WHAT IS RIDING WITH KIDS
I’m Rosie, a slightly frazzled mud-and-fresh-air-enthusiast who squeezes a full time job and toddler parenting in between big bike rides and long runs (*LIES* - it’s the other way round). I’ve been riding mountain bikes for about (gulp) 20 years and I’ve dabbled in all sorts of bikes and all sorts of disciplines – currently I’m leaning into my “if you’re on a bike you’re a cyclist, and any cycling is better than none” era!
I’ve been riding with my daughter Hebe since day 1 (literally – I had a spin round the block on the morning of my embryo transfer to try to distract me from the existential terror!), since she’s been earth-side, she’s been coming on rides with me and our family since she was about 5 months old.
What is it like riding bikes with children?
Honestly, it’s joyful! There’s a few things worth bearing in mind, and you (obviously) have to adjust your expectations, but it’s so worth the extra effort to hear your tiny pal whooping and shrieking FASTER MUMMY!! and squealing with pure joy.
You have to have a really honest conversation with yourself about your motivations for riding with your child, are they enjoying themselves as much as you are? Your kid might be ripping up the pump track on their balance bike before they’re 3, or they might actually not be that into bikes right now, and you have to be OK with that. A grown adult and a child on a bike is already pretty cramped, there is definitely no room for your ego! You need a sensible awareness of what could go wrong, and a plan for what to do if it does. “Going wrong” probably won’t be a massive over-the-bars crash (please, guys), but children are wonderful, unpredictable, tiny people, with their own opinions and sense of risk. A ride in the rain when you forgot their gloves (or they flat-out refused to wear them) but you persevered anyway, or a rough trail that jiggled them around in their seat a lot might have the same effect on their enthusiasm for bikes as a horrible crash would on yours.
If you’re riding with them in the hope that they’ll one day come to love cycling as much as you do, don’t risk putting them off for life! Go for short routes, with lots of escape options on trails that you could ride with your eyes closed. Pick routes with plenty of pitstop opportunities that are engaging for your kid. Adjust your plans if the weather is crap, or your kid’s having an off day. Build in time to your ride to balance rocks or poke insects or play pooh-sticks or count ducks, it’s literally what it’s all about!
For me, developing a dialled back appetite for risk and a very low bar for what actually constitutes a “ride” has unlocked an unexpected new level of appreciation and gratitude for bikes and cycling since having Hebe. I’ve taken the pressure off myself and found joy in just getting out, moving my body and admiring the world, even if it’s “only” a 5km loop from the front door. I won the pooh-stick race and I’ve got a daisy-chain necklace, who’s the QOM now eh!?
What bike/kit do you need?
This varies massively depending on numerous factors including but not limited to: how big your kid is, how fit / into suffering you are, how much of a kit tart you are, whether you’re up for grotty UK winters, whether you want to do longer trips, what terrain you’re riding etc etc. Additionally, as with all things child related, the little monsters grow like weeds – so just as you find your stride, they’ll outgrow your favourite bit of kit and you have to have a full re-think.
Parenting is the ultimate lesson in expectation vs reality, so before you spend a load of money on lovely shiny kid-kit, borrow or hire stuff and have a go. See if reality matches expectations: Your kid might HATE being in a trailer, and scream blue murder for 2 hours, or they might be so happy and cosy they fall asleep and refuse to ever get out. They might love the idea of a shotgun style seat, but you might not love their automatic lane assist sketchy line choices! Once you’re set on your set up, shop around – kids growing out of things means there’s great 2nd hand deals to be had.
How can you get into it?
Start small by adding cycling into the stuff you’re doing with your kid anyway: Have a trailer spin instead of a pram nap, cycle to pre-school rather than drive, ride round and round the garden (like a teddy bear?). This will help you (both) find your stride, figure out your set up and establish what you’re comfortable with.
Check out Cycle Sprog | the family cycling experts for invaluable advice, kit reviews, inspiration and knowledge and Hope Academy | Explore Kids' Bikes Now - Join the Fun for inspiration, training sessions and truly awesome tiny bikes.
Riding with an inclusive cycling group is LOVELY, and a great way of meeting other families on wheels. The likes of Lakes Gravel Gang – Building Community and Confidence through bike rides and socials and The New Forest Off Road Club often do trailer friendly or family rides, and I would definitely recommend joining the warm fuzzy feeling.
Social Media is full of family cycling inspiration and connection – to be consumed with a pinch of salt; everyone has had aborted rides, raging toddlers, obstinate 7 year olds, little solo sobbing sessions of defeat in a Forestry car park, but you’re not seeing that on Insta! Just keep pedalling!
Boiling it down to essentials, I’d say on any ride + kid expedition you need:
- Something for your child to travel in / on
- A helmet each that fits, is comfortable, and stays where it needs to be if / when you add / remove layers. If your kid is little, make sure they’ve practiced wearing a helmet a few times before you present them with it at the start of a ride; get the meltdown / novelty of taking it on and off 4000 times out of the way in a controlled environment.
- Layers. LAYERS LAYERS LAYERS: Do not underestimate how cold sitting like a fabulous tiny queen atop your parent’s handlebars can get, even in summer. If your small person is at the sentient ballast stage, they won’t be moving much. Lots of layers are a faff, but easier to manage and adjust than fewer, bulkier layers like a snow-suit. Again, shop 2nd hand and play around to find what works before you spend £200 on a Patagonia down suit they use once! Also (mostly writing this for my own sake here!) don’t forget that you will be working incredibly hard, then inevitably also doing a lot of standing around posting food into a small person, or waiting for them to finish examining gravel, so you need lots of layers too…#selfcare
- All the snacks: Proper, exciting snacks that you probably wouldn’t let your child get their paws on normally. Building time for protracted snack breaks, preferably with a flask of something warm too gives everyone a break from the bike and keeps things interesting for your small accomplice. Delicious / illicit snacks are also excellent motivators / bribes to keep everyone’s morale up. As above, make sure YOU also devour lots of snacks you’re working hard!
Words: Rosie Holdsworth