Have you always loved the idea of a family ride? But are you unsure whether the imagined fun will not turn into a nightmare? We’ve got some great tips to ensure a family cycling adventure stays joyful and lighthearted.
Karen Gee is the mother of two boys, she has taken them on cycling trips since they were little. She is also the founder and editor of Cycle Sprog, a great place to find out about kids bikes and family cycling. We asked for her top tips on making family cycling days a success.
Tip 1: Always be prepared
Plan your route before you go and make sure you have lots of snacks and water. Hungry and tired little riders are never good for morale. Go for an impromptu picnic if you need a good distraction.
Tip 2: Realistic distances and plenty of time
Overdoing it on the first ride will put anyone off. It’s always best to go for something manageable so everyone finishes wanting more. Anyone with kids will know they get distracted by just about everything around them, so factor in plenty of time for them to explore. Look for family trails and traffic-free routes as these often have signs to follow and activities along the way.
Tip 3: You don’t have to go far for adventure
Cycling adventure can happen close to home – even riding to the park or a location you normally drive to can turn an ordinary activity into something much more exciting. Depending on the age of the child, you might try involving them in planning the route. This will help them build other skills and awareness of the world around them.
Tip 4: What goes up…
Remember that wherever you go, you’ll have to ride back! Think about terrain – we once made the mistake of planning a ride that was downhill on the way there, and therefore uphill on the way back. Exhaustion, overall grumpiness, and a generally bad time ensued.
Tip 5: Make it work for everyone
When your children are very little, cycling together requires patience. A bucketload, to be exact. There is a sweet spot when you and your children ride at the same speed. Now my children are older, I’m contemplating getting an e-bike just to keep up!
Trailers or bike seats on an adult’s bike work best for the smallest children who can’t go far on their own yet. Trailers are good for toddlers just beginning to cycle as they can get back into the trailer when they have had enough without stopping the rest of the family.
There are a few ways parents can help younger kids ride faster or support them when they are tired. Tow ropes and tag-alongs are great as well as hooks to attach the child’s bike to an adult bike. Every family is different, and the right setup will change as the kids get older.
Tip 6: Get a bike that fits
The key to happy cycling is to have a good bike that your child will enjoy riding. That means a bike that is the right size and not ridiculously heavy.
As summer settles in, many of us will be getting our bikes out the shed only to discover that last year’s bike is now too small. At Cycle Sprog, we often hear from parents and grandparents who have made a mistake when buying the next bike. They buy a bigger bike for the child to ‘grow into' to try and save money. What they don't realize is it can be terrifying (and sometimes dangerous) to ride a bike that's too big, and usually proves a false economy as the child is too scared to ride it.
Tip 7: Cycling needs practice
Cycling doesn’t come naturally, it’s like learning any other skill. The more children ride, the better they get. You need to keep letting them ride and supporting them in stretching themselves.
On your first ride of the summer, let your kids get used to cycling again. Let them take their time and don’t plan too big an adventure. Take the pressure off if a child is feeling nervous and make it very low key.
Most importantly, remember to have fun! Where are you going to ride? What treats are there along the way? What is going to make your journey exciting? Ice-cream stops are always good!
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