The official Riding with Kids thread

[Shebeen]

actually a lot has happened with my bike merry go round!

 

my son is bike befok, he had to have this cake for his 2nd birthday

 

but the problem was that his legs are a little on the short side so it was hard finding something that fits. (for about 2 months he would chase his sister round the yard pushing a black plastic/BP bike!).

 

So I set out to make him a little balance bike:

 

It became a cruiser as his legs were really short! by the time I finished it he could actually fit on the BP bike, which he has since ridden stukkend 

 

he got this one for his birthday (but legs don't fit yet!)

[Loose cog]

Just happened to see this thread. Brings back many memories of my boys cycle rides. Great post!

 

The last year my youngest started to ride again and borrowed one of my road bikes. It's been a pleasure riding with him again and I look forward to my eldest and his wife joining us in 2017.

 

 

[DJR]

Just happened to see this thread. Brings back many memories of my boys cycle rides. Great post!

 

The last year my youngest started to ride again and borrowed one of my road bikes. It's been a pleasure riding with him again and I look forward to my eldest and his wife joining us in 2017.

Mine are 16 and 17 respectively, and although they are a bit old to post them here as "kids" I still think of them as such. They still ride with me, just not so often and definitely not so early as they used to (teenagers and their sleeping patterns). When they seamlessly blend into the bunch and they can beat you hands down on the climbs, you know they are growing up. It also makes me proud when I see them riding and I think I must have done something right somewhere along the line. 

Edited December 22, 2016 by DJR

[Loose cog]

Thankful my boys never got to beat me in any race although they were quicker than me in the sprint!

 

Unfortunately we had over cycled them when they were teens and they stopped riding.

[Pikey]

Very cool to ride with your kids,regardless of age. Awesome to get older kids to ride with you I think it's a great bonding experience ????????

[IH8MUD]

Unfortunately we had over cycled them when they were teens and they stopped riding.

Sorry to read this. 

 

It makes me scared a bit. 

How do one guard against this possibility.  

Last thing I want to do is make my kids dislike cycling because of there overzealous "Ou Toppie" 

(This happened to me with regards to running at school,  and I still dislike running till today)

 

Though my little guy have all the cycling goods a 3 year old can possibly need, he is not very keen on it. He cycles for 100 meter then gets of and walk/run everywhere and I end up carrying  his bike.

(he loved cycling with me in the baby carrier on my bike, but he is to big for that now.)

 

Though I am  little bummed about it, I promised myself I'll never make  him cycle if he does not want to.

 

Am I maybe to eager? 

 

Any other Hub-advise from those that have been though it?  

Edited December 22, 2016 by IH8MUD

[Pikey]

Sorry to read this. 

 

It makes me scared a bit. 

How do one guard against this possibility.  

Last thing I want to do is make my kids dislike cycling because of there overzealous "Ou Toppie" 

(This happened to me with regards to running at school,  and I still dislike running till today)

 

Though my little guy have all the cycling goods a 3 year old can possibly need, he is not very keen on it. He cycles for 100 meter then gets of and walk/run everywhere and I end up carrying  his bike.

(he loved cycling with me in the baby carrier on my bike, but he is to big for that now.)

 

Though I am  little bummed about it, I promised myself I'll never make  him cycle if he does not want to.

 

Am I maybe to eager? 

 

Any other Hub-advise from those that have been though it?

 

my son was the same untill about 4 1/2 ...then he wanted to ride . There attention span is limited . Don't push they will get there on there on there on time . I tried but had to back off and let it happen naturally. He is now 5 and still sometimes does and mostly not want to ride. But I let him decide.

[DJR]

Thankful my boys never got to beat me in any race although they were quicker than me in the sprint!

 

Unfortunately we had over cycled them when they were teens and they stopped riding.

My two both beat me two years ago in the short Argus, but that was a fluke. This year I beat them fair and square, but if they put in a little effort, I'm not so sure about next year.

 

On steep climbs I cannot keep up anymore, but on the downhills I catch up again. Any long distance, 100 kms or more, I have no difficulty beating them. That saying never to underestimate an old guy with a million miles in his legs, it is true! However, if they pace themselves right and eat and drink right, it gets more difficult to outride them every year. They have also learnt most of the sneaky little tricks of the bunch by now, so outfoxing them also gets more difficult. If the two of them decide to work together against me, then I can barely keep up. 

 

Oh, this is no complaint, in fact, it is a little brag!   

Edited January 5, 2017 by DJR

[Red Robin]

I have kind of the opposite thing in my young son pushes me.  I only started riding this year cos I couldn't run fast enough to keep up with my then 4 year old on his bike.  I then started to really enjoy it and got hooked

He absolutely loves it and happily rides 12km on blue trails, downhills and loves trying to do jumps. We entered him in a race in above his age group as there was none for 5 years olds and he came in flying in first place.

I do feel a bit inadequate as I can't teach  him anything as I am a total beginner   so I am going to try  find a kiddies skills clinic next year so he can learn how to do things properly as he is doing them anyway.

[DJR]

............Any other Hub-advise from those that have been though it?  

 

Always make it fun, leaving them wanting more. When they are little, make riding about exploring, stopping for a picnic, watching the animals, eating ice cream, having a swim. Stuff like that.

 

When they start doing races, do your utmost to still make it fun. Make it about the day out. Ride with them, help them, wait for them. Encourage but don't pressure. Don't emphasize the competitive aspect until they are into puberty, perhaps even older teenagers. Even then, try to keep it fun, not just train train train, race race race.

 

No pro cyclists are made when they are 5 or 12 years old, but many are broken. If they decide to take cycling up as a serious sport, it should only be in high school. This is the time to get professional sports advice on how to do it.

 

Personally, both mine showed a lot of promise, but decided not to do cycling as their main sport, so it was easy to keep it fun. I am perfectly happy that cycling will be a life sport for them, something they can do for fitness and sanity on a lifelong basis. Now sleeping late, school projects, girlfriends and teenager stuff get in the way sometimes, but both still ride with me on a regular basis. Oh, and we have a standing date come every Argus day!  

Edited January 5, 2017 by DJR

[Pikey]

Always make it fun, leaving them wanting more. When they are little, make riding about exploring, stopping for a picnic, watching the animals, eating ice cream, having a swim. Stuff like that.

 

When they start doing races, do your utmost to still make it fun. Make it about the day out. Ride with them, help them, wait for them. Encourage but don't pressure. Don't emphasize the competitive aspect until they are into puberty, perhaps even older teenagers. Even then, try to keep it fun, not just train train train, race race race.

 

No pro cyclists are made when they are 5 or 12 years old, but many are broken. If they decide to take cycling up as a serious sport, it should only be in high school. This is the time to get professional sports advice on how to do it.

 

Personally, both mine showed a lot of promise, but decided not to do cycling as their main sport, so it was easy to keep in fun. I am perfectly happy that cycling will be a life sport for them, something they can do for fitness and sanity on a lifelong basis. Now sleeping late, school projects, girlfriends and teenager stuff get in the way sometimes, but both still ride with me on a regular basis. Oh, and we have a standing date come every Argus day!

 

110% on the money . Especially the ice cream bit ????

[Flashfozzy]

I have bought my son a new 24" Titan.

 

Do you get tubless 24" tyres?

Can tubless be done with the titan wire beads that come with the bike?

[Shebeen]

did a round up of the bikes the other day...if you count everything that is called a bike, then we've got 12 under the roof. but will no doubt be parting with many of the plastic ones soon.

 

here are the two youngsters on a 'ride' up the weskus (i make sure there is loads of sealant in these tyres now!)

 

 

 

[leeubok]

What lids are your kids wearing? I'm looking at getting the Bell sidetrack for my kids. Ages 7, 6 and 3. Just wondering about the size though.. Should I wait until I can get to a shop and try them on are these adjustable and one size fits all?

 

http://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/bell-sidetrack-helmet-youth

[l4y3rcake]

What lids are your kids wearing? I'm looking at getting the Bell sidetrack for my kids. Ages 7, 6 and 3. Just wondering about the size though.. Should I wait until I can get to a shop and try them on are these adjustable and one size fits all?

 

http://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/bell-sidetrack-helmet-youth

I got my son a bell Tater helmet when he was 17months old and it adjusted really well. He is 4 now and still uses it. I'm not sure about the specific ones you are referring to but I definitely recommend bell as a brand for kids

[Theunissa]

What lids are your kids wearing? I'm looking at getting the Bell sidetrack for my kids. Ages 7, 6 and 3. Just wondering about the size though.. Should I wait until I can get to a shop and try them on are these adjustable and one size fits all?

 

http://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/bell-sidetrack-helmet-youth

measure tge circumference around head. Use that to buy the helmet. Exp. If head is 50 buy a 50-52

 

 

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