How to Attach Bicycle Training Wheels

little boy learning to ride bicycle image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com

While remembering your own experiences using training wheels, you may find yourself having to install a pair for the first time. Training wheels allow a child to learn how to ride a bicycle without the fear of accidents. Training wheels foster confidence and the skills necessary for one day operating a bicycle with just two wheels. Installing training wheels requires little time. Doing so properly is one less thing to worry about when watching a young rider pedal down the road for the first time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Adjustable wrench
2 equal-sized shims (3 to 6 mm)

Step 1

Use an adjustable wrench to loosen one of the bolts on either end of the rear wheel axle. Hold the opposite bolt with your other hand when loosening the first bolt. Set the bolt aside.

Step 2

Align the hole in the brace of one of the training wheels with the end of the axle, and attach the brace. This will be the same axle-end from which you removed the bolt.

Step 3

Use only your fingers to tighten the bolt back over the axle. The bolt will be just tight enough to hold the training wheel assembly in place while also allowing for necessary adjustments.

Step 4

Attach the second training wheel, following steps 1 through 3.

Step 5

Adjust the height of the two training wheels so that they are slightly (parktool.com recommends 3 to 6 mm) above the ground when the bike is standing perfectly upright. Placing shims of equal thickness beneath each training wheel will ensure that the wheels are equidistant from the ground. A shim can be anything of proper thickness, such as a piece of wood or a magazine.

Step 6

Use the adjustable wrench to fully tighten the axle bolts once the proper height for each training wheel is achieved.

Article Written By Matthew Ferguson

Matthew Ferguson is a writer living in Savannah, Ga. He has been writing for over 10 years and his work has appeared on various online publications. A collection of his short stories was published in spring 2010. He is a graduate of Appalachian State University.

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