Getting a youngster stating

comanche_cor

Bringing my nine year old nephew out for a taste of mountain biking at the weekend. Going to bring him on a blue loop of Blessingbourne in Fermanagh.

Anyone got any tips and advice on how to make the experience fun, exciting and safe for a 9 year old so that they got hooked on the sport for life?

Cheers!

El Vino

Chocolate / Haribo - standing joke with my kids is Dad always has emergency bar at the bottom of his rucksack
Danny McCaskill youtube videos or similar
I'm thinking about investing in one of these as youngest daughter is getting disheartened by long draggy climbs
https://www.gonebikingmad.co.uk/store/c22/TowWhee_bungee_cord%2C_%28never_have_anyone_struggle_up_a_climb_again%21%21%21%29.html

rizzodun

Blessingbourne is more or less flat, perfect for beginners but the problem with it being flat is that for kids it can be hard to keep up the speed and they tend to find it a bit boring.

This is speaking from feedback when myself and a few others took their kids up about 18 months ago.

Saying that, show him some of the log rollers and the rock drops, session one or two and get him to ride them to give him a good sense of achievement.

The pump track is also worth 15-30 mins to fly around.

rizzodun

Op,

How did you get on?

Bot1

Just resurrecting this thread -

Those of you with kids who MTB, what age did they start?

I have 5 and 7 year old girls who I'd like to enjoy all aspects of cycling. I'm thinking the 7 year old may be getting close to old enough to try out some easy off-road stuff.

Or is she still a wee bit too young?

I see pump tracks mentioned in other threads - what are they?

If you do think she is old enough - advice for a bike for her (is second hand an option)?

We live in Ballinteer for info

Lemming

Bot1 wrote: »

I see pump tracks mentioned in other threads - what are they?

Pump tracks are akin to smaller-scale BMX tracks both in total length and in the size of features you might find - of which there are two - namely banked/bermed corners and rollers; lots and lots of rollers. The idea behind a pump track is that you learn to 'pump' the bike to keep up/gain momentum to keep moving without pedalling.

Edit: if you watch the end of Danny MacAskils video 'Danny Day-care' I think he rides a pump track following his friends young daughter.

Bot1

Lemming wrote: »

Pump tracks are akin to smaller-scale BMX tracks both in total length and in the size of features you might find - of which there are two - namely banked/bermed corners and rollers; lots and lots of rollers. The idea behind a pump track is that you learn to 'pump' the bike to keep up/gain momentum to keep moving without pedalling.

Edit: if you watch the end of Danny MacAskils video 'Danny Day-care' I think he rides a pump track following his friends young daughter.

Do we have any pump tracks in Ireland?
Near Dublin?

rizzodun

Bot1 wrote: »

Do we have any pump tracks in Ireland?
Near Dublin?

Lucan BMX have a tarmac one.

iwillhtfu

There's a great BMX set up down in Courtown http://courtownbmxclub.com/

It would be a good idea to get them started in BMX as it will only enhance there bike handling skills, BMX is also great craic and no long slogs in the mountains required for the youngsters.