Tips for cycling with children

Lumen

I did my first proper spin with my four year old son on Saturday. Now that he's ditched the stabilisers he seems to be able to go much faster and further with no complaints (the route was actually his idea).

We did about 5km, almost all on off-road cycle paths and the rest on the footpath.

He was cycling in front of me, and I was teaching him to negotiate junctions (i.e. where the cycle lane crosses a road), which is much harder when you're going 10kph and the top of your head is only a couple of feet off the ground.

Anyway, the next step will be to go to Phoenix Park (zoo, playground etc) but there is not much cycle path between my house and there. This means a lot of cycling on the footpath and using ped crossings.

What's the story? Am I going to have to spend the next few years cycling slowly on the footpath with him, avoiding the ire of pedestrians? Or should I hi-vis him up, with flags and stuff, and take to the roads?

The alternative is to drive to the Park with the bikes on the back, but I'd rather he learns to explore his built environment without recourse to the car.

Also, he is cycling a 12" singlespeed bike with a coaster brake. Gears would be handy to pick up the pace on the flats and downhills, but you don't seem to be able to get those until 20", which is years away for him - he's very small. Anyone attempted a geared conversion?

Advice and experiences welcome.

mmclo

Was it hard to move away form the stabilizers?...finding it very difficult with 6 year old girl!!

tomasrojo

I read that it was best not to even use stabilisers; rather to lower the saddle and take the pedals off and let them use the bike as a hobby horse until they get used to balancing.

I've no personal experience though.

Cyclecraft has some entries on children cycling on the road. Can't remember what it says off-hand.

seamus

You're right on cyclecraft - it discourages the use of stabilisers because it doesn't actually develop any sense of balance.

Lumen

mmclo wrote: »

Was it hard to move away form the stabilizers?...finding it very difficult with 6 year old girl!!

We tried a few times when he was 3, but it hurt my back too much to bend over holding his saddle. I was following the advice of a friend who said it took a couple of 30 min rides with slowly decreasing saddle support, but my back was killing me after a few seconds.

Over the last few months I've been drip-dripping the idea that if he wants to use his bike in the skatepark he has to lose the stabilisers, but only when he's big.

Just after his fourth birthday he decided he was big and asked me to take the stabilisers off. We covered him in skate pads, stuck a helmet on and gave it a go. I emphasised that crashing was cool, and wouldn't hurt due to the protection. After a couple of minutes of cycling along with me holding the saddle I quietly let go, and he continued on. I then ran around the front and said "you did it!" - he promptly crashed. We did it a couple more times, and then left it for the day.

These short 5 minute sessions were repeated over the next few days, and he gradually got the hang of it.

Next challenge was starting off. He learned to scoot along with one foot whilst leaving the other on the pedal, and that seemed to work.

I think the trick is little and often.

cdaly_

hi-vis, flags and all. Him on the path, you on the road alongside.

You asking him what he has to do at junctions and him telling you. Then him deciding when to do it while you hover ready to throw yourself protectively in his path if he makes a mistake...

Take him down onto the quieter roads after a bit.

peterako

mmclo wrote: »

Was it hard to move away form the stabilizers?...finding it very difficult with 6 year old girl!!

Sheldon Brown has an excellent guide to this:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/teachride.html

Used the 'hold the kid rather than the bike' method to get my eldest off stabilizers when she was 5.

Second child was a bit later.

But third was 4 and one week when he got rid of them

Peter (Well done Lumen!!!)

Lumen

peterako wrote: »

Used the 'hold the kid rather than the bike' method to get my eldest off stabilizers when she was 5. Second child was a bit later. But third was 4 and one week when he got rid of them

Yes, I have a friend with 4 kids. He said age wasn't really a factor. They just need to be big/strong enough to control the weight of the bike, which is proportionately much greater.

My problem now is how to direct this new found skill and enthusiasm without getting the little bugger killed. :pac:

BostonB

I think thats a bit young for being on the road, but I know at least one couple who have their 4yr old on busy road. I wouldn't do it myself. But some kids are more predictable and take instructions better than others. Mine dont.
The main roads from D.15 (I assume) to the park aren't great tbh. You could cut through the quieter roads in Deer Park which brings you right (almost) to the castleknock gate.

As for bikes with gears. I noticed my guys bike was quite heavy, almost as heavy as my ancient MTB! So I went looking for something lighter and found these...http://www.islabikes.co.uk . IMO not that much more expensive then buying a regular kids bike in a LBS. Oh and they have gears.

ROK ON

Feck the hi vis stuff. Kit him out in some minoi Kaiku gear. Ye could match as ye cycle thru the park.
Well done on getting him to cycle. My young one just won't go on the bike w/o the stabilisers.

Lumen

ROK ON wrote: »

Feck the hi vis stuff. Kit him out in some minoi Kaiku gear. Ye could match as ye cycle thru the park.

Good idea. Found this.

CheGuedara

Lumen wrote: »

Good idea. Found this.

Carvalho et al should be able to sort you out with kids size boards gear too!

peterako

Lumen wrote: »

My problem now is how to direct this new found skill and enthusiasm without getting the little bugger killed. :pac:

The kid won't be the problem

Drop-offs and Jumps at our age bring new challenges

The mind will be willing...the body....:(

Beasty

mmclo wrote: »

Was it hard to move away form the stabilizers?...finding it very difficult with 6 year old girl!!

My 4 year old boy came off the stabilizers a couple of months ago. We have a slope on the garden, and he quickly got the knack of freewheeling down it while retaining his balance. Within a few minutes he was on the pedals. He is quite small for his age, but he can already get on his sister's bike (bought for her when she was 8). He cannot touch the ground with his feet - simply puts a foot on one pedal and hoists his other leg over the bike when he starts and jumps off the saddle when he wants to get off:)