Children
Great family memories can be formed by pedal power, just because you have kids, doesn't mean you have to give up
cycling - in fact having kids is a good reason to start cycling!.
As your kids grow from toddlers to teens, you can grow with them, wheel to wheel.
Not only is it a physically healthy activity for the whole family—it's also an emotionally and even
spiritually healthy activity as well.
Over the years I've been asked 100's of times -"how do I take my kids cycling?". Bottom line is - just do it. This page covers answers to questions I've been asked:
"do I need a child trailer?", "how far should we ride?", "what about those tag-a-long things".................and a whole more besides.
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Top Tips
- Get your children in the cycling habit early.
- Let your children advance at their own pace.
- Keep family rides short with plenty of other activities.
- Make sure you carry plenty of water and have some snacks (and alternative entertainment)on hand.
- Look out for interesting things on route - this keeps everyone happy and the miles wizz by.
- If you need to get a bike for your kid(s) then look no further than IslaBikes for more info.
Isla's range of bikes really are well designed and cracking value. Don't be hoodwinked into buying a heavy weight full
suspension monster from a big bike shop- it won't last and your kids won't enjoy trying to pedal a behemoth!!
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Children riding with adults
Whether you ride from home on solo bikes, or load up the car for a weekend away, you'll need to make
sure you and your family are equipped for the distance and their ages.
After the age of 7 or so, most children will want to travel under their own steam, before that though,
here is a quick summary of "kit by age":
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- Rear bike seat:6 months to 3 yrs approx - max child weight usually 20kg. Used when child can sit up and hold it's head (not earlier).
Ideal for commuting/shopping. Most styles now have high backs to support a child's shoulders and head.
- Trailer:6 months to 4/5 yrs approx - max child weight usually 30kg. Very flexible, some models have conversion kits to double up as
a buggy, and can carry shopping or picnic too. If your child is pretty active, you may find age 5 is the max as boredom will set in, so
that's the time to think about a trailer bike or tag-a-long
- Trailer bike/tag-a-long: 4 years to 9 years (depending on child's weight and type used). Child is involved early, so is a
great learning tool, no worries keeping everyone together and happy.
Cheap ones fit to seat post of parents' bike - advantage: cheap, disadvantage: can "cut corners" and often can be seen
"not quite upright". Better ones fit to special rack of parents' bike- advantage: very safe, remains upright and stable,
does not cut corners and feels "right", disadvantage: relatively expensive. Quite often manufacturers recommend a max child weight of no
more than two thirds of the front rider. Get some practice in riding this "long-vehicle" and a lot of fun can be had!
- If you buy decent well made kit and look after it, you'll command a good price when selling on. Many of the higher quality trailer
bikes can fetch 60-70% of the purchase price after 5 years.
- Tandem: Tandems can be set up with conversion kits that allow children to pedal as well. Like the trailer bike, this is a good way for
to introduce the fun of cycling to children. You can even get three person tandems called triplets.
There are a number of solutions to get the whole family out.
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Children riding "solo"
Kids bikes come in a wide variety of styles and sizes and one of the best ways to introduce youngsters to cycling.
A common mistake, however, is purchasing a bike for the child to "grow into."
This can have disastrous consequences and set your child back a couple of years.
A great bike for kids to learn on is the German designed "like-a-bike", which is a very clever super light weight wooden
bike with which you scoot along like a hobby horse. It can be used from as young as 2 until 4 or 5!
From personal experience this is far far better than learning with stabilisers which don't teach the fundamentals of balance.
The alternative to the like-a-bike is to take the pedals off a normal bike and learn to scoot. Children progress much faster and with
much greater confidence and fun using the "scoot method" see teaching for more details. |
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Going on trips
Children make good cycling companions because they're adaptable. To make sure each ride is an enjoyable one, follow these
basic tips:
- Do Your Homework:
When you take a child on a ride, make certain you are familiar with the bike route - plan some short cuts home if needed.
If you get lost or the route is longer
than expected, your child may suffer not only from a poor experience, but potentially in more serious ways, such as dehydration
and sun burn in the summer or a chill in the colder months
- Start Early:
Children tire quickly in the afternoon. Take advantage of their energy in the morning and start your ride early.
- Take Breaks:
Plan on taking a lot of short breaks. Also allow time to stop, get off the bike and explore.
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Bring Water:
Always have water readily available for your child. This is easy if children are in a trailer or on their own bike, but be
mindful of a child in a child carrier. Stop often so he or she can drink.
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Bring Snacks:
A well-timed snack can defuse a squabble or bad temper. Kids tend to misbehave more when they're tired, hungry or thirsty.
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Carry a Tool Kit:
And know how to use it.
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Carry a Small First-Aid Kit:
Generally, you'll only need a few plasters, antiseptic wipes, simple pain killers and encouraging words (and sweets too!).
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Make It Fun:
Choose an interesting route that goes by gardens, streams, local duck pond, views, or—surprise!—an adventure playground like the Worcester Woods
Country side centre (pack a kite for even more fun). Most children are interested
in what they can see along the route rather than what's at the end of the road or trail.
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Invite Playmates:
Cycling is always more fun when shared. If your child has a friend who is at the same competency on the bike, bring them along.
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The most important thing to remember when cycling with children is to avoid overdoing it. You can still cover a lot of
miles—it's just going to take longer.
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The Family That Rides Together
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Even restless toddlers will stop squirming when a bike starts moving. This makes cycling an ideal family outing. Children
as young as 7 can generally handle half- or even full-day rides. With the above suggestions in mind, also:
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Let your child participate in the planning. Show your child a map and point out the route you'll be taking. Let him or her
suggest stops or fun things to see along the way. This will help develop his or her sense of geography and ability to make
decisions.
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Until your child is used to using a derailleur gear system, choose routes that are as flat as possible. A good rule of thumb: If you
would feel comfortable riding the route on a heavy, single-speed cruiser, your child shouldn't have much of a problem on his or
her bike.
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Choose routes without much (or any) motor-vehicle traffic see routes 'n' spokes for routes further out of town if needed.
This is especially true for younger kids. Preteens and teens can,
of course, handle traffic, but make sure they are well-versed in cycling safety.
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Conservatively, children as young as 7 can handle bicycle tours. Remember, though, to keep each day's mileage short and
interesting, with plenty of allotted time to reach the day's destination. Also, keep their loads light, but do allow them to
contribute to carrying gear.
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Group fun rides, especially for charity, are a great way for the whole family to cycle together as well as teach children
what charity giving is all about.
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Sign your children up for races. BMX or even mountain or road bike races exist for children of all ages and are as much or more
fun than traditional football or soccer outings.
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Maintain your bike and your child's bike and let them help. Children can wipe off excess oil just as easily as they can clean a
kitchen top! Plus, showing them how to take apart and reassemble their bicycles takes some of the mystery out of the bike
and helps them become more comfortable with its functioning.
Happy family cycling!
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