Is It Hard To Ride A Kick Scooter? 10 Tips For Beginners

The life of a rider is incomplete without a kick scooter. People prefer a kick scooter because it is easy to use, light-weight, and cheaper than a bicycle. If you have not yet tried your hand (rather kick) at a kick scooter, you are missing out big-time, and this article will tell you how easy or difficult it could be for a new rider.

When we compare a kick scooter with other modes of transportation (bicycles, motorbikes, skateboards, etc.), it is undoubtedly more convenient for a beginner than other bikes. A kick scooter is typically easy to balance, and one can start riding a kick scooter at quite an early age.

Although an amateur might perceive a kick scooter to be a challenging ride, it is effortless to balance. A kick scooter’s weight, being very light, makes it very comfortable to manage while riding. It does not even require the fundamental training of riding a bicycle. One needs to simply hold onto the handlebar and kick the scooter. However, there are a few things to consider when you start riding a kick scooter as a newbie.

Riding A Kick Scooter is Easy

People are often afraid of trying new things, but after an hour’s ride on a kick scooter, you would laugh at that. You would realize that riding a kick scooter is not challenging at all. If you are buying the kick scooter for your kid, you should know that a kid can start riding a kick scooter as early as the age of three to four years. This feature tells about the ease of kick scooters.

It is not hard to ride a kick scooter because of the following points:

• A very young kid (pre-schooler) can learn to ride a kick scooter at the age of three years and older.
• It is easily adjustable when your child is growing his or her height, and a kick scooter’s handlebar would be adjusted accordingly.
• It is typically less expensive than a bicycle.
• It is stylish, trendy and makes it easy to commute.
• It has a light-weight body, and one can lift it to manage in difficult situations.
• A kick scooter is durable, and it can be passed on from one brother or sister to another.
• It can be ridden even if you do not know bicycling.
• Because of a suitable deck, one can easily balance it on both sides.
• It can easily be folded and taken anywhere along while traveling.

When you are buying a kick scooter for a beginner, you should follow the following tips so that the kick scooter ride is not hard:

1. Pick the right number of wheels as per the age of your child.
2. Height adjustable kick scooters.
3. Buy foldable kick scooters.
4. Right size kick scooter for your child.

10 Tips For Beginner Scooter Riders

As a beginner, you should follow a few guidelines before and after buying your first kick scooter. If you follow these tips, riding a kick scooter will not be that hard. Let’s kick off the list.

1. Buying A Kick Scooter

If it is your first kick scooter, make sure you check product reviews and look for the following things in your new scooter:

Wheel size:

Large wheels are faster and small wheels are easily maneuverable.

Bearing quality:

Bearings are easy to replace but you should avoid the cheap stuff/

Deck size

It should match the size of your both feet placed together on the deck and some “convenience space.”

Handbrakes

New riders should consider kick scooter hand brakes. It is makes scootering a lot easier.

Price range (value for money):

There are many types and different quality kick scooters on the market. Do your research and check which kick scooter is suitable for you.

2. Wear complete safety gear

Safety first when it comes to riding a kick scooter for a newcomer. It would be best if you made the following things a regular part of your safety gear.

• Knee-pads
• Elbow-pads
• Helmet
• Gloves

Furthermore, your footwear should not be slippery. It is best to wear closed shoes to avoid an accidental foot drag. Besides, the laces should be tied properly to avoid getting in the way of wheels. Another tip for maintaining safety standards while riding a kick scooter is to wear a backpack instead of a shoulder bag that could drop off your shoulder while riding your kick scooter.

3. Learn to ride uphill and downhill

In the early phase of riding a kick scooter, it is important to learn that you will need to lean back when going downhill and lean forward if you are going uphill to keep your ride safe. Although, as a beginner, you should avoid hilly areas, it is part and parcel of your daily routine. Thus, techniques related to rides up and down the hill are crucial for a new rider.

4. Practice in a safe environment before commuting on roads

You will need to verify your scooting skills in a safe environment, for example, in a park; therefore, you must practice before endeavoring. Going out on roads might intrigue you, but it could be lethal without practice. It would help if you practiced the following things:

• Application of handbrake
• How to use foot brake
• Sudden pull-over
• Sharp turns
• Keep your eyes focused on the road
• Folding/unfolding properly

5. Keep the arms bent at all times:

The rider must not have stiff hands when riding a kick scooter. Because, in case of an accident, stiff arms could break. Therefore, it is crucial to keep your arms bent a little all the time when riding a kick scooter. Moreover, a small fluctuation in your arms provides you a flexible ride.

6. The standing leg should be a little bent when riding

Because the standing foot is placed on a deck, which is a couple of inches higher than the ground, you need to keep it a little bent to match the other leg’s balance. You should understand the role of your weak leg. Also, the deck size of your scooter should go with the space covered by both your feet.

Furthermore, it would be best if you did not use your weak leg to push off the ground; for that, you have a strong leg.

7. Push off the ground with your other leg

This one is the basic technique of riding a kick scooter. Even if you teach it to your child, you should focus on pushing off the ground with the leg as the way forward for a kick scooter. Many people also push with their hands, and this makes the kick scooter slip. Your hands should only balance the handlebar, and the alpha leg should be making the move.

8. Pick the route before commuting

You should pick a route without a heavy traffic buzz because you do not want to test your scooter riding skills with fast-moving traffic around you. Moreover, it would help if you considered the hills on your way up or down. Remember, it is always more convenient to ride on a flat road than up or downhill. One should follow a passage with lesser slopes for daily commutes.

9. Aerodynamic stance

After learning straightforward and fundamental scooter riding, you should master the stance which helps you move forward while in motion. This posture is a skateboard-like stance, where both toes are pointing outward in a similar direction. This aerodynamic stance will make your ride smoother when riding on an empty road.

10. Enjoy the ride

The foremost important tip for riding a kick scooter and making the commute more comfortable is to enjoy it. Develop a plan for your ride ahead of time to avoid uncertainties. Make sure  to adopt an easy route and the right scooting techniques. Also, make it your habit to ride a kick scooter to stay fit and healthy.

Final Thoughts

Whether you want to use a kick scooter for a quick commute between classes on your campus or a commute to work or school; if you are a beginner, the set of guidelines and tips in this article will not only make your ride smooth, easy, and convenient but also safe and enjoyable. Also, make sure your scooter has a proper braking system!