TL;DR
Turn the school run and nap time into listening time
- Thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and originals
- Listen on your phone, tablet or Echo — also offline
- Cancel anytime
John Mulaney told E! News that he is teaching his son Malcolm to ride a bike using a pair of sweatpants held around the child’s chest and underarms. Mulaney said Malcolm is pedaling without training wheels, while he holds the pants to help steady him; the interview did not establish whether the method is recommended or how far the lessons have progressed.
Comedian John Mulaney says he is teaching his 4-year-old son, Malcolm, to ride a bike by holding the legs of a pair of sweatpants wrapped around the boy’s chest and underarms. Mulaney described the improvised method in an interview with E! News at the Nov. 4 premiere of Madden, saying Malcolm rides without training wheels while he steadies him from behind.
Mulaney told E! News correspondent Will Marfuggi that he can ride a bike himself but found it difficult to explain the skill to a young child. He joked that instructions such as “you kind of just stop moving your arms around” did not offer much help. The sweatpants, he said, give him a way to support Malcolm while the boy pedals and works on balancing.
He described placing the sweatpants’ crotch area around Malcolm’s chest and underarms, then holding the legs as the child rides. Mulaney said Malcolm is “actually riding it himself,” adding that the arrangement lets him help if the boy tips from side to side. He also stressed that he could not claim to have invented the idea. The interview did not describe the bike, the surface where they practice, or whether Malcolm has ridden independently.
The conversation also touched on family life. Mulaney said Malcolm would soon turn 5 and described him as able to explain what he wants when he is frustrated. Mulaney and his wife, actor Olivia Munn, also have a daughter, Méi, who is 2, according to the report. The interview took place at the premiere of Madden, in which Mulaney plays Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins; the film was reported as scheduled to debut on Prime Video and in select theaters on Nov. 18.
A Comic’s Practical Bike-Lesson Workaround
The anecdote is a small, personal update rather than a formal announcement, but it offers a recognizable snapshot of how parents adapt when explaining a physical skill proves harder than doing it themselves. Mulaney’s central point was that he could ride a bike but struggled to tell his son how to balance, so he tried a hands-on way to provide support while Malcolm pedaled.
For readers, the distinction between Mulaney’s personal workaround and general safety advice matters. The account does not establish that a sweatpants support method is safe or appropriate for other children, and it should not be read as an expert recommendation. Families choosing a bike or learning setup should consider the child’s age and fit, use appropriate protective equipment, and check for relevant product recalls through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The interview offers no technical assessment of the method.
Popular right now
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation
Samsung 43-Inch M70H Series 4K Mini LED Smart TV (2026)
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Bike Lessons to Family Life
The bike story came during a broader E! News interview at the premiere of Madden. Mulaney discussed playing Trip Hawkins in the film, which tells the story of football coach John Madden and the video game series named after him. The source says the movie was slated for a Nov. 18 release on Prime Video and in select theaters, but does not give a year for the interview or release date.
Mulaney and Munn are parents to Malcolm and Méi. The report identifies Malcolm as 4 at the time of the interview and says he would soon turn 5; it identifies Méi as 2. Mulaney’s remarks about the bike lessons were part of a conversation that also included his expectations for the holiday season and Malcolm’s birthday. The report supplies no further details about the family’s practice routine.
““I’m teaching him to ride a bike currently.””
— John Mulaney, speaking to E! News
What the Interview Leaves Out
The report does not say how long Malcolm has been practicing, whether he has since ridden without support, or where the lessons take place. It also does not identify who first suggested the sweatpants technique. Mulaney offered a description of what he does with his son, not an evaluation of the method’s safety or effectiveness, and no child-development or cycling-safety expert was quoted.
The premiere date is given as Nov. 4 and the film release as Nov. 18, but the source material does not specify the year. The interview also provides no additional information about the family’s plans for Malcolm’s birthday or the holiday season beyond Mulaney’s brief comments.
More Lessons, No Confirmed Milestone
Mulaney did not announce a particular next step for Malcolm’s bike lessons or say when he expects his son to ride on his own. The only confirmed update is that the lessons were underway at the time of the interview and that Mulaney was using the sweatpants arrangement to steady him. Any later progress would need to be confirmed through a subsequent interview or statement from the family.
The interview also pointed to the next family occasions Mulaney had in mind: the holiday season and Malcolm’s upcoming fifth birthday. The report provides no further schedule or plans.
Key Questions
What is John Mulaney’s bike-teaching hack?
Mulaney said he holds the legs of a pair of sweatpants after placing the garment around Malcolm’s chest and underarms, using it to help steady his son as he rides.
How old is Malcolm?
The E! News report described Malcolm as 4 years old at the time of the interview and said he would soon turn 5.
Is Malcolm using training wheels?
Mulaney said Malcolm was riding without training wheels while Mulaney held the sweatpants to support him. The report does not say whether Malcolm has since ridden independently.
Did Mulaney invent the sweatpants method?
No. Mulaney said he could not claim to have come up with the idea, but the interview did not identify who suggested it.
Does the report recommend using sweatpants to teach a child to ride?
No. It recounts Mulaney’s personal approach and includes no expert safety assessment. The method should not be treated as general guidance; caregivers can check product recalls through the CPSC and choose age-appropriate, properly fitted equipment.
Source: eonline.com
