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Kids Cycling - How Far?

  • 24-06-2010 12:15pm
    #1
    DinaElla
    Closed Accounts Posts: 55 ✭✭


    Folks,

    My 11 year old son wants to start cycling with me and wondering how far should I start him off on and whats advisable for an 11 year old? He is a fit lad and plays huge amount of GAA and soccer but don't want to push him on the bike...

    Also, I have a GiantSCR2 as a spare and can he use that ? Its a small frame and he is about 5ft or am I better off getting a kids bike ??

    Cheers for any advice


Comments

  • #2
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Obviously it depends on his size and fitness.

    http://www.madmtb.com/mountaincode/how-to-start/ has a good guideline for beginning MTBing, which you could realistically apply to road cycling.

    The muscles he uses for cycling are very different to those for soccer and GAA so be wary at the start of trying to knacker him out. Since he's already very fit, he will be able to push himself well beyond what his legs can actually handle. So for the first few months, the rides probably won't kill him cardio-wise but he'll feel it in his legs.

    In terms of the bike, the problem is not so much the height of the bike, but the length of it. He'd easily fit an adult's bike with the saddle lowered right down, but the reach and angle of the handlebars may not be good for his back.


  • #3
    IM0
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,390 ✭✭✭IM0


    15-30 min for first go. same for any noob
    adjust upwards as needed

    / real answer: he's a kid, I remember 'playing' all day on my bike when a nipper.
    Riding is different though, around that age my first rides on the road were about 10-15k, in very hilly terrain [on a mtb with small tripples though ;) ]


  • #4
    DinaElla
    Closed Accounts Posts: 55 ✭✭DinaElla


    Thanks, do you think it would be better to keep him on a MTB and get him used to some distance and climbing before going on the road bike?

    I think your right about the adult bike and his back - he fits the seat and pedals with ease but it looks a reach for the brakes and gears.


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