No, bike stabilisers shouldn’t touch the ground on both sides. You may think your stabilisers have been fitted incorrectly if they’re not flush with the floor, but this is a common misconception.

When a child is learning to ride a bike, a key skill they need to grasp is balancing on two wheels. If the stabilisers are constantly touching the floor on both sides and keeping them steady, then they won’t learn to balance for themselves.

Fitted correctly, bike stabilisers should sit just above the back wheel to allow your child to balance on two wheels when riding straight ahead. If they begin to tilt or fall, then the stabiliser is there to keep them upright, but it shouldn’t be preventing them from having to balance.