REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Kids!

1808 Views 36 Replies 23 Participants Last post by Super Uke, Aug 20, 2004

dan(YELL)

Discussion Starter · Aug 18, 2004

OK, I have a 4 yo daughter, who is a bit timid with some things, but after seeing her dad race this weekend, we have re-kindled the ride her bike fire, you'd think it was ice cream or something.
She is very defiant with my suggestions:
"a pair of shorts would be better than that dress for riding your bike"
"you should wear sneakers, not sandals"
"use your brake to slow before turns"

After 2 minutes of riding, she proceeded to tell me, "Dad, I have to go in the house to put on shorts and sneakers so I can stop the bike easier."

Who says kids don't listen?

My second favorite quote from last nights ride:
"Dad, I can't go slow, its not fun!"

1 - 20 of 37 Posts

namaSSte

· #2 · Aug 18, 2004

dan(YELL) said:
OK, I have a 4 yo daughter, who is a bit timid with some things, but after seeing her dad race this weekend, we have re-kindled the ride her bike fire, you'd think it was ice cream or something.
She is very defiant with my suggestions:
"a pair of shorts would be better than that dress for riding your bike"
"you should wear sneakers, not sandals"
"use your brake to slow before turns"

After 2 minutes of riding, she proceeded to tell me, "Dad, I have to go in the house to put on shorts and sneakers so I can stop the bike easier."

Who says kids don't listen?

My second favorite quote from last nights ride:
"Dad, I can't go slow, its not fun!"

Awesome for ya both. Im always tempted to give my oldest (9 yo) advice but try to bite my tongue which can be one of the toughest things. Part of keeping the fire going is keeping it fun which directly translates into "Dad, I'll figure it out on my own, now be quiet and ride!". The strategy has worked too, he can manual ramps, bunnyhop, and he rides skinnies like he's been doing it his whole life. Keep keeping it fun and I bet you'll have years and years to enjoy yoru time on two wheels together. BTW, I hear the RaceFace boys are going to a FR dress ensemble for next year's Crankworx so it sounds like she might just be a bit ahead of her time in riding fashion!

Dirdir

· #3 · Aug 18, 2004

I have 5 and 3 year old daughters. I find myself doing the same things my dad did to me that I did not like. I now understand why. You want to help your kids, teach them, keep them safe, ect. With my kids, it ends up that they want to do things their own way. The more I insist on something or push an agenda, the worse the experience gets. I have to constantly check myself not to get frustrated, ect. so the expereince remains positive.

I recently have been taking my 5 year old out on a trail-a-bike on some Az trails that are pretty damn rocky, even the smoother trails. She loves it, and is a real trooper, especially given the conditions - hot, rocky, washes, cactus (we have hit some bushes, but no thorns yet). Nonetheless, she is constantly commenting about this and that - gloves don't feel right, knee pads hurt, helmet is uncomfortable, thirst, I'm tired, ect. I have to just suck it up and make the experience as positive as I can. She is not one of those kids that gets into the ride so much that every little thing becomes secondary and "rolls off her back".

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lot8con8

· #4 · Aug 18, 2004

Trail-A-Bike...

....man, I have gotten so many miles out of mine with my kids. Everything from camping trips, to road trips. The only problem is the kids are getting too big for it now adays. So....the debate is to keep or sell.

Any recommendations on mountain bikes for kids in the 7-10 yrs age frame? This would be a good article for someone to write in a bike mag.: "kids bike tested".

JG

Dirdir

· #5 · Aug 18, 2004

lot8con8 said:
....man, I have gotten so many miles out of mine with my kids. Everything from camping trips, to road trips. The only problem is the kids are getting too big for it now adays. So....the debate is to keep or sell.

Any recommendations on mountain bikes for kids in the 7-10 yrs age frame? This would be a good article for someone to write in a bike mag.: "kids bike tested".

JG

Yea, the thing is awesome and fun. I am very surprised that not only can we go out on the rocky trails, but the kid digs it. As long as I can keep churning the cranks, the trail-a-bike just rolls over everything.

DiRt DeViL

· #6 · Aug 18, 2004

A 24" mtb will be good, the problem is finding an affordable quality bike for them.

Specialized kids series has the Hotrock 24 HT and FSR at around $600, other brands also offer kids bikes but are either too expensive or to cheap.

dan(YELL)

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 18, 2004

I have a bike trailer, but my 11 month old boy has taken it over.
Got 3 good years of towing the "parachute", my wife taught my daughter to say "faster Daddy" on the hills, great fun!

njmtbbg

· #8 · Aug 18, 2004

Awesome seeing kids ride

My kids beg to go to the playground to ride around these little circles. I feel like the father duckling and his little ducklings waddling up the street. I like the idea of a trail-a-bike but it would have to be a tandem (twins) or a triple (younger brother)

Dan - Thanks for the Great Glen advice. Cool to meet you.

B.

namaSSte

· #9 · Aug 18, 2004

Just some pics to add spice...

This is where it leads you to.....taken last March on an unseasonably warm day for Cleveland. Matt had just turned 9.

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merlin

· #10 · Aug 18, 2004

Kids Bikes

My "kids" are now 12.5 and 11. I did the alley cat, tag a long thing with them also. I would highly reccoemend buyin used bikes that are a little to big for them. My 12 year old son has had the pleasure of 4 new bikes in his life because he keeps on out-growing them. The one we got big so it would last a few years. Just my .02 cents

Dirdir

· #11 · Aug 18, 2004

Here we are

Here we are.

http://forums.mtbr.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24633

jimmy

· #12 · Aug 18, 2004

my 6 yr. old is now riding!

on her own, to the park, downtown, etc. She even rode with her grandpa this week while he was visiting. Yahoo.

dirtdonk

· #13 · Aug 18, 2004

there just isn't enough money in the world to buy the memories our kids give us for free. i love the "faster dad faster" i get from my five year old on the tag-along while he's spinning his pedals backwards.

DiRt DeViL

· #14 · Aug 18, 2004

My 8 year old

Here's my kid during a XC race.

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lot8con8

· #15 · Aug 19, 2004

Free Ridin'

dan(YELL) said:
I have a bike trailer, but my 11 month old boy has taken it over.
Got 3 good years of towing the "parachute", my wife taught my daughter to say "faster Daddy" on the hills, great fun!

When my kids would not peddle, we called it "free ridin'". Of course, they would also do this on hills. And the older they got, the more weight you were pullin'......oh the legs would burn.

There is hill we also called "puka-my-guts" hill. Hard to get to the top of and you felt like puking your guts out pulling the kid to the top. But they sure loved the ride down. That is a memory forever engrained in my mind.

JG

STinGa

· #16 · Aug 19, 2004

My 2

My two kiddos really enjoy heading out to the local trails with me. I have a 4 year old who rides on a trail a bike and a 5 year old on her mini mtb.

I alternate my oldest's riding location between riding in the back and then leading, so she can watch my lines and then so I can watch her line choices. When she is following, I constantly hear "Daaaad, Sam's not pedaling!"

Here is a pic from the Lock 4 trail, just north of Nashville, Tn.

Here is another from Tallulah Falls State Park...North Ga.

Gotta love sharing the love of the outdoors!!

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dan(YELL)

Discussion Starter · #17 · Aug 19, 2004

njmtbbg said:
My kids beg to go to the playground to ride around these little circles. I feel like the father duckling and his little ducklings waddling up the street. I like the idea of a trail-a-bike but it would have to be a tandem (twins) or a triple (younger brother)

Dan - Thanks for the Great Glen advice. Cool to meet you.

B.

Hey Brian, very cool indeed. Great Glen was great this year.
Think you'll come back next year?

dan(YELL)

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 19, 2004

kid pix

Here she is, she is quite the diesel

Watching a little too much of the X games

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SSINGA

· #19 · Aug 19, 2004 (Edited)

The trail-a-bike is a great way to spend time with the kids and time on the trail sharing your "passion". My 4 year old loves going out for rides and always makes me stop pedaling so he can push both of us! His favorite thing is spotting the wildlife. Last time we saw 2 does less than 10 feet away from us. My 2.5 yr old just figured out his pedaling rythym and no longer confuses braking and pedaling, so I'm hoping that by next summer he can move to the trail-a-bike and the older one can pilot his own bike.

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Rider Mel

· #20 · Aug 19, 2004

Great thread!

I love the "family" riding shots. Here's one of the two ladies in my life. Check out my daughter wearing Mom's gloves and glasses!

Cheers!

Mel

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