Cycling with Kids

Want to share your passion for cycling with your kids? Here are a few tips and tricks that will help make your next family-focused two-wheeled adventure a success.

Safe Riding

• Helmets are standard equipment for everyone who rides. Go to a reputable cycling shop and seek expert advice. A correct fit is critical to ensure maximum safety. The helmet should be snug (not tight) and centred squarely on your child's head. It should not tip forward, tilt back, wobble or move when they ride.
• Ride single file when you're on the road or a bike path. When approaching pedestrians, use your bell and announce "bikes on the left" when passing. Open trails offer a little more freedom.
• Let them lead. Keeping the kids in front of you allows you to survey the road ahead and ensure that no one gets left behind.
• Don't forget the first aid kit.
• Pack a pump, patch kit, tire levers, and a crescent wrench. A spare tube is a nice extra. Most adult mountain bikes have 26-inch wheels, but kids' bikes will vary. Consider taking a basic bike repair course. If you break down in the middle of a long ride and don't know how to fix your bike, it's could be a long walk back to the car.

Kid's Ages

Generally, if your child is strong enough to hold up their head, and big enough to fit into a helmet, they are old enough to sit in a trailer. If unsure about whether your child can ride with you, consult your pediatrician.

Depending on their desire, strength, and maturity, kids can start riding their own bike at about age five. Of course, children should not ride in congested areas until they know basic safety rules. There are numerous bike safety programs for kids, either as summer camps or after-school classes.

Note: We strongly recommend that you do not transport an infant on a bicycle, by trailer, rear-mounted seat, side-car, or otherwise.

Trailers and Trailer Bikes

Trailers and trailer bikes are excellent options for riding with younger kids. Because bike seats are usually mounted on the rear of the bike or on the crossbar, the child sits quite high off the ground, and is at risk of injury in a crash. For that reason, we don't recommend them.

Trailers

Usually mounted to the seat post or rear stays of the bicycle, trailers keep your child completely covered and protected from the elements. Some are better suited for smaller children; others carry two or more larger children. Look for a bike trailer hook-up that remains standing even if the bike falls over, and a fairly robust harness system to keep your child safe. When your kids are big enough to ride on their own, you can always re-sell the trailer or use it to transport gear or groceries.

Trailer Bikes

This is a great solution for kids who are too big to lug around in a trailer, but too small or inexperienced to ride alone in congested areas. A trailer bike is, essentially, half a bike. It has a seat, handlebars, and a rear wheel connected to pedals and a chain. Instead of a front wheel, the cross bar mounts to the seatpost of an adult-sized bike. Because they're actually pedalling, your child is an active participant in the ride.

Tips for Longer Trips

Plan routes that have alternate finishing points, so that no is disappointed by not getting "there." A dream cycle route would be one where you could stop anywhere and declare yourself to have arrived.

• Listen to the local weather forecast and have a contingency plan for a rainy day.
• Keep them motivated. Track your progress on a map – the visual image of the distance you've travelled can be inspiring for the whole family. Equip your kids with a cheap or disposable camera for taking their own pictures. Create a travel log or treasure box of your adventures.
• Help prep your kids for the day they'll be pedalling their own bikes. You can point out the tricks you use to predict where cars are headed, watching their signal lights or noting where their front tires are turned.
• Bring lots of food. Take lots of breaks. Your normally hungry child will become ravenous when riding. Snacks are also a good distraction for young ones bored with trailer life. Frequent breaks reduce boredom and frustration. Children in trailers will need a break every ninety minutes or so to stretch their legs.
• Don't underestimate the additional weight and drag of a trailer or a trailer bike. Plan your route so you don't lose energy halfway through the ride. If your motivation evaporates, theirs will too.