10 Tips for Family Cycling

Every weekend, most entire families go out to local parks and lakes to explore areas that have never explored for their weekend activities. Cycling has never been as popular as it is today. Bike riding together as a family is a great way to bond outdoors and makes exercise fun for all. To learn how to get your kids off on the right foot, or pedal, it may spend time and energy but you can treat it as a form of exercise for individual riders only for families cycling together and reaping the benefits. Bicycle tours are a great way for your family to explore a region, a country or a new memory. Together you felt new and happy for a new terrain, the sights and smells, history, culture, and people. You all can experience that isn't always possible from a train or rental car. Here are 10 tips you should know for family cycling. Hope these will help.

Bikes are vehicles: A bicycle is considered a vehicle, and you and your child both have to follow the traffic laws, signs and signals which apply to cars and drivers. Also, familiarize your child with rules of the road. Rules of the road include such things as using hand signals, how to position your bike in the road when turning right, left or straight, obeying traffic lights and signs, dismounting when crossing in crosswalks to let pedestrians know when you’re passing and slowing down at intersections and railroad crossings to ensure it’s safe to cross.
Keep instructions brief and review basic skills before the start: Kids learn better by doing instead of listening. Keep instructions brief, easy-to-know and to the point, so they can learn through the experience of riding bikes. If your child is still a bit uncomfortable on a bike, start by practicing braking slowly. Eventually, move into using hand signals and passing other riders on the trail.
Always Have a Plan and A Plan B
Schedule riding time around meals and naps. Low blood sugar coupled with fatigue can turn a family joyride into meltdown, so you should notice that. Kids and some spouses are faster than experienced cyclists, so carry extra food and water. Communicate your plan to the whole family so no one has to ask. But you may have a secret backup plan: If you’re riding dirt, find a trail with loops of manageable distances or multiple bail-out points close to a road. If you ride a trip to a new town, be ready to pull over if you spot something that looks fun. If all else fails, leave your spouse with the kids while you get the car.


When starting out, keep the end in mind. In this case, your goal is a child who thinks that it is fun! The goal is not distance, speed, endurance or perfect technique. The goal is just fun, even if it means frequent stops and snacks so that they’re eager to participate the next time around.

So, what are the key ingredients to making bike riding fun and helping your child develop a positive attitude toward the sport? For many older kids, just riding the bike is fun in itself.

Be alert
Tell kids to use their eyes and ears to stop, look, and listen to avoid potential hazards such as cars, potholes, curbs and broken glass. Also help hone their powers of observation by pointing out interesting sites along the way like animals, road signs, creeks, and trees. When crossing the street or intersections, always look ways and try to make eye contact with drivers to make sure they have seen you. Be careful to the car doors opening suddenly from parked cars. Also always stay visible: Wear bright colors, make sure you have both front and rear reflectors, and mount a bell or horn to be heard in traffic.

Pick RewardingBike Routes
As the ride might be dangerous for you, your family may need plans and a more visible payoff. It would be very exciting to ride around every bend or an ice cream shop or a playground. If it’s a safe route, just let the kids lead you. They’ll set a pace and perform best for them, and you’ll be able to keep an eye on their fatigue level and mental and physical situation when riding behind. It can provide more fun by breaking the ride into segments, or turn it into a scavenger hunt. Keep a few special treats in your jersey pocket to share when the group reaches its goal.
Helmet fit: Bike helmets are mandatory. You should wear them tight without rocking side to side or back and forth. Helmets should stay level and low on the forehead with about 1-2 finger widths above the eyebrow. Side straps should form a V under each ear, and the chin strap should be snug, allowing room for no more than 1-2 fingers between chin and strap. Do the yawn test; ask your child to yawn big and the helmet should pull down on the head. Make sure you model good helmet habits by wearing yours, too.
Saddle height: Kids tend to the low their seats when riding out, but make sure their leg is almost fully extended in the 6 o’clock position, reaching the bottom of the pedal rotation enough to get power when pedaling.
Clothing: you should help kids to dress in layers so they can easily take off a sweatshirt when they fell too hot or add a rain jacket if it starts to rain a little. Remember to try to wear tapered sweat pants or tuck pants in socks in case of fabric getting stuck in the bike gears.
Check bike equipment: check and ensure plenty of air in the tires, the brakes working and enough lube for the chain to work properly. Prepare safety tools to make sure a small first-aid kit to patch up any minor scrapes, also a bike tool kit is needed to change a flat tire and you should learn how to fix a slipped bike chain.
Be positive: your enthusiasm is contagious. Offer kids lots of specific praise for their effort, such as “You’re pedaling smoothly,” or “I like the way you’re riding safely” or “so interested to ride with you!” you should cooperate with your children’s movement, and observe what your child might need throughout the ride. If they’re lagging behind, complaining or sweat a lot, it’s probably time to have a rest. If they’re riding right and looking satisfied, ask if they want to go further, and also you can add more challenge or continue the ride as before.


Additionally, it is best to avoid the high traffic areas or terrain of superior riding level of anyone in the family. If your own neighborhood is not safe, consider loading up your bikes and traveling to a safer area. The best riding experience is one to make everyone comfortable, relaxed, and safe. Remember that everyone should stay together.

ADVANTAGE OF FAMILY CYCLING

There are many obvious health advantages associated with family riding.

Everyone in the family should possess a bike. In term of the cost, after this initial expense, cycling is a completely free activity;
Everyone needs to do exercise, yet few are willing to do it simply because it is not fun. Cycling is actually fun exercise for the family member, as it is quite stimulating. When you and your family members are riding out, boredom should never come to trouble you;
Many cities have designated bike lanes, and some parks have special areas in which bikers can ride;
Another advantage of cycling with your family is having the opportunity to spend time together. These are times that your children will remember well into adulthood, and when you couple the good feelings with exercise, you help them to form good habits.