Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Ting Kok, Hong Kong.
School of Health and Sports Science, Regent College London, London, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2024 Feb 29;19(2):e0298142. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298142. eCollection 2024.
Learning to cycle can be challenging for adults who did not acquire the necessary skills during childhood. Balance bikes have been used to teach children how to cycle, but it was unclear whether this approach could also be effective for adults.
To address this, a multi-phase intervention study was conducted to investigate whether healthy adults could be taught to cycle independently through the use of a balance bike.
In Phase 1, a case-control observational study was conducted in which 13 cyclists and 8 non-cyclists completed balance bike tests. Based on the findings, an 8-session intervention pre- and post-test study was conducted in Phase 2, using an 8 × 20-minute balance bike training programme to improve cycling postural stability and control. Another 11 non-cyclists completed the novel programme. The time taken to complete the balance bike tests was compared before and after the program, while their cycling confidence was recorded in each session. To assess the effectiveness of the programme, participants were invited to cycle on a pedal bike to evaluate their ability to cycle independently.
The results in Phase 1 showed that cyclists performed better on the balance bike than non-cyclists, with Bayes factor analyses providing evidence of this difference, BF01 = 0.228 in the 15 m sprint test and BF01 = 0.138 in the two-turn curved sprint test. The novel training programme in Phase 2 demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in improving their balance bike riding performance, as evidenced by the Bayes factor for completion times in the repeated measures being BF01 < 0.001. All participants were able to cycle independently with confidence after the programme.
This study sheds light on the idea that it's never too late for adults to learn how to ride a bike. It provides evidence that healthy adults can learn to ride independently with the help of a balance bike, a tool that's commonly used for teaching children. The study identifies five key principles for effective balance bike training in adults, including focusing on riding speed, gliding to turn, building cycling confidence, engaging high motor skills, and using a dual-task approach. Our evidence-based training programme offers a safe, enjoyable, and effective way for adults to develop the skills and confidence they need to ride, even if they've never ridden before.
对于那些在童年时期没有掌握必要技能的成年人来说，学习骑自行车可能具有挑战性。平衡车已被用于教授儿童如何骑自行车，但尚不清楚这种方法是否也对成年人有效。
为了解决这个问题，进行了一项多阶段干预研究，以调查健康成年人是否可以通过使用平衡车独立学习骑自行车。
在第 1 阶段，进行了一项病例对照观察研究，其中 13 名自行车手和 8 名非自行车手完成了平衡车测试。根据研究结果，在第 2 阶段进行了一项 8 节干预前后测试研究，使用 8 次 20 分钟的平衡车训练计划来提高骑自行车的姿势稳定性和控制能力。另外 11 名非自行车手完成了这项新计划。在计划前后比较完成平衡车测试所需的时间，同时在每次会议中记录他们的自行车信心。为了评估该计划的有效性，邀请参与者骑上踏板车来评估他们独立骑自行车的能力。
第 1 阶段的结果表明，自行车手在平衡车上的表现优于非自行车手，贝叶斯因子分析提供了这种差异的证据，BF01 = 0.228 在 15 米冲刺测试中，BF01 = 0.138 在两圈转弯冲刺测试中。第 2 阶段的新培训计划在提高平衡车骑行表现方面显示出显著的效果，这一点从重复测量中完成时间的贝叶斯因子 BF01 < 0.001 可以看出。所有参与者在计划后都能够自信地独立骑自行车。
本研究阐明了一个观点，即成年人学习骑自行车永远不会太晚。它提供了证据表明，健康的成年人可以在平衡车的帮助下独立学习骑自行车，平衡车是一种常用于教授儿童的工具。研究确定了平衡车训练对成年人有效的五个关键原则，包括专注于骑行速度、滑行转弯、建立骑自行车信心、锻炼高运动技能和使用双重任务方法。我们的基于证据的培训计划为成年人提供了一种安全、愉快和有效的方式来发展他们所需的技能和信心，即使他们以前从未骑过自行车。
