New balance bike track at Deeside Leisure Centre aims to help children ride safely

A new balance bike track has been created at Deeside Leisure Centre which aims to help children gain knowledge and understanding of how to ride a bike in a safe way. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Aura Wales – the not-for-profit company that manages the leisure centre – has also secured a number of balance bikes with funding from Healthy Weight Healthy Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Balance bikes are a teaching tool for helping young children learn how to ride a bike. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Youngsters can learn how to balance so that they’ll be ready to make the step up to a pedal bike. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The new track offers a safe space for children of all ages to have fun and gain confidence riding a bike safely. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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Michelle Thomas, Aura’s Active Communities Manager, explained: “This balance bike project sits within our 0-7 Years’ programme, run by the Aura Sports Development team and delivered across our leisure centres and libraries.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“By using the balance bike track, children will gain knowledge and understanding of how to ride a bike in a safe way, whilst also developing a fun skill that promotes physical competence, good health and all round well-being.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Free sessions at schools will be delivered by the Aura Sports Development team across the county, aimed at pupils in nursery, reception and Year One. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Helmets are required to be worn and the track can be used free of charge. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We are also able to provide safety equipment, coaching, and specially adapted bikes when visiting schools.” Michelle said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Check out this video from British Cycling which focuses on how to teach a child to ride a bike: www.britishcycling.org.uk/go-ride/article/20200407-goride-static-How-to-teach-your-child-to-ride-a-bike-0   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The indoor skate park at Deeside Leisure Centre also offers balance bike sessions three times a week. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

For more information about the new balance bike track at Deeside Leisure Centre, please contact Michelle at: michelle.thomas@aura.wales  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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