Back-friendly bike lessons

Each spring, parents across the country head to the local park to teach their kids to ride a bike. The traditional method involves pushing your child as fast as you can and hoping he or she learns to pedal and balance at the same time. That can be scary for kids, and "many parents now may not be in the best shape to bend down and run for such a distance," says Rich Conroy, manager of Bike New York, which promotes bicycle riding in New York City.

So this spring, the group is teaching kids as young as 5 by using a newer, back-saving method. (Log on to bikenewyork.org for the details.)

Step 1: Use an adjustable wrench to remove the pedals. Lower the seat so your child's feet rest comfortably on the ground. Then have him push off with his feet, learning to balance and brake.

Step 2: Replace the pedals and cheer from the sidelines as your child masters new skills. Then take him out for ice cream: it beats an ice pack any day.