Eight-year-old Max Goldberg of New York couldn’t quite get the hang of riding his bike, so after two years of training-wheeled trying, his mother stumbled on a new adolescent offering: Hire a coach.
It only costs about $90 per private lesson, Fox 5 News reported.
“Max’s problem was there was a fear factor,” said Long Island bike coach Howard Roth, a father of twin boys who has chronicled his tried-and-true bike-training techniques in his book, “Riding Made Easy.”
The key to the whole operation?
Balance, Mr. Roth said.
He advises to “lower the [bike] seat, take off the pedals and work with them to find their balance,” Fox 5 News reported.
And Mr. Roth should know: He’s built quite a clientele around that theory.
For about $90 a private lesson, the Long Islander says he works with biking hopefuls of all ages, including children with disabilities, and his business takes him to areas throughout the tri-state area.
Moreover, bike coaching is becoming booming business, he said.
But it’s the joy of the job — more than just money — that really keeps him motivated, he said.
“There’s a moment when they ride — when they are astounded at themselves —they are amazed at their abilities and they can’t believe they can do it,” Mr. Roth said, Fox 5 News reported.
Max’s story, meanwhile, ends happily.
“It’s really fun and I really like it,” he said, the television station reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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