Families who are already cycling and want more or to share the love
Recently I was asked for three suggestions for Christmas gift ideas for biking kids. But how to stop at three! Here are some ideas for all budgets (including no-budget) that will put a smile on the face of all kind of biking kids (and the not so young).
Do you need a bit of motivation, or some well reasoned selling points up your sleeve? Here are my top 10 answers to the question of “Why cycle with kids?
Riding the Hauraki Rail Trail as a family, from Thames to Te Aroha via Wahi. Part 1 – Planning our adventure.
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. Don’t let a bit of winter weather put you off getting out on your bike.
A Chariot CX2 cycle trailer was our major purchase when expecting our first child. After two children and six years of use we were sad to see it go. I made a photo slide show celebrating its usefulness:
We chose the ‘Chariot’ brand double trailer for its safety, versatility and protection. We used it extensively not only for cycling, but also as a jogging pram, single and double stroller and cargo trailer for errands around town. On outings, we’ve even put our daughters balance bike in the trailer with her, so she could self-propel from time to time. It was light and easy to tow. Our biggest accident with it was when we misjudged the track width and it jack-knifed off the trail and down a bank. Our child, although surprised, was unharmed (and thought the whole incident was a blast).
Width and length of the overall ‘rig’ are the main downside of trailers. Our local bike trail uses very narrow pinch point gates to discourage motorbikes. To get past we had to unhitch it and lift it over, which is definitely a two person job. As a stroller it was wide and not always easy to maneuver around shops and through doorways. We found that the disadvantages were outweighed by its versatility, durability, excellent weather protection and its gear/groceries carrying capacity.
What piece of family cycling equipment would you like to nominate for a hall of fame?
The sandwich technique is a handy recipe for riding with your kids in a way that will help you model, observe, coach and connect.
How to get into the right mindset when cycling with kids.
