About Us
Riding a bike is fun; learning to ride can be hard. But we're here to help!
Hey, I'm Neil Hunichen!
My name is Neil Hunichen and I have been an active and passionate bicycle rider for over 50 years and am currently a vocational educational trainer and assessor. Prior to covid pandemic I developed a business proposal for Start Up coaching classes catering for after school programs under the business name Balance before Pedals Ride On “B4P Ride On”.
I’ve been inspired and motivated by Cadel Evans who agrees that all children need to first ride a balance bicycle as soon as they can stand up and walk and then transition to a conventional pedal bike.
I hold a current Working with Children card and I have a great deal of experience with teaching Preschool and Primary school children road safety for cyclists and pedestrians. I’m very blessed to have several grandchildren that I have taught to safely ride from balance bikes when they could walk and that has now transitioned to pedal bikes under 4 years of age without ever having to ride a bike with training wheels.
I’m an accredited Vic Roads bicycle educator coach/instructor as well accredited AusCycling/AusBike Coach that delivers children 5-12 year old primary school safe cycling and learn to ride programs.
I'm now also delivering One-on-One coaching programs within safe public community centres around Brimbank.
I’m very much looking forward to kick starting my B4P Ride On after school educational programs now we are free of further Covid Lockdowns and compulsory mask wearing and QR code checking in.
The very frustrating past 6 months has enabled me to discover how children learn to ride bicycles without ever requiring training wheels or guidance bars and with parents holding onto their bicycle.
I now have the evidence that toddlers once walking can then enjoy riding a balance bike and once, they have gained confidence and learnt core body balance skills they are then able to transition to a conventional pedal bike.
Unfortunately, there are many learning challenges that I have observed along this cycling two-wheel journey.
Children find the transition from confident riding a balance bike very challenging and difficult with many children not wanting to give up their balance bike as they find the pedals get in the way and hurt their ankles.
Fortunately, I have found a much easier way to help with this difficult transition.
Firstly, we need to modify the pedal bike from the traditional rear hub brake assembly to a free-wheeling rear wheel (like that of a BMX bicycle). Children find it so much easier to get into the power off pedal position when the pedals can be easily rotated both forward and backwards. This bicycle is also now fitted with dual (2) hand grip brakes that are adjusted so that young children can easily apply the brakes and stop in an emergency.
Secondly children then find that its very challenging when they can’t use their feet to stop the bike and when pedalling and then stopping which causes them to get very anxious. This takes a lot of time and patience from their parents or the educator.
The solution to this problem is to provide the rider the learning experience on my purpose-built static dyno trainer where the child learns pedal rotation and how to use the bicycle's rear wheel brake. After riding this static bikes less than an hour, the bicycle is released the dyno trainer rear hub lock and the child’s off and riding maintaining balance and being able to apply hand grip brakes to stop.
I have recently taught several children that are under the age of 4 to ride confidently and stop in an emergency. Safety is vital in all my educational sessions including the correct wearing of helmets and wearing proper footwear. Respectful riding is vital to these educational sessions.
I’m really looking forward to supporting children learning to ride safely together with their families post-Covid lockdowns and will be happy to assist with getting the best bicycles and the use of static bicycle dyno trainers to fit a range of children’s bicycles.