Where to learn cycling? Try the carpark !

Daddy and Mummy are the trainers, but it can be quite challenging to find a spot to train the kids. East Coast Park would be too dangerous for L-platers and Triangle plates, (not to mention young kids), with all the bikes, blades, joggers and dogs :p

So, we pick somewhere higher, in our neighbourhood multi-storey carpark !
Quiet, plenty of space, and we went up to the roof level, so kids will not Bang into cars keke.


For the two smaller kids, we allow them to run and make merry.
Sometimes, we would be having so much fun, and when they shout or scream, they forget about the surrounding residents ooops :p


Video : Where we ride


Making good progress with Kang.
As long as kid is interested, curious, and persistence, most of them should be able to pickup skills and confidence within three sessions ( hourly).



Daddy also took the opportunity to teach Wei how to improve his handling skills :
- going up/down slope
- e-Brake
- cycling in S shape


** All photos and Video above are taken with Daddy's Samsung Galaxy S2.

Next, Daddy has modified Mummy's bike with additional seat.

We should be able to piggy-back Yi and Xin very soon.



Interested to know how we train our kiddos, and had fun along the way?
- Stage 1 - Wen Wei pickup bicycle
- Stage 2 - Wen Kang throw away two wheels
- Stage 3 - Two older boys are now independent, Parents can piggyback the smaller kids

More photos at SengkangBabies cycling school :p


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Four wheels good, Two wheels better

Daddy laments that we can only practice once a week.
Wei is now slightly confident after three sessions. Next, Boon Kang.


Our friendly bike shop at Sengkang Kopi-Tiam (Bike Zone) helps us remove the training wheels.


Kang was quite reluctant initially.


Video : bye bye four wheels !



Now, there is only one way forward to have FUN, Kang need to master cycling :)


Video : Wei should be confident by now


Read our cycling adventure Stage 1, or cycle over to our Fanpage for more photos.
We are one more step closer to a family cycle trip !

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Learning to Ride a Bicycle

It is about time for our kids to ride.


Like swimming, Daddy view biking as a fundamental life skill. Imagine, if our kids cannot swim or ride, how much fun will they be missing !



Step 1.
Mount bike, kids must be able to tip toe on bike.
If bike frame is too short, kid will struggle to peddle.

Step 1a. Get a helmet. Our kids are not as rugged as yesterday's kids, and we parents do not want them to get unnecessary bumps keke



Step 2. Look infront. (Easier than done) Look front again.



Step 3. Peddle ! Kids always forget to peddle due to fear of falling.
Without motion, how can a bike balance?




Step 4. Let kids know it is ok to fall down. It is more important to know why and how they fell. Falling down is part and parcel of learning.



Step 5. Learn how to brake, park and bell along the way.



Learning to ride a bike is like going through our life cycle.
Everybody has to learn from scratch, make mistakes, learn from experience, and make our lives better.
Then go back to Step 1 again :p



Have Fun, face the pressure, be strong :)


Do pop by our Fanpage for more fun bike photos...

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my Nikon D5000 - panning shots at home

Panning is the technique of capturing "motion in action". Only our subject is sharp, but all other things in background appear blur.

Daddy set shutter speed to 1/50, and got kids to roll pass.
It is ok for "subject" to be slightly blur, as we are looking for
contrast between foreground and background. (Daddy's excuse keke)


Although we are going slow, you can still detect blurness in the background.

Video : buffet is here




Picture should convey motion. and Wen Kang expression is very candid !
Daddy wish he got a small bike to wheelie too !


Okay, our rides are slow and Daddy is still learning.
So if my pictures disappoint, try DPS -->
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/13-places-to-practice-taking-beautiful-motion-blur-images

Your jaws will drop ! ( I like picture 4 and 11)

Bishan Park cycling

Mummy is busy on one Sunday morning, so Daddy bring us to Bishan park cycling.

Big span of space for us to cycle idly. Kang still need Daddy to push, his leg too short.

Wei manage to caught up with us.

Take a break, weather is warm.

Prison Break? What is so captivating to glue both boys to the fence?

Roller blading.. looks interesting, unfortunately Daddy got no experience too.
Maybe next time .... ...


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