Kids maximum riding distance

[Zeffer]

You need a gearing chart for youth which will show which gears will deliver the required rollout. CSA rollout distances is the same as UK (and I suppose everywhere else).

 

Compact crank will have an influence but you might need to play with the cluster too - and its cheaper.

 

No gearing restriction for MTB. Suppose it is due to the constant variability on a MTB - not sure.

 

You need to understand the principle behind restricted gears. There is a lot on the web - unfortunately it seems CSA removed it from their site as well as the LTAD programme (Long term athlete development which shows nicely at which phase of cycling developemnt different age groups need to be). Its to do with the development of the bode and legs of a juvenile, its nothing new and it is based on sound principles.

[Zeffer]

OK that was the clever me. The enthusiastic passionate father and cyclist in me soooo wishes we could see more kids at races.

 

Event organisers do have race categories for u/12 and u/14s but you rarely see more than 3-5 boys on the startline. And 2 girls will probably be a record!!!!

[Zeffer]

Not finished:

 

Part 3A of CSA rules:

 

3.3.1.2 Gear Restrictions: The following gear restrictions as measured by one full revolution of the chain wheel set will apply:

3.3.1.2.1 UNDER 10 – equal or not more than 6,227 meters

3.3.1.2.2 UNDER 12 - equal or not more than 6,227 meters

3.3.1.2.3 UNDER 14 – equal or not more than 6,626 meters

3.3.1.2.4 UNDER 16 – equal or not more than 6,897 meters

 

3.3.1.3 Maximum Distances – Road Races

The following maximum race distances will apply:

3.3.1.3.1 UNDER 10 Men & Under 12 Women – 20km

3.3.1.3.2 UNDER 12 Men & Under 14 Women – 30km

3.3.1.3.3 UNDER 14 Men & Under 16 Women – 60km

3.3.1.3.4 UNDER 16 Men – 100km for races with non-undulating profiles. The Road Director & Road Youth, Transformation & Development Commission has to approve all races exceeding this distance or which profile is undulated.

[Bikes]

This is a great thread! Really learning a lot here.

[Frosty]

From an event organiser perspective, CSA officials have request that U14 boys and U14/16 girls ride a maximum race distance of 80Km (current race distance is 65Km).

The U16 boys should be racing 80-100km (previously 65Km, now 103Km).

 

In order for them to be racing these distances, they should be training them too.

 

That's the racing youth, so perhaps the less than competitive should be doing the shorter fun rides (40, 50, 60Km events).

 

My 2c - hope it helps.

[ffff]

I started riding at 6years old and did a 12km funride. At 8 years old i did my first 100km race, so i say if you are ready then go for it.

[DJR]

If a youngster trains and races regularly, then the correct gearing and the length of the races, become critical to their long term development and health. Especially if cycling is his / her major sport.

 

If they are mostly riding for fun while also doing other sports, I don't think it is that critical. Doing one Argus at age 12 isn't likely to ruin the knees. Doing it week in and week out is a different thing altogether. Use common sense with all the rules!

[TooFatforEpic]

Attached a GPS to my 7 year old just out of interest. He did over 10 km at the pump track the other day. I think it's a good way to gauge their level. He was just riding in circles for fun with no end goal and stopped when he'd had enough. 

[Gen]

Thx all for the imput .

 

Yes kids play a team sport as well as tennis.. balance is key IMO.

[DJR]

.........balance is key IMO.

I think you hit the nail on the head there!

 

There were some studies done on "child genius" in various fields from sport to music to chess. The single common factor they found was that those kids have spent something in the region of 8000 hours training for their specific "thing" before the age of 8. (I probably have the numbers a bit wrong, you know, memory fading from having had too much fun.) Another interesting finding was that the vast majority of those kids turned out unhappy unbalanced adults and many gave up doing the thing they were so amazingly good at. Some names I recall: Mozart, Vanessa May, Bobby Fischer, and I think we can add Tiger Woods? The point is that very few that were pressured and started too young, did well later on. There were also studies on Olympic athletes and when they started in their disciplines. Most started later, or only became competitive later. Very few took it through from primary school to international level. There were some exceptions, mostly in highly technical sports like gymnastics, where they started very young, but also stopped young. Most endurance athletes only started as adults. I think sometimes parents think that if they don't help their kids achieve amazing results right NOW by getting extra coaching, feeding them protein shakes and energy bars, the opportunity will be "lost" forever, but that is not the case. By pressurising the kids they are more likely to screw them up than to make them amazing.

 

Like you said, BALANCE is the key.

 

Interesting discussion. Wish some of the sports medicine guys would comment. Or the sports psychology experts?

[Gen]

I think you hit the nail on the head there!

 

There were some studies done on "child genius" in various fields from sport to music to chess. The single common factor they found was that those kids have spent something in the region of 8000 hours training for their specific "thing" before the age of 8. (I probably have the numbers a bit wrong, you know, memory fading from having had too much fun.) Another interesting finding was that the vast majority of those kids turned out unhappy unbalanced adults and many gave up doing the thing they were so amazingly good at. Some names I recall: Mozart, Vanessa May, Bobby Fischer, and I think we can add Tiger Woods? The point is that very few that were pressured and started too young, did well later on. There were also studies on Olympic athletes and when they started in their disciplines. Most started later, or only became competitive later. Very few took it through from primary school to international level. There were some exceptions, mostly in highly technical sports like gymnastics, where they started very young, but also stopped young. Most endurance athletes only started as adults. I think sometimes parents think that if they don't help their kids achieve amazing results right NOW by getting extra coaching, feeding them protein shakes and energy bars, the opportunity will be "lost" forever, but that is not the case. By pressurising the kids they are more likely to screw them up than to make them amazing.

 

Like you said, BALANCE is the key.

 

Interesting discussion. Wish some of the sports medicine guys would comment. Or the sports psychology experts?

Yeah it would be very interesting to hear from the People in the known how.

 

We try keep things uncomplicated with our kids, what they do they must enjoy, but if they start something at the beginning of yr or start of a season they must maar stick it out for the season or yr. We also let them do 1 thing each yr that is just for themselves, no tests no evaluation etc.

 

One yr it was guitar and trumpet (mom even took up the cello), the next art, the next it was french lessons, and so on.. this yr it's chess.. they don't compete just go to practice and play a bit at home now and then when they remember.

 

If they like it they can continue. . If not next yr we go onto something else.

 

Think schools and parents expect too much at times with sport.. all that IMO is a must is hard work at academics.

 

That's why I want to tread very carefully with the cycling. . It's a sport we as a family enjoy and I don't want them to go overboard with it too soon and in 2 yrs time they have had enough, and it's very easy for that to happen beacuse we are so into it.

 

So we'll keep it simple and fun for as long as we can..

[Riamich]

I’m looking for junior cassettes for my kids.

Eldest daughter is 13 going 14 and would like for to race competitive from next year when she’s 14.

She has a current set/up of 11-32 and 50/34 chainrings. Although gears are blocked but according to CSA they need jnr gearing.

What cassette ratio would work with current chainring setup and where do one find jnr cassettes

The 10 yr old daughter I will wait till she’s 13 to race competitively, although she currently rides and uses a 11-32 8spd and 50/34 chainrings.

[arabsandals]

I started riding at 6years old and did a 12km funride. At 8 years old i did my first 100km race, so i say if you are ready then go for it.

 

THIS IS SPARTAAAA!

[Furbz]

I did my first argus way back in the day when I was 11...

[Baracuda]

When I was a kid, I went with my old man who running Comrades etc at the time to one of SA's top running doctors. His advice was nothing over 20km under 16-18 years old.

In hind sight, many friends who did run further, and those who were in special units in the army doing far longer distances, are really battling with their knees post 40.

[gummibear]

I started riding at 6years old and did a 12km funride. At 8 years old i did my first 100km race, so i say if you are ready then go for it.

Did you win the race?