training wheels

American  

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a pair of small wheels attached one on each side of the rear wheel of a bicycle for stability while one is learning to ride.

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Example Sentences

“It’s like, ‘Hey, we’re going to keep the training wheels on, and then once you get to the first really big hill we’re going to take the training wheels off.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

The bicycle course featured four small bikes with training wheels, only suitable for young children.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

"You can think of the fetal globin gene as the training wheels on a kid's bike," says Prof. Crossley.

From Science Daily • Jan. 5, 2026

The spectacle even draws residents along the route to sit and watch, like the Tour de France with a lot more training wheels.

From Slate • Oct. 21, 2024

First day of school, the first time I lost a tooth, the first time I rode a bike without training wheels.

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas