Kids on bikes. Decent ride lenght?
Discussion
OK, I know how long a piece of string etc! But we as a family have tried to ride as much as poss, but it has been difficult as with a very young kid, safe places to all go is limited.
But we have discovered a few networks of cycle tracks, and forestry places now, and my daughter at just 9 is really doing well on her 24 inch MTB, and can ride off road tracks, rocky stuff, narrow towpaths etc, really well.
We are all on a fitness drive, but don't know how much to aim for or push for ride length wise. We've done 15 miles on off road forestry tracks, gentle but with some long climb sections and my girl does ok on them. It is a 5mile loop and we break each loop for a bit, then do another. I'd like to think we can all do another couple of loops, but then I think back to me as a kid, and the thought of doing 25 miles in a session when i was just 9 would have been bonkers, and we LIVED on our bikes.
Of course, it was Choppers and BMXs for me, so the bike does make a big difference.
So I am thinking 15 miles is pretty good, for her, if not, and other kids are regularly doing more, I'd like to push her a little bit more, as she is getting really good on the bike technique wise and it may be something she gets to be really good at.
But don't want to push her and put her off!!
Speed wise, we only bimble along as a family, with rests and lunch stops etc, I think it was just less than 2 hours to do the 15 miles, I suspect about 10mph average ride speed. Which I think is okish for off road on MTBs?
But we have discovered a few networks of cycle tracks, and forestry places now, and my daughter at just 9 is really doing well on her 24 inch MTB, and can ride off road tracks, rocky stuff, narrow towpaths etc, really well.
We are all on a fitness drive, but don't know how much to aim for or push for ride length wise. We've done 15 miles on off road forestry tracks, gentle but with some long climb sections and my girl does ok on them. It is a 5mile loop and we break each loop for a bit, then do another. I'd like to think we can all do another couple of loops, but then I think back to me as a kid, and the thought of doing 25 miles in a session when i was just 9 would have been bonkers, and we LIVED on our bikes.
Of course, it was Choppers and BMXs for me, so the bike does make a big difference.
So I am thinking 15 miles is pretty good, for her, if not, and other kids are regularly doing more, I'd like to push her a little bit more, as she is getting really good on the bike technique wise and it may be something she gets to be really good at.
But don't want to push her and put her off!!
Speed wise, we only bimble along as a family, with rests and lunch stops etc, I think it was just less than 2 hours to do the 15 miles, I suspect about 10mph average ride speed. Which I think is okish for off road on MTBs?
Edited by s3fella on Thursday 8th September 16:11
Probably a bit late for your particular situation but I bought one of these for mine and my son's bike: http://www.followmetandem.co.uk/
Pretty good as he can ride independently but if either a road section dictates or he says he's had enough I can quickly hook him onto my bike and tow him the rest of the way. It's a great thing to have, only downside is it's pretty heavy but then I suppose it's keeping me fit as I have to lug it around while it's no in use.
To be honest I'm quite impressed that you can get a 9 year old to ride those sorts of distances and at those speeds. I'd just play it by ear and see what distances she can manage without too much complaint, as you say you don't want to suck the fun out of it
Could be a future Laura Trott in the making 
Pretty good as he can ride independently but if either a road section dictates or he says he's had enough I can quickly hook him onto my bike and tow him the rest of the way. It's a great thing to have, only downside is it's pretty heavy but then I suppose it's keeping me fit as I have to lug it around while it's no in use.
To be honest I'm quite impressed that you can get a 9 year old to ride those sorts of distances and at those speeds. I'd just play it by ear and see what distances she can manage without too much complaint, as you say you don't want to suck the fun out of it
Could be a future Laura Trott in the making C0ffin D0dger said:
Probably a bit late for your particular situation but I bought one of these for mine and my son's bike: http://www.followmetandem.co.uk/
Pretty good as he can ride independently but if either a road section dictates or he says he's had enough I can quickly hook him onto my bike and tow him the rest of the way. It's a great thing to have, only downside is it's pretty heavy but then I suppose it's keeping me fit as I have to lug it around while it's no in use.
To be honest I'm quite impressed that you can get a 9 year old to ride those sorts of distances and at those speeds. I'd just play it by ear and see what distances she can manage without too much complaint, as you say you don't want to suck the fun out of it Could be a future Laura Trott in the making
She is tall for her age. She's not super fit cardio wise and I don't think it is Laura Trott here, but does swim is picked for inter school swim gala each year, but she is not going to be a pro swimmer! She has a 30 min lesson once a week! So I dont think she is pro cycling material, but am pleased at how well she rides technically. Stood up, hop over logs, that sort of thing.Pretty good as he can ride independently but if either a road section dictates or he says he's had enough I can quickly hook him onto my bike and tow him the rest of the way. It's a great thing to have, only downside is it's pretty heavy but then I suppose it's keeping me fit as I have to lug it around while it's no in use.
To be honest I'm quite impressed that you can get a 9 year old to ride those sorts of distances and at those speeds. I'd just play it by ear and see what distances she can manage without too much complaint, as you say you don't want to suck the fun out of it
Could be a future Laura Trott in the making We did just 7 miles on a narrow tow path to local pub and back for breaky on Sunday and that was only average 5.8mph, but it is VERY narrow and lots of 1st and second gear stuff as is bumpy. We enjoyed our full english!
Don't get me wrong, we are not cycling mad, but enjoying it and me and missus got new bikes so are "enthused" at the moment.
I'm happy to encourage her and help her learn more. Maybe a few more steady 15miles with lunch and breaks, then try for a 20miler some time? I think the stopping not only helps obvious recovery, but with a kid, helps them relax and refocus, as they can get distracted.
We try to got to country parks and places with playgrounds, tree walks etc, to sweeten the deal!
Hope this is not a hijack, more of an homage to the OP but I am looking at getting in to cycling with my two boys (aged 8 and 9). My question is - where do people get routes from? We all have MTBs (well, I'm yet to pick mine up) so I'm after "off road" type routes, not road routes. To be more specific, we're after very mild off-road routes, certainly to begin with. Don't fancy featuring on Fail Army just yet.
We live in the Chiltern Valleys (near Great Missenden) so have some wonderful scenery around but I can't seem to find any routes that would be suitable. A lot of the roads around my are blind-cornered, single track roads and I know how people drive around them so I don't want my boys to be using them.
Any help would be most appreciated.
We live in the Chiltern Valleys (near Great Missenden) so have some wonderful scenery around but I can't seem to find any routes that would be suitable. A lot of the roads around my are blind-cornered, single track roads and I know how people drive around them so I don't want my boys to be using them.
Any help would be most appreciated.
Hi, try forestry commission places and even some national trust.
I think Wendover woods is not too far from you, there is some great MTB tracks round there.
We used to be in Northants, and used to go to Salcey Forest, Daventry country park and places like that. Theyre also quite good as whilst there are no cars, there are lots of peds and pushchairs cominig toward you, so it gets them used to some "traffic" and using bells etc, being polite then passing, saying hi etc!
Also, it may sound odd, but try Milton Keynes. Start at one of the lakes (Willen lake maybe? ) and you can ride for probably 200 miles odd without having to cross a road. Brilliant parks and "Redway" cycling tracks, jokes aside, it si proabbaly the best place ive even cycled with the family when we visited last year when camping.
Plus basing yourself somewhere where there is watersports, cafes and a big pub, helps with the incentive to ride back quick!
I think Wendover woods is not too far from you, there is some great MTB tracks round there.
We used to be in Northants, and used to go to Salcey Forest, Daventry country park and places like that. Theyre also quite good as whilst there are no cars, there are lots of peds and pushchairs cominig toward you, so it gets them used to some "traffic" and using bells etc, being polite then passing, saying hi etc!
Also, it may sound odd, but try Milton Keynes. Start at one of the lakes (Willen lake maybe? ) and you can ride for probably 200 miles odd without having to cross a road. Brilliant parks and "Redway" cycling tracks, jokes aside, it si proabbaly the best place ive even cycled with the family when we visited last year when camping.
Plus basing yourself somewhere where there is watersports, cafes and a big pub, helps with the incentive to ride back quick!
Landlord said:
Hope this is not a hijack, more of an homage to the OP but I am looking at getting in to cycling with my two boys (aged 8 and 9). My question is - where do people get routes from? We all have MTBs (well, I'm yet to pick mine up) so I'm after "off road" type routes, not road routes. To be more specific, we're after very mild off-road routes, certainly to begin with. Don't fancy featuring on Fail Army just yet.
We live in the Chiltern Valleys (near Great Missenden) so have some wonderful scenery around but I can't seem to find any routes that would be suitable. A lot of the roads around my are blind-cornered, single track roads and I know how people drive around them so I don't want my boys to be using them.
Any help would be most appreciated.
Heatmaps on Strava?We live in the Chiltern Valleys (near Great Missenden) so have some wonderful scenery around but I can't seem to find any routes that would be suitable. A lot of the roads around my are blind-cornered, single track roads and I know how people drive around them so I don't want my boys to be using them.
Any help would be most appreciated.
My son and I go out and simply 'explore' just like when we were kids, only he's stuck with his old man lol!
I took him on a 25 mile charity ride in May, he'd never ridden the road bike before but got round fine averaging 12.7mph (his bike was a heavy claud butler kids roadie)
He's 10 years old, but fitter than most 10 year olds i'd guess (he swam 100km in a week at the end of the summer hols!)
He loves being on the MTBs though and just wandering about looking for interesting places to ride (and of course he still loves a play park if we come across one)
My daughter did 10 milers on a single speed BSO at 6yo.
She's 8yo now and has a Ridgeback MX20 - not light but easy-for-kids brakes and gears. She has done an 18 miler but she wasn't too happy about it so to ensure I don't put her off, we stick to under 15 milers now.
The other trick is to stop often for drinks and snacks. And ride with friends - other kids make the rides more attractive to my kids.
She's 8yo now and has a Ridgeback MX20 - not light but easy-for-kids brakes and gears. She has done an 18 miler but she wasn't too happy about it so to ensure I don't put her off, we stick to under 15 milers now.
The other trick is to stop often for drinks and snacks. And ride with friends - other kids make the rides more attractive to my kids.
At only 9 years old and how you describe her, I'd say 15 miles is above average.
Now unless you are a competitive dad and want to push her to compete I'd say that distances are fine and you just need to make the bits in the middle varied and fun. Different places, terrain, times of day etc.
Going further to 20, 25 and beyond won't neccessarily be better. Sounds like she is learning and improving doing what you are doing. I woulnd't focus on the distance more on the content.
Now unless you are a competitive dad and want to push her to compete I'd say that distances are fine and you just need to make the bits in the middle varied and fun. Different places, terrain, times of day etc.
Going further to 20, 25 and beyond won't neccessarily be better. Sounds like she is learning and improving doing what you are doing. I woulnd't focus on the distance more on the content.
The_Jackal said:
At only 9 years old and how you describe her, I'd say 15 miles is above average.
Now unless you are a competitive dad and want to push her to compete I'd say that distances are fine and you just need to make the bits in the middle varied and fun. Different places, terrain, times of day etc.
Going further to 20, 25 and beyond won't neccessarily be better. Sounds like she is learning and improving doing what you are doing. I woulnd't focus on the distance more on the content.
Yes, that's what I am thinking. She gets lots of encouragement and is doing very well I think. Bearing in mind my longest single ride on road bike is only 33 miles, I'm not a competitive dad, cycling wise!Now unless you are a competitive dad and want to push her to compete I'd say that distances are fine and you just need to make the bits in the middle varied and fun. Different places, terrain, times of day etc.
Going further to 20, 25 and beyond won't neccessarily be better. Sounds like she is learning and improving doing what you are doing. I woulnd't focus on the distance more on the content.
We do mix it al up a bit and try to have lunch out, either picnic or pub / café, which keeps us all interested, if slightly missing point of keeping fit!
I don't think her and mum enjoyed the tricky tow path much, but I was impressed by them both as it was quite tricky in places, so I think it was good practice for us all. We have a decent enough trail 9 miles round a couple of lakes planned tomorrow all being well. Nice pub on way too.
My 8 year old and 6 year old boys are really keen cyclists and super competitive about ride lengths. Where we live is hilly; the big one can manage 10 miles no problem if we take it easy on the gradients and he gets fitter, stronger and quicker with every ride. The little one has a smaller bike with no gears and finds it a little harder. We're lucky in that there are loads of local routes which I've used for years and it's easy to construct good loops using quiet-ish roads and of-road trails. The kids' enthusiasm has reinvigorated my own interest in cycling; they are already badgering me about where we are going tomorrow and how many miles it will be.
Well we did just over 10 miles today on cycle paths and off road trails, it s
tted it down with rain, truly awful, we got filthy and wet through and all loved it! We even stopped at 8 miles when we were drenched and went on this brilliant like 8 man rope swing thing in some deserted play park, it was like the end of theworld weather wise, but we were just all laughing our heads off on this excellent swing!
Glad to get back to the van though. I said how it would be great if we had a motorhome, could get back from that, stick the kettle on, jump through the shower and cook up some corned beef hash!! haaha, it's got me thinking!
Pretty chuffed with her today, no complaining at all, struggling into driving rain at times and she just plods on big smile on her face!!
tted it down with rain, truly awful, we got filthy and wet through and all loved it! We even stopped at 8 miles when we were drenched and went on this brilliant like 8 man rope swing thing in some deserted play park, it was like the end of theworld weather wise, but we were just all laughing our heads off on this excellent swing! Glad to get back to the van though. I said how it would be great if we had a motorhome, could get back from that, stick the kettle on, jump through the shower and cook up some corned beef hash!! haaha, it's got me thinking!
Pretty chuffed with her today, no complaining at all, struggling into driving rain at times and she just plods on big smile on her face!!
Interesting thread this.
We live on the Isle of Wight and my daughter (just turned seven) will complete 12 miles on cycle tracks without too much issue (all flat). I haven't pushed it further, as we usually have my wife (slow! ) and son (3 years old and on a trailgator) coming with us. (Currently she rides a Specialised Hotrock with 20" road tyres).
She will also cycle 8 miles with some climbs in the ride at a decent pace and a few 'stops'. She doesn't seem particularly tired after any of the rides (only directly after a climb).
I was considering doing the Isle of Wight Randonnee which is 55km long, in May next year with her. We would take it at an obviously easy pace and probably stop half way for some lunch. Much of the course is cyclepaths that we use anyway. I am now thinking, whilst reading this thread, this is a little ambitious for a seven year old???? (we will obviously have my wife as a bailout plan.....)
Hope these experiences are useful for someone? If we do attempt the Randonnee next year I will let you all know how we get on - I was going to start doing longer rides going into the New Year and stick with the current distances until then......
Mike
We live on the Isle of Wight and my daughter (just turned seven) will complete 12 miles on cycle tracks without too much issue (all flat). I haven't pushed it further, as we usually have my wife (slow!
) and son (3 years old and on a trailgator) coming with us. (Currently she rides a Specialised Hotrock with 20" road tyres). She will also cycle 8 miles with some climbs in the ride at a decent pace and a few 'stops'. She doesn't seem particularly tired after any of the rides (only directly after a climb).
I was considering doing the Isle of Wight Randonnee which is 55km long, in May next year with her. We would take it at an obviously easy pace and probably stop half way for some lunch. Much of the course is cyclepaths that we use anyway. I am now thinking, whilst reading this thread, this is a little ambitious for a seven year old???? (we will obviously have my wife as a bailout plan.....)
Hope these experiences are useful for someone? If we do attempt the Randonnee next year I will let you all know how we get on - I was going to start doing longer rides going into the New Year and stick with the current distances until then......
Mike
Landlord said:
Hope this is not a hijack, more of an homage to the OP but I am looking at getting in to cycling with my two boys (aged 8 and 9). My question is - where do people get routes from? We all have MTBs (well, I'm yet to pick mine up) so I'm after "off road" type routes, not road routes. To be more specific, we're after very mild off-road routes, certainly to begin with. Don't fancy featuring on Fail Army just yet.
We live in the Chiltern Valleys (near Great Missenden) so have some wonderful scenery around but I can't seem to find any routes that would be suitable. A lot of the roads around my are blind-cornered, single track roads and I know how people drive around them so I don't want my boys to be using them.
Any help would be most appreciated.
I am the other side of the hill to you and bought a couple of books with routes in the Chilterns and combine that with a map. My 11yr old and I recently found some great tracks (very easy) around Ashridge and there is also Tring Park which links up to routes which are quiet roads. Wendover Woods itself is also good and you might like to try and sneak your boys onto the pump track at Aston Hill (Ranger will charge you £7) which will teach everyone techniques applicable to all of your riding. (I am told).We live in the Chiltern Valleys (near Great Missenden) so have some wonderful scenery around but I can't seem to find any routes that would be suitable. A lot of the roads around my are blind-cornered, single track roads and I know how people drive around them so I don't want my boys to be using them.
Any help would be most appreciated.
Bridleways on the OS map are good and if you are prepared to push the odd bit then you can get quite a few routes from where you are.
OP - to answer the question, I find 5 miles or so along the canals with only a little uphill is all my 8yr old daughter wants to do, but my Son (11) managed 26 miles last week off road. 5+ hours in the rain mind! Careful what you wish for!
Landlord said:
My question is - where do people get routes from? We all have MTBs (well, I'm yet to pick mine up) so I'm after "off road" type routes, not road routes. To be more specific, we're after very mild off-road routes, certainly to begin with. Don't fancy featuring on Fail Army just yet.
It's a case of trial and error. My kids are 11yo boy and 8yo girl. We've been riding non-road routes for about 6 years, and we've found some great places but we are prepared to drive to the start. We make a day of it - and drag other families along with us if we can. Take food, and drinks for both the car after the ride, and for the backpacks during the ride.I've made a list of great family routes but they really are scattered across the whole country from South Wales to Devon and York. Most are converted railways. Some of the "OK" routes are quite local to me - look out for Greenways - they're usually flat and well maintained, and have useful car parks.
We also look out for close city rides - check out the Sky Rides. They're usually good, and attract thousands of other riders.
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