Training wheels

Training wheels

Training wheels (also known as stabilizers) are an additional wheel or wheels mounted parallel to the rear wheel of a bicycle that assist learners until they have developed a usable sense of balance on the bicycle. Typically they are used in teaching very young children to ride a bike. The term "training wheels" is commonly used in the United States and Australia to describe the stabilizers' role in helping young children learn to ride bicycles.

One alternative to using training wheels is a balance bicycle.

Other Uses of the Term

"Training wheels" can also refer to the wheels that serious cyclists use on their bicycles when training, as opposed to the lighter, faster, more delicate wheels reserved for racing. These can be wheels such as entry level wheels, for example the Mavic Cosmos vs. the Ksyrium line or Cosmic Carbone.

The term "training wheels" is also used as a metaphor or euphemism for guidance in a non-bicycle related sense. For example, a high school co-op program, where students leave school to work part-time at a job durring the school day, my be referred to as "training wheels" for the workplace. When Microsoft Windows was new, its point and click interface was derided as "training wheels for DOS" implying childishness.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Training wheels — Train ing wheels a pair of small wheels attached to the rear of a bicycle to keep the bicycle upright; used to assist those, especially small children, learning how to ride a bicycle. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Training Wheels for Citizenship — was a youth suffrage proposal by California Democratic state senator John Vasconcellos to give 14 year olds one quarter of a vote and 16 year olds one half of a vote, with 18 year olds continuing to have a full vote as under the current system.… …   Wikipedia

  • training wheels — noun plural Date: 1964 a pair of small wheels connected to the rear axle of a bicycle to help a beginning bicyclist maintain balance …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • training wheels — a pair of small wheels attached one on each side of the rear wheel of a bicycle for stability while one is learning to ride. * * * …   Universalium

  • training wheels — noun a) A pair of small wheels attached on either side of the rear wheel of a childs bicycle so that the bicycle is easier for the child to learn to ride. b) Anything designed to make something easier for a tyro. Syn: stabilisers …   Wiktionary

  • training wheels — noun plural : a pair of small wheels connected to the rear axle of a bicycle to help a beginning bicyclist maintain balance …   Useful english dictionary

  • training wheels — plural noun North American term for stabilizers (see stabilizer sense 3) …   English new terms dictionary

  • training wheel — UK US noun [countable] usually plural [singular training wheel plural training wheels] american a stabilizer on a child’s bicycle Thesaurus: parts of bicycles and motorcycles …   Useful english dictionary

  • training wheel — noun a) One of a pair of training wheels: small wheels placed on either side of a bicycles wheel to provide support for new riders. b) Anything designed to support a tyro …   Wiktionary

  • training wheel — UK / US noun [countable, usually plural] Word forms training wheel : singular training wheel plural training wheels American a stabilizer on a child s bicycle …   English dictionary

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