Boy wants to cycle to school
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Thats some distance. My lad does about 3 miles a day. Ended up buying a second hand bike for the school run and not his good MTB.
Cycling Dan
Cycle Crazy
I know im not 13 but i cycle 3 miles to and back from school(6th form whatever). Saves me £14 a week i can spend on drink(unlikely= parents job :P) and games mostly new cycling stuff.
I use my roadie. Focus Variado 2.0. Although I have a £80 lock for it. It some thieves tried my last lock and failed on a epic scale - twice.On both occasions they nicked someone else s bike which a poorer lock. Anyhow got a new lock and not had any trouble since. Also the coppers got the thieves so np there anymore.
I use my roadie. Focus Variado 2.0. Although I have a £80 lock for it. It some thieves tried my last lock and failed on a epic scale - twice.On both occasions they nicked someone else s bike which a poorer lock. Anyhow got a new lock and not had any trouble since. Also the coppers got the thieves so np there anymore.
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
got to encourage it
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
The only issues we've had is with other kids in the high school. His school bike cost me £50 and another £50 or so to replace the chain, shifters and freewheel. It is a Ridgeback MX24 which has a retail of over £230 so is decent, but it's a matt grey so doesn't stand out. At school though, the bike has been kicked by other kids, and we've lost a decent d-lock after my son forgot to lock the D back onto the sheffield stand, so the kids chucked one part of the lock, leavig the locking mechanism. Since then we just use a basic Knog cable lock - secure enough as the cycle shed gets locked during the school day.
The bike has had the odd mechanical - usually shifting off the front granny chainring as they are cheap mechs, but my son hasn't yet got the hang of putting the chain on - usually ends up in a rant as his other bike doesn't do that (also much more expensive and newish).
The bike has had the odd mechanical - usually shifting off the front granny chainring as they are cheap mechs, but my son hasn't yet got the hang of putting the chain on - usually ends up in a rant as his other bike doesn't do that (also much more expensive and newish).
I found my boy is a fair weather rider to college. I bought a triban 3 last year .... He promptly comandeered it 
Encourage him all you can - cycling and sports in general is very good for young people. Keeps them away from other less desirable attractions such as smoking,drugs & alchohol.
Encourage him all you can - cycling and sports in general is very good for young people. Keeps them away from other less desirable attractions such as smoking,drugs & alchohol.
vickster
Squire
Surbiton, Tolworth, Stoneleigh, into Nonsuch Park, back way from Cheam (Upper Mulgrave) to Sutton?
Kingston to New Malden and Worcester Park through to Cheam is horrible in the rush hour (although worse in the opposite direction). There is a cycle lane but it's very broken up and pretty much ignored by drivers. I ride it on my 'leisure' rides but at the weekend mostly and it's never really a pleasurable experience
Kingston to New Malden and Worcester Park through to Cheam is horrible in the rush hour (although worse in the opposite direction). There is a cycle lane but it's very broken up and pretty much ignored by drivers. I ride it on my 'leisure' rides but at the weekend mostly and it's never really a pleasurable experience
Davidc
Guru
- Location
- Somerset UK
Long time ago but I used to cycle the 7 miles each way from Cheam to Croydon typically 4 days a week if the weather was half decent.
The distance and tiredness was never an issue. At that age if you're fit you don't even notice a 10 mile ride, any less is no more than getting the bike out of the shed. The biggest benefit seen by a teenager is that it's a lot quicker than public transport, more reliable, and more consistent. The biggest real benefits are probably very rarely being off school ill, and improved fitness and strength.
The route vickster describes is one I use a bit when at my mother's. Much more pleasant than the road through Worcester Park.
Being a parent you're certain to be worried about traffic hazards, don't forget though that In those far off times when I used to ride to Croydon we used to kill about 3 times and injure 5 times as many cyclists as now. My parents eventually got used to the idea that when I went to school by bike I turned up again in the afternoon!
Have to comment though that 3 weeks ago I rode Cheam to Kingston on 3 days using the main road through Worcester Park then the cycle route through South Lane and the tunnel to arrive at 8:45. The only issue I had with traffic was that it was slow and got in the way. Nothing's changed in 4 decades. (Sadly the teenagers going to school overtake me now, that's different).
The distance and tiredness was never an issue. At that age if you're fit you don't even notice a 10 mile ride, any less is no more than getting the bike out of the shed. The biggest benefit seen by a teenager is that it's a lot quicker than public transport, more reliable, and more consistent. The biggest real benefits are probably very rarely being off school ill, and improved fitness and strength.
The route vickster describes is one I use a bit when at my mother's. Much more pleasant than the road through Worcester Park.
Being a parent you're certain to be worried about traffic hazards, don't forget though that In those far off times when I used to ride to Croydon we used to kill about 3 times and injure 5 times as many cyclists as now. My parents eventually got used to the idea that when I went to school by bike I turned up again in the afternoon!
Have to comment though that 3 weeks ago I rode Cheam to Kingston on 3 days using the main road through Worcester Park then the cycle route through South Lane and the tunnel to arrive at 8:45. The only issue I had with traffic was that it was slow and got in the way. Nothing's changed in 4 decades. (Sadly the teenagers going to school overtake me now, that's different).
Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
In a few years he'll want to borrow your car ............
Davidc
Guru
- Location
- Somerset UK
Please get these things right!
Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Ehhh?
[QUOTE 2412732, member: 1314"]I'll see how he does. He may only do it once or twice a week. And that route can't be done tired as wits are needed. Having said that, he has cycled to Richmond Park and done a circuit with a mate last year, which was about 7 / 8 miles. Ease him into it and, after all, I don't want to discourage him.[/quote]
I miss cycling through Richmond Park, too far away from where I live now...
I miss cycling through Richmond Park, too far away from where I live now...
Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
Well done and good luck.
Can he fix a puncture on the go? 6 miles is a long way to push a bike and he wouldnt want to be late for school now, would he?
Can he fix a puncture on the go? 6 miles is a long way to push a bike and he wouldnt want to be late for school now, would he?
