Cycling can be extremely beneficial to a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children with autism can struggle with balance, attention, and concentration as well as other cognitive issues, and remarkably, biking can help them with all of them.
In addition, the woes of the pandemic have made cycling one the safest choices in terms of exercise. At least half an hour of cycling outdoors can have tremendous positive effects on your little one.
Whether your child is just starting out to learn or has begun to master the process, the outdoor bikes for autistic kids listed below will help meet them wherever they are.
Balance Bike
A balance bike is a fantastic “starter” bike for autistic kids. Balance bikes have no pedals, so they let autistic kids work on the most difficult skills—balance and concentration—first. Kids still enjoy them because they are powering them by pumping their legs instead of pumping pedals.
In one study, it was found that children who used a no-pedal balance bike for five weeks saw a significant improvement in stability and coordination, This then helped them transition to a regular, two-pedal bike because they’d mastered those skills and they no longer struggled as much with their anxiety around falling.
Occupational and physiotherapists often use balance bikes as part of their work to help ASD children improve in terms of body awareness, mobility, and coordination.
This bike is perfect for children over 6 years old and up to 187 pounds. There are also smaller options, such as the Strider 14x Sport for children up to 7 years old and 80 pounds. The Strider 14x Sport also has a pedal kit (sold separately), which means that once the child has mastered balance, they can use the same bike to start working on pedaling.
You can also “create” a balance bike for your child by purchasing a regular bike and removing the pedals. This could be helpful if you’re then wanting to add the pedals back on later.
A great option for this would be the Fatboy 24. This outdoor bike has large front and back tires to provide more stability and shock absorption. Plus it looks really cool!
Trike
A trike (a three-wheeled outdoor bike) can take away the anxiety of falling for an autistic kid, and some trikes are just super fun! They are one of our favorite options and can provide loads of confidence for beginners.
This trike can grow with a child since the frame actually adjusts. The recumbent design makes this one an easy and comfortable ride for any child.
Medium Rifton Pediatric Adaptive Tricycle
This outdoor bike for autistic kids helps develop core strength as well as encourage their independence. The many assistive options also make this trike customizable for each child’s particular needs.
This trike has a wide front wheel which makes balance extremely easy. It also holds a child up to 110 pounds. When considering a trike such as this one, the wide front wheel is a must to help your child develop the strength of their legs as well as their balance.
Tandem Bike
Another interesting option for an outdoor bike for autistic kids would be a tandem bike. This means you, an older sibling, or another parent and your child could ride together. Your child wouldn’t have to worry about some of the major concerns with riding and could sit back and enjoy. It’s a lot of fun!
This is an alternative tandem bike. It allows the rear seat rider to steer, and the seat options for the front rider are lower than for the back rider. The child could still practice pedaling, but they’d simply need to hold on. They wouldn’t have to worry about steering or braking.
Van Raam offers several different tandem outdoor bikes for autistic kids. T Fun2Go allows the child and adult to sit next to one another. Or the Kivo or Kivo Plus allows the adult in the front/child in the back, or child in the front/adult in the back. Both also have optional pedals. If your child is larger, you could also go with the Twinny Plus if your child is still learning how to pedal.
Training wheels
While your child is learning how to ride an outdoor bike, normal training wheels are, of course, an option, but there are some specific training wheels that will provide even more stability to help your child feel more comfortable.
Fatwheels have adaptive training wheel set that are either small or large. The wheels are wider than normal training wheels, so added to any bike can help make them easier for your child to handle as they begin learning how to navigate an outdoor bicycle.
Talk to your local Bike Shop
Based on personal experience, it’s smart to talk to your local bike shop when you’re thinking of the right bike for your child’s specific needs. Bike experts can guide your decision and have thorough knowledge of how a bike could affect your child’s riding experience while considering hyper and hypo-sensitivities. Here are some good questions to ask your local bike bike shop:
- Can you offer seat modifications for the bike I want to purchase? Some ASD kids can’t handle a regular bike seat. To avoid pain and anxiety, consider modifying the seat to something that looks more like a bucket chair.
- Can you recommend some durable bicycle with backrests? Backrests can provide a more supported and comfortable riding experience, thus making your little one more safe and confident.
- Should I buy a bike that my child will grow into?
- Can the pedals be adjusted to accommodate the strength level of my child’s legs?
