Cycling with Kids

"How do I get my child started in cycling?" It's one of the first questions bike-riding parents ask. Happily, kids and bikes seem to be drawn together by a natural kind of magnetism. By following the tips we outline here, you can quickly strengthen that attraction.

A Child's Bike Progression

To get children started early, don't wait until they can pedal. Connect a child carrier to your bike, strap in your child and go for rides regularly. When you do, be sure to show enthusiasm for the activity on every ride. If you want your kids to be fired up about cycling, you need to set the example.

As they become more comfortable and their bodies become better equipped to handle physical activity, progessively move children to bikes that offer greater degrees of independence. Few motivators will generate greater enthusiasm for cycling within a child than a growing sense of self-sufficiency.

Tip: Get your child used to wearing a helmet while still at the ride-along stage. It's easier to instill this essential safety step in a child's early years before peer pressure sets in.

Up next: various bicycle options to get your child comfortable with cycling.

Step 1: Child Bike Seat

Toddlers must be able to easily sit up and fully support their head before they can join you for a ride. Many areas have laws requiring children to be at least 1 year old and to wear a helment while riding in a bike seat. Most carriers attach to the back of the bicycle and are suitable for children weighing up to 40 pounds. They have high backs to support a child's shoulders and head. The seats themselves are lightweight, though you may find your bike is a bit harder to manuever. Remember, should you fall, your child falls, too.

Tip: The bike seat is directly over your rear axle, so your child will feel bumps more than you do. To provide some cushioning, inflate your tires to slighly below their maximum setting. Less-inflated tires allow a softer ride.

Shop REI's selection of child bike seats .

Step 2: Bike Trailer

This is a popular option for toddlers and children up to 6 years old. You get to cycle; the kids get to sit and see the sights. Trailers are stable and easy to steer. Even if you fall, your child won't. Tip: Give your toddlers a pillow so their head doesn't bounce around too much.

Trailers have a few downsides. Kids sit low to the ground, so they're less visible to others and they are a bit more exposed to the exhaust of cars. Also, keep in mind that older children can get bored with such passive transport.

Shop REI's selection of bike trailers .

Step 3: Push Bike

This is a bike in its simplest form—no pedals or chain, just wheels and a frame. As the child walks or coasts along on their push bike, their feet act as their brakes (the same system Fred Flintstone uses on his stone-age car). A push bike helps teach 2- to 5-year-olds how to coordinate steering and balance. The better they get, the easier their transition to pedaling will be.

Shop REI's selection of push bikes .

Step 4: Trailer Bike

A trailer bike (sometimes referred to by the brand name Trail-a-bike) attaches to your bicycle so your child can pedal and feel independent, though he or she is still relying on you for balance and control. This single-wheel bike attaches either to your seatpost or on a rear rack so it can pivot for turning. A trailer bike is good for 4- to 7-year-olds who may have some trepidation about cycling. It also allows you to cycle farther than your child's stamina might otherwise allow.

Shop REI's selection of trailer bikes .

Step 5: Training Wheel Bike

Bikes with training wheels can give children the confidence boost needed so they can start riding on their own. Once the confidence is there, the training wheels can be removed. These are single-speed bicycles with coaster brakes, though some models have an additional linear-pull rear brake to ready them for future hand brakes.

Shop REI's selection of training wheel bikes .

Step 6: Kids' Bike

Once they are ready for their own 2-wheeler, make sure you avoid the common mistake of buying a bike that they'll "grow into." Doing so can set your child back a couple of years. When shopping, be aware that children's bikes are measured by their wheel size (not frame size). The most common sizes are 16", 20" and 24". The right size is one where your child can comfortably get on the bike and stand with his or her feet on the ground.

Shop REI's selection of kids' bikes .

For instruction on how to get your kids riding on their own, see the REI Expert Advice article on Teaching a Child to Ride .

Also consider: Tandem Bike

A bicycle built for 2 is another option for the beginning cyclist. Using conversion kits, adult tandem bikes can be modified so a child can pedal with you. Some manufacturers make child-adult tandems that allow you to control steering, braking and gearing while both of you get to pedal.

How to Take Your Kids Biking

Children make good cycling companions because they're adaptable, energetic and want to have fun. Cycling with kids isn't, however, quite as easy as hopping on your bike and taking off. Here are some saddle-savvy tips.

Before the Ride

• Do your homework: Make certain you are familiar with the bike route. If you get lost or the route is longer than expected, your child may suffer not only from a diminished experience, but potentially in more serious ways such as dehydration or exposure.
• Start early: Children tend to tire quickly in the afternoon. Take advantage of their energy in the morning and start your ride early.
• Invite playmates: Cycling is more fun when shared. If your child has a friend who is at the same level of competency on a bike, bring him or her along.
• Slow down: Realize that a 4-mile ride may take 2 hours. Don't expect to ride as fast as you would on your own.
• Be aware of traffic: What might seem like light traffic to you could be a more dangerous situation for your child, whether biking separately or in a trailer.
• Be prepared: Carry a tool kit and know how to use it. Also, carry a first-aid kit that includes a few bandages and antibiotic cream to handle minor cases of road rash.
• Dress right: Bring a daypack to hold extra jackets in case the weather changes.

On the Ride

• Take breaks: Plan on taking a lot of short breaks. Allow time to stop, get off the bike and explore.
• Drink water: Always have water readily available. Try to drink before feeling thirsty to stay hydrated.
• Eat snacks: A well-timed snack can defuse a squabble or bad mood and keep energy going. Kids tend to misbehave more when they're tired, hungry or thirsty.
• Make it fun: Choose an interesting route that goes by gardens, streams, views, farms or a favorite shop. Most children are interested in what they can see along the route rather than what's at the end of the road or trail.
• Express enthusiasm: If you convey a genuinely upbeat attitude, children most often will be inclined to mimic it.

Family Biking Tips

Even restless toddlers will stop squirming when a bike starts moving. This makes cycling an ideal family outing.

Get Them Involved

• Let your child participate in the planning. Show your child a map and point out the route you'll be taking. Let him or her suggest stops or fun things to see along the way. This will help develop a sense of geography and ability to make decisions.
• Maintain your bike and your child's bike and let them help. Children can wipe off excess oil just as easily as they can clean a kitchen counter. Plus, showing them how to take apart and reassemble their bicycles takes some of the mystery out of the bike and helps them become more comfortable with its functioning.

Ride Safely

To teach basic biking skills, take your child to a bike trail, empty parking lot, unused basketball court or some place where there's not much traffic. Some points to discuss:

• Avoiding hazards such as curbs, vehicles, stationary objects, pedestrians, broken glass, railroad tracks and other riders.
• Obeying traffic signs.
• Always stopping to look both ways when in traffic.
• Riding with the direction of traffic rather than against it.
• Getting off your bike to walk it across roads.

Until your child is used to shifting gears, choose routes that are as flat as possible. A good rule of thumb: If you would feel comfortable riding the route on a heavy, single-speed cruiser, your child shouldn't have much of a problem on his or her bike.

Taking the Next Step

• Children as young as 7 can handle bicycle tours. Remember, though, to keep each day's mileage short and interesting with plenty of allotted time to reach the day's destination. Also, keep their loads light, but do allow them to contribute to carrying gear.
• Group fun rides, especially those done for charity, are a great way for the whole family to cycle together as well as teach children civic responsibility.
• Sign your children up for races. BMX, mountain and road bike races exist for children of most ages. Sometimes kids find these races to be more fun than traditional team sports.

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