Training wheels vs stabilisers

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Grammarist

Training wheels are a set of small wheels on a pair of brackets which are attached parallel to the rear wheel of a bicycle to help a child balance the bike, while learning how to ride. It is a a term used in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Stabilisers are a set of small wheels on a pair of brackets which are attached parallel to the rear wheel of a bicycle to help a child balance the bike, while learning how to ride. It is a term used in Great Britain. The spelling stabilizers is also correct.

When adult bicyclists need help in keeping a two-wheeled bicycle balanced, the attachments are called stabilizers in all English-speaking countries. The spelling stabilisers is also correct.

Examples

Had I not let go of the training wheels I would have never experienced so many of the amazing opportunities and freedoms that being a two-wheeler offers. (Huffington Post)

A half-dozen states have moved to scale back, freeze or eliminate their renewable energy standards in the past year, fueled by concerns over higher energy prices, the impact of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan and the growing perception that it’s time to take the training wheels off the wind and solar industries. (The Washington Times)

Chinese banks get closer to losing training wheels (Reuters)

The 39-year-old, from Swinton, started Max off with a small Toy Story bike with stabilisers from three years old and moved him to a 16 inch BMX with stabilisers from the age of four. (Manchester Evening News)

Built without pedals or stabilisers, each child sits on the bike’s saddle and moves by pushing along the ground with their feet. (The Portsmouth News)

The purple and yellow, 18inch-wheeled Christmas present that soon shed its stabilisers must surely be recognised as a pivotal moment in my life. (The Nottingham Post)

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