There is no age for learning. Such as learning how to ride a bike. As an adult, you may have missed out on learning to ride a bicycle, but now you wish to learn to ride.
So you get a cycle and look for training wheels, but unfortunately, the training wheels are not fitting. This situation actually happens a lot.
I have a colleague who faced this issue when she wanted to fit training wheels on her bike, but those things were simply not fitting. I also have a friend who struggled to attach training wheels to his kid’s bike.
We will try to identify the whys and hows over training wheels not fitting on your bike as we go forward.
Why won’t Training wheels Fit on a Bike?
Before trying to look for solutions, it is essential for you to ask the right questions. So, you must first identify why aren’t your training wheels fitting on the bike. It can happen due to several reasons. Before we dig deeper, you should know that not all bikes will fit your training wheels. It is attached to the rear axle of your bike and you need to check if the bolts on the rear axle are there to fit the stabilizers. Now let us talk about some of the reasons and the troubleshooting steps:
1. Assembly
It is quite evident that you won’t be able to fit your training wheels if you don’t assemble the parts correctly and don’t have the necessary tools. You might be in utter confusion regarding the training wheels but in reality, it is your lack of constructing skill that is the main problem.
As I have mentioned before, get an adjustable wrench, and your training wheels should have the following hardware for your assembly:
- The bracket plates
- The nuts (4)
- The washers (4)
- Training Wheels (2)
- Vertical brackets (2)
- Shoulder bolts (2)
- Serrated washers (2)
2. Bike Size
To get the proper training wheels you may need to consider your bike’s size. You may have gotten a pair of training wheels that doesn’t go with your bike’s height. It is crucial for you to be careful in getting the perfect size based on an inch or you could get the universal size.
The universal size for kids’ bikes is 12-20 inches. So, you may consider getting those training wheels that are a universal size. Also, for the full-sized bikes, you should consider getting ones that are in the 24-27 inch bracket.
3. Electric Bikes
If you own an electric bike and want to consider getting training wheels then you may need to know if training wheels support your bike. Because a lot of e-bikes don’t necessarily keep training wheels or stabilizers because of their withstanding ability.
Electric bikes are in general faster than standard bikes so the training wheels for e-bikes need to be based on the bike’s durability. Otherwise, not only you won’t be able to fit them, but you also won’t get them moving. If you don’t manage to attach training wheels, I’d suggest you get a trike then.
4. Tire Pressure
This one is quite basic, but you need to be aware of it. Tire pressure plays an impact in attaching your training wheels. You need to inflate your tires then start removing and putting the parts. Often people struggle to fit their training wheels due to not inflating the tires.
What to consider before getting training wheels
| Rider Type | Wheel Size | Training wheels |
| Kids | 12-20 inches | Trail-Gator Flip Up |
| Kids to Young adults | 16-26 inches | Wald 5742 |
| Kids | 18-22 inches | Childhood |
| Adults | 24-27 inches | Titan |
There are simple criteria to be considered before getting training wheels. You need to inspect which are for the adults and for the kids.
You need to know if your bike is suitable for training wheels since some bikes don’t have bolts attached to the rear cycle for training wheels. It is seen in most electric and mountain bikes.
Also, if you’re someone who isn’t that skilled in constructing things, then you also need to get those training wheels that are pre-assembled.
How to attach training wheels to a bike
It is essential for you to identify if the parts are adequately assembled or not. Often due to misassembly, you might not be able to attach the training wheels on your bike.
Most of the training wheels come pre-built but if you are unlucky then you need to put them on by yourself.
- You require an adjustable wrench to assemble the training wheels. So, first and foremost, get all the instructed parts together then make sure the tires are in an inflated state.
- Assemble the parts then get the axle hardware removed for the installation.
- Place the bracket plate on the axle side, be mindful of loosening and tightening the nuts.
- Now, check the height of the training wheels to see if it’s as per your required measurements.
- You can now put the axle nut back on and tighten it with your adjustable wrench. You should now have correctly assembled the training wheels
I hope this short summary of attaching the training wheels gives you a fair insight in case the attachment has become the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all training wheels universal?
No, while the universal size for kids is 12-20 inches but most bikes aren’t universally sized. Different bikes have different training wheels requirements.
Are the training wheels supposed to touch the ground after I have finished assembling it?
Yes, it can touch the floor based on the training and how you appear to adjust it. If you see that your training wheels are not touching the ground. Then, don’t think you haven’t assembled them correctly instead you need to understand that the training wheels are supposed to be in that state.
Can I put training wheels on bikes that have gears?
Yes, you probably can, but it depends on the bikes that you are using. A lot of bikes that have gears don’t have the axle bolts attached to fit the training wheels. If you see that there aren’t any bolts attached to the rear wheel, you may need to purchase an axle bolt to provide the training wheels.
Conclusion
So, by now, you should have a basic idea about why your training wheels are not fitting on the bike. The problems aren’t necessarily technical but somewhat up to your inspection.
Keep in mind that if you get the training wheels hardware not prebuilt and if you are someone who isn’t necessarily adept in constructing, then it may be wise for you to take it to a repair shop. And, if you thoroughly check the things I have suggested to you, then you shouldn’t have any further issues.
So, next time, I hope you’ll surely step up if you face this issue.
