A bike

Three children appoximately 3 years between each of them. #1 and #3 are
tall, #2 is small.
All use their bikes, although perhaps at that time #3 uses the bike slightly
more round the garden. The bikes are not bought new, second hand, and then
passed down the family.

#1 has just moved onto a new (to them) bike.
When #2 is out parent notices that #3 who is also still using stabilisers
(in case that's a UK term that's the extra wheels preschoolers use to help
them balance) is getting a little too big for him bike. He's still happily
using it, but is outgrowing it. So they lower #2's bike down and put the
stabilisers on.
When #2 comes back, they object to having their bike taken, but parent
points out that #1's old bike is available. When #1's old bike is got out,
however, even lowered to the lowest point, it is clear that it is too tall
to the point of danger and #2 falls off as soon as they try and stop. There
is no question of buying another bike for any of them.

What do you do?

Debbie

"Welches" wrote:

Three children appoximately 3 years between each of them. #1 and #3 are
tall, #2 is small.
All use their bikes, although perhaps at that time #3 uses the bike slightly
more round the garden. The bikes are not bought new, second hand, and then
passed down the family.

#1 has just moved onto a new (to them) bike.
When #2 is out parent notices that #3 who is also still using stabilisers
(in case that's a UK term that's the extra wheels preschoolers use to help

We called them 'training wheels'

them balance) is getting a little too big for his bike. He's still happily
using it, but is outgrowing it. So they lower #2's bike down and put the
stabilisers on.
When #2 comes back, they object to having their bike taken, but parent
points out that #1's old bike is available. When #1's old bike is got out,
however, even lowered to the lowest point, it is clear that it is too tall
to the point of danger and #2 falls off as soon as they try and stop. There
is no question of buying another bike for any of them.

What do you do?

Debbie

I'd go back to the original bikes until either #3 or #2 is tall enough
to use #1's original bike. Or else I'd trade #3's original bike for a
bigger one.

It would be nice if our children all grew at the same rate, wouldn't it

I'd go back to the original bikes for #2 and #3, too- sounds as if #2 has
been done out of a bike! Anyway, I feel that riding a too-small bike round
the garden is less of a problem than riding a dangerous bike elsewhere, so
no contest at the moment. How long is #2 likely to take to grow into the
larger bike?

Jo

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
"Welches" wrote:

Three children appoximately 3 years between each of them. #1 and #3 are
tall, #2 is small.
All use their bikes, although perhaps at that time #3 uses the bike
slightly
more round the garden. The bikes are not bought new, second hand, and then
passed down the family.

#1 has just moved onto a new (to them) bike.
When #2 is out parent notices that #3 who is also still using stabilisers
(in case that's a UK term that's the extra wheels preschoolers use to help

We called them 'training wheels'

them balance) is getting a little too big for his bike. He's still happily
using it, but is outgrowing it. So they lower #2's bike down and put the
stabilisers on.
When #2 comes back, they object to having their bike taken, but parent
points out that #1's old bike is available. When #1's old bike is got out,
however, even lowered to the lowest point, it is clear that it is too tall
to the point of danger and #2 falls off as soon as they try and stop.
There
is no question of buying another bike for any of them.

What do you do?

Debbie

I'd go back to the original bikes until either #3 or #2 is tall enough
to use #1's original bike. Or else I'd trade #3's original bike for a
bigger one.

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
"Welches" wrote:

Three children appoximately 3 years between each of them. #1 and #3 are
tall, #2 is small.
All use their bikes, although perhaps at that time #3 uses the bike
slightly
more round the garden. The bikes are not bought new, second hand, and then
passed down the family.

#1 has just moved onto a new (to them) bike.
When #2 is out parent notices that #3 who is also still using stabilisers
(in case that's a UK term that's the extra wheels preschoolers use to help

We called them 'training wheels'

them balance) is getting a little too big for his bike. He's still happily
using it, but is outgrowing it. So they lower #2's bike down and put the
stabilisers on.
When #2 comes back, they object to having their bike taken, but parent
points out that #1's old bike is available. When #1's old bike is got out,
however, even lowered to the lowest point, it is clear that it is too tall
to the point of danger and #2 falls off as soon as they try and stop.
There
is no question of buying another bike for any of them.

What do you do?

Debbie

I'd go back to the original bikes until either #3 or #2 is tall enough
to use #1's original bike. Or else I'd trade #3's original bike for a
bigger one.

Check with friends? I believe there are some little bikes and tricycles
which are probably on their 6th or 7th child in my mom's group, because
they're outgrown within a year. There are always grandparents and the like
who buy new bikes, so the supply of ones too damaged to be easily repaired
is balanced by new ones. We do that with a lot of clothes and toys-anything
that only lasts a year or two before it's outgrown. Since so many families
only have 1-2 children now, it's really the only economical way to manage.

Welches wrote:
Three children appoximately 3 years between each of them. #1 and #3 are
tall, #2 is small.
All use their bikes, although perhaps at that time #3 uses the bike slightly
more round the garden. The bikes are not bought new, second hand, and then
passed down the family.

#1 has just moved onto a new (to them) bike.
When #2 is out parent notices that #3 who is also still using stabilisers
(in case that's a UK term that's the extra wheels preschoolers use to help
them balance) is getting a little too big for him bike. He's still happily
using it, but is outgrowing it. So they lower #2's bike down and put the
stabilisers on.
When #2 comes back, they object to having their bike taken, but parent
points out that #1's old bike is available. When #1's old bike is got out,
however, even lowered to the lowest point, it is clear that it is too tall
to the point of danger and #2 falls off as soon as they try and stop. There
is no question of buying another bike for any of them.

What do you do?

Backtrack promptly. #2's bike shouldn't have been
taken away without discussion. Perhaps the tact at this
point is to see if it's possible to sell/trade/whatever
the bike that doesn't work for anyone to acquire a bike
that will work for the odd kid out.

Best wishes,
Ericka

Welches wrote:

When #2 comes back, they object to having their bike taken, but parent
points out that #1's old bike is available. When #1's old bike is got out,
however, even lowered to the lowest point, it is clear that it is too tall
to the point of danger and #2 falls off as soon as they try and stop. There
is no question of buying another bike for any of them.

If there was really no way to get #2 an appropriate bike I'd go back to
the original plan or #2 is out a bike.

If #3's bike is getting small - maybe take the training wheels off and
he can learn to ride it without.

--

Nikki

Welches wrote:
Three children appoximately 3 years between each of them. #1 and #3 are
tall, #2 is small.
All use their bikes, although perhaps at that time #3 uses the bike slightly
more round the garden. The bikes are not bought new, second hand, and then
passed down the family.

#1 has just moved onto a new (to them) bike.
When #2 is out parent notices that #3 who is also still using stabilisers
(in case that's a UK term that's the extra wheels preschoolers use to help
them balance) is getting a little too big for him bike. He's still happily
using it, but is outgrowing it. So they lower #2's bike down and put the
stabilisers on.
When #2 comes back, they object to having their bike taken, but parent
points out that #1's old bike is available. When #1's old bike is got out,
however, even lowered to the lowest point, it is clear that it is too tall
to the point of danger and #2 falls off as soon as they try and stop. There
is no question of buying another bike for any of them.

Give back their old bike back to #2. #3 continues to use the bike which
is a bit small.

Could #2 and #3 use the same bike at the same height adjustment?

--
Penny Gaines
UK mum to three

"Welches" wrote in message
...
When #2 comes back, they object to having their bike taken, but parent
points out that #1's old bike is available. When #1's old bike is got out,
however, even lowered to the lowest point, it is clear that it is too tall
to the point of danger and #2 falls off as soon as they try and stop.
There is no question of buying another bike for any of them.

I would have them share the bike. They are siblings and sharing is part of
growing up. #3 can't help it that he outgrew the bike. Do all 3 want to ride
bikes at the same time, everytime? Will #2 fit on #3's bike, since #2 is
small?
I would start trying to find another family to trade bikes with, and search
the thrift shops.
Marie

Nikki wrote:

Welches wrote:

When #2 comes back, they object to having their bike taken, but parent
points out that #1's old bike is available. When #1's old bike is got out,
however, even lowered to the lowest point, it is clear that it is too tall
to the point of danger and #2 falls off as soon as they try and stop. There
is no question of buying another bike for any of them.

If there was really no way to get #2 an appropriate bike I'd go back to
the original plan or #2 is out a bike.

If #3's bike is getting small - maybe take the training wheels off and
he can learn to ride it without.

It also occurs to me to wonder if #1's "new" bike would fit #2. Would
it adjust down enough for him?

I personally would check craigslist.org to see if I could find another cheap
bike.
--
Sue (mom to three girls)

"Welches" wrote in message
...
Three children appoximately 3 years between each of them. #1 and #3 are
tall, #2 is small.
All use their bikes, although perhaps at that time #3 uses the bike
slightly more round the garden. The bikes are not bought new, second hand,
and then passed down the family.

#1 has just moved onto a new (to them) bike.
When #2 is out parent notices that #3 who is also still using stabilisers
(in case that's a UK term that's the extra wheels preschoolers use to help
them balance) is getting a little too big for him bike. He's still happily
using it, but is outgrowing it. So they lower #2's bike down and put the
stabilisers on.
When #2 comes back, they object to having their bike taken, but parent
points out that #1's old bike is available. When #1's old bike is got out,
however, even lowered to the lowest point, it is clear that it is too tall
to the point of danger and #2 falls off as soon as they try and stop.
There is no question of buying another bike for any of them.

What do you do?

Debbie