the safety of the person you’re teaching to ride a bike, they’re considered to be a very simple and safe option to consider.

You may even consider getting some necessary biking accessories to make the experience more pleasurable. And, this article is written to clear your doubts and clarify all the things you need to know about installing training wheels on a bike.

Why Put Training Wheels on a Bike

Whether you’re a parent or an older person teaching a kid how to ride a bike, it’s essential that you put some things in place to guarantee the safety and well-being of the person you’re teaching how to ride a bicycle. And a simple way to do that is by obliging them to use training wheels. These, as earlier explained, help greatly in reducing the risk of accidents Trusted Source Children's views of accident risks and prevention: a qualitative study | Injury Prevention | BMJ Journals Recent reviews of the literature on the prevention of injuries to children have suggested that interagency approaches, which combine different strategies to reduce injury rates, are likely to be the most effective, but that educational interventions remain the most commonly used. injuryprevention.bmj.com . Before your kid can start pedaling on their own effectively without any assistance, these wheels will always help to maintain balance easily. If you know how to cycle, you know how cycling is all about striking a balance, and this is exactly what these training wheels help you achieve before riding perfection is attained.

However, take note that you must procure the most fitting stabilizers for your kid’s bike or whoever you’re teaching because there are various distinct kinds and sizes available on the market.

Your kid or trainee will be glad that you’re thoughtful enough to get trainer wheels because it will inarguably make biking easier for them, especially when one looks at the inevitable accidents that are likely to occur when learning how to ride a bicycle.

Getting Ready to Install Training Wheels on a Bike

You’ll be glad to find out that the process isn’t as hard or complicated as you might have thought. While you may even consider getting a nice and suitable pedal for a more positive experience, note that putting training wheels on a bike demands that you have a few things ready in place. Once these tools are available, it’s time to swing into action.

Get the Necessary Tools

How to Put Training Wheels on a Bike: How Should They Fit?
An adjustable wrench is larger than a non-adjustable wrench, and the last one can only be used on one particular size of bolt or nut.

Training wheels have been saving lives and preventing unwanted injuries since they came into existence, and learning to ride a bike Trusted Source Health benefits of cycling: A systematic review | ResearchGate The purpose of this study was to update the evidence on the health benefits of cycling. www.researchgate.net has never been made easier. However, before you can enjoy using these wheels to improve safety and maintain balance, you’ll need to prepare some tools beforehand. The two essential tools you’ll be needing to install your training wheels on a bike are:

  • An adjustable wrench
  • A wrench

Get Your Hardware Ready

Adequate preparation is necessary when you’re set to install your training wheels. And just as you would need to prepare some tools before you commence your installation, you must also ensure that some hardware is available before you kick off your installation process.

  • Bracket brace plates x2
  • Nuts x4
  • Washers x4
  • Serrated washers x2
  • Shoulder bolts x2
  • Vertical brackets x2
  • Wheels x2

How to Install Training Wheels on a Bike

After having prepared your tools and hardware, it’s time to get busy for the real action, and if you follow these steps intently, you’ll have no issue putting your training wheels together on a bike.

Step 1. Be Mindful of the Tire Pressure

Before you can proceed to install the training wheels, you have to ensure that the tires are properly inflated, and this is why checking the pressure of the tire is the first thing you must do. And, you can proceed to the next step as soon as you’ve confirmed this.

Step 2. Get the Hardware Assembled

How to Put Training Wheels on a Bike: How Should They Fit?

When it comes to assembling the hardware, which is, of course, our next step, the first thing we require you to do is to check if this hardware is already pre-assembled. That is, if you’re lucky, they may get delivered to you pre-built. However, if they aren’t, you don’t need to worry much about that because assembling the hardware isn’t difficult. The basic thing is that you should get training wheels assembled in this order:

  • Wheel
  • Washer
  • Nut
  • Vertical Bracket
  • Washer
  • Serrated Washer
  • Nut

Step 3. Get the Axle Hardware Temporarily Removed

How to Put Training Wheels on a Bike: How Should They Fit?

Once you’re done with step 2, the next thing to do is remove your bicycle’s axle washer and nut. Note that this removal isn’t permanent; you have to remove and keep them somewhere because you’ll soon need them again for the training wheel installation process.

Step 4. Insert the Bracket Brace Plate

How to Put Training Wheels on a Bike: How Should They Fit?

This is a very easy thing to do. However, while you’re doing this, ensure that you’re just placing the bracket on and you’re not using any nuts in fastening it down. All you have to do is insert the tab on the frame’s open space.

Step 5. Make Height Adjustment

When it comes to height, about two to three inches above the ground is often considered fine. However, it’s up to you to check the training wheels and effect the necessary needful adjustments. So, check the height.

Step 6. Rounding Off

How to Put Training Wheels on a Bike: How Should They Fit?

Remember the Axle Hardware you had to remove in the third step? Now, it’s time to screw them back, and you’re good to go.

So, Do Training Wheels Work?

This question isn’t a surprising one. Most people who want to get training wheels are often skeptical about how effective they are and what they do exactly. If you have a young child that wants to learn how to pedal and stay upright on a bike without getting injured, yes, get them training wheels, and you’ll be glad you did.

However, you should know that training wheels do not train kids to ride a bicycle in the real sense. And, if this is the reason why you want to buy them, probably because of the word “training” that precedes the wheels, you may want to reconsider your decision. Reiterating just for your better comprehension, training wheels help your kids enjoy better balance while they’re in the process of learning to be great riders.

How to Install a Specific Model of Training Wheels

The process of installing a specific model of training wheels depends on the manufacturer’s instructions and the design of the training wheels and bike. It’s best to check the manufacturer’s website for detailed instructions or a video tutorial on how to install the training wheels for the specific model you have. If the instructions are not available, you may contact the manufacturer directly for assistance or visit a bike shop for professional help.

How to install Raskullz training wheels

Below you can find a quick assembly video for Raskullz training wheels which can help guide you through the process and ensure that the training wheels are properly installed and secure for use.

Royal Baby

For RoyalBaby training wheels installation, you can check out the whole bike assembly video
provided by the manufacturer and skip the parts that are not relevant to you.

Huffy Sea Star Bike

To install training wheels on the Huffy Sea Star Bike, there’s a detailed instructional video on the bike assembly but you can fast-forward to 3:00 in the video to see the specific instructions.

Can You Put Training Wheels on Any Bike?

Not all bikes can have training wheels added. It depends on the design and compatibility with the frame and wheel size. It’s better to check the manufacturer’s instructions or consult with a bike shop to confirm if training wheels are suitable for your bike.

Bikes with Gears

Yes, it’s possible to put training wheels on a bike with gears. This can help new cyclists balance while shifting gears. The process of installing training wheels on a bike with gears is similar to other bikes. Firstly, you will need to find the right training wheels that fit your bike’s frame and wheel size. Secondly, attach the training wheel brackets to the rear axle of the bike and ensure they are securely fastened. Thirdly, attach the training wheels to the brackets and adjust the height of the wheels as needed. Finally, check the stability of the wheels and make sure they are secure before riding the bike.

Adult Bikes

Yes, training wheels can be put on an adult bike. While training wheels are typically associated with children’s bikes, they can be used by adult riders who are new to cycling or need help balancing. However, it’s important to ensure the training wheels are compatible with the frame and wheel size of the adult bike. One of the best adult training wheels are Bike USA Stabilizer Wheels which will fit 24″ to 27″ wheels.

Mountain Bikes

There are trainer wheels that are compatible with mountain bikes, but it’s important to check if the training wheels are designed for mountain bikes, as they have specific requirements such as strength and durability to handle rough terrain. If in doubt, a bike shop can offer advice on the best training wheel options for a mountain bike.

BMX

Yes, there are training wheels available for BMX bikes. BMX bikes are designed for stunts and tricks, but they can also be used for casual riding. Training wheels can help riders, especially beginners, balance on a BMX bike. Nevertheless, if you’re considering getting a bike for your kid, users recommend 16″ Micargi Boy’s Jakster BMX because it comes with training wheels and it has child-friendly brakes, and fine aesthetics.

Balance Bikes

Training wheels cannot be put on a balance bike like the one from Milazo. Balance bikes are designed to help children learn how to balance and ride a bike without the use of training wheels. The idea behind a balance bike is that a child will learn to balance by themselves without the support of training wheels, so they can transition to a regular bike more easily. The addition of training wheels would defeat the purpose of a balance bike.

FAQs

At what age do kids use training wheels?

Training wheels are designed to be used by kids of different ages, and they’re available on bicycles of diverse sizes. If your child is within the range of three to eight years, you can start training them to ride a bike and introduce training wheels to make the learning experience better and more relaxed.

More so, you should endeavor to put the age peculiarity of your child into cognizance when you’re buying a bicycle for them, and the training wheels should as well be well-suited and well-installed. If your kid is a bit older, getting a nice suspension seat post would be thoughtful if they often complain of lower back pain.

Can you put training wheels on a 20-inch (50 cm) and 24-inch (60 cm) bike and how to do it?

When it comes to attaching training wheels to a 20-inch or 24-inch bike, there are some peculiarities that you must take note of. First, some 20 and 24-inch bikes require specialized training wheels, and there as well some of these bikes have a rear axle long enough to make them suitable for training wheels attachment. Several 20-24″ bikes can have training wheels attached to them, but these wheels are not attached to the axle but the frame for some bikes.

How to adjust the training wheels after they’re fitted?

Training wheels are not designed to be a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. That is, you can choose to make temporary adjustments when you feel your kid isn’t too comfortable while riding. When adjusting training wheels, you don’t even have to remove the training wheels and then start installing them all over again. You can choose to lower or raise them or any other things that work to make them more relaxed. And yes, the adjustable wrench or a correct-sized wrench will do the adjustment job.

The frame is attached to the wheels with the nuts, and you’ve to get them loosened with the wrench. Once you’ve done that, you can proceed with your adjustments and see if your kid is finally comfortable with the position this time around. Nevertheless, it would help if you did not forget to tighten the nuts again.

How should training wheels fit on a bike?

Training wheels should fit securely on the rear axle of the bike, be parallel to the ground, and not wobble after proper attachment and height adjustment. If the training wheels still won’t fit properly on the bike, consider looking for alternative training wheels, visiting a bike shop for professional help, or purchasing a different type of bike that is compatible with the training wheels. Avoid DIY training wheels to prevent any accidents and ensure safe use.

Final Thoughts

Serving to prevent accidents and maintain balance, these wheels can be attached to the rear wheel, and they’re also referred to as stabilizers. However, even though training wheels are often used for kids learning how to ride a bike, adults can also benefit from using them because adult versions are available. To include, you’ll find the training wheels to be very effective if you’re riding in a flat driveway or a wide sidewalk, and if you reside in an area with no hill, you’ll find them to be a very suitable option.

Without mincing words, knowing how to put training wheels on a bike can be very profitable, and you can always introduce these stabilizers to your kids when they’re in the bike-learning process.

References

1.
Children
Recent reviews of the literature on the prevention of injuries to children have suggested that interagency approaches, which combine different strategies to reduce injury rates, are likely to be the most effective, but that educational interventions remain the most commonly used.
2.
Health benefits of cycling: A systematic review | ResearchGate
The purpose of this study was to update the evidence on the health benefits of cycling.

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