Kids Cycling

[The Dwaff Family]

Hello, please be gentle, i'm not only new on here but have no clue about bikes or cycling really(I hope to change this though)

I have 3 kids, DS1 12, DD8 and DS2 5. The older two have had bikes but only pottering about on and not that often, but our DS2 learnt to ride 4 weeks ago but is completely different! He just wants to cycle and cycle and do nothing else. Has been fantastic to see and we fully support and encourage, it has now inspired us to do more too!

I was just wondering, at what age should I start letting him go on the roads with dad or myself following?? He really is very good already with control. manouvering, can look round himself whilst keeping balance etc and shows very good safety sense. Would you all say he is too young? Or to dangerous? I would trust him far more with road sense etc than I would my DD who's 8!

He's doing the Tour De Vale 15 mile cycle which will be on roads or cycle paths(will be marshalled, signed,plenty cyclists about), or would you recommend not to? I am inclined to take him on some roads but not being a cyclist I don't want to do something you more experienced people would not. I am only thinking of quieter roads, no major or busy ones.

 

[mark barker]

My 6 year old daughter rides on the roads and she hasn't been bothered by it at all. I'd recommend finding a local cycling instructor and maybe booking a family riding session which will show you how to ride safely as a group and how you can control the other road users around you.

 

[The Dwaff Family]

Thanks for the reply, is good to hear of others doing so, puts my mind at rest a little
I have us alll booked onto a course for next month, although OH is pretty good on a bike, did it alot oas a kid and young adult aswell, but I have none really. Not sure I would be confident taking my DD out on the road as she struggles with spatial awareness/reasoning and thinking ahead, or looking,signalling etc would no sit well with her, whereas our DS2 is so completely different!

We joined him into a Go-Ride club 2 weeks ago and he loves it, showed great control round corners, weaving in and out of cones, riding in pairs round bends etc etc with no problem. He's so just natural at it! Does 4/5 miles twice in the week and he did 14/15 miles this morning in nasty windy and drizzly, cold weather.

I have looked at as much info online as possible for road safety, talked about reverse lights on cars, going round a parked car etc, other road stuff he already knows from me drumming it into them since they were born when walking!!

 

[funnymummy]

My son has just turned 7 & has been riding his own bike on the roads for about 10 months. Prior to that he spent several years on a Pashley UPlus 2 with his brother, so had picked up lots of 'knowledge' and confidence.
I ride behind him, firmly in primary, often maybe even a little wider if i feel the traffic is fast. The only thing I worry about is right turns! On a quiet car free road it's ok, but in busy traffic we pull over on the left & walk accross when clear.
If you are going to let him cycle on roads then you need to lay some ground rules first, work out signals to use to each other, on a few occasions my son hasn't heard me calling him, so 3 pings on my bell means he has to stop. I have an industrial estate close to my house - Before his first real ride out, I took him round there on a Sunday when it was all quiet so he could practise signalling & other manouveres, explained road markings & signs to him
And as for the ride - Go for it, a month after getting his wheels we rode an Evans Ride it, just under 20 miles & loved it
Good Luck & I hope your son loves cycling as much as mine does xx

 

[The Dwaff Family]

Some great advice there, I particularly like the idea of another signal incase of not hearing you vocally! I managed to take him to a cul-de-sac last week a few times to show him about approaching the give way lines, signalling etc, he's pretty clued up and listens well.

He lives and breathes it like your boys! Weather was terrible today yet he still carried on and did 14/15 miles and he's on a 13kg 14" lump of steel that belonged to his older brother, he won't believe how much nice it will be in a weeks time and he receives his Islabike! He's 6 in 3 weeks yet all he wants is cycling clothes, a hydration bag and perhaps some warhammer!

Edited to say: He has very bad eczema on his hands and they are often very sore indeed, never stops him cycling though but I am keen to know if there is a company out there that specialises in tiny bike gloves with decent materials and padding, any advice?

 

[Andy_R]

he won't believe how much nice it will be in a weeks time and he receives his Islabike!

+1 on the Islabike.....fantastic little machines

as for eczema on hands try chamois cream, provided he isn't allergic to lanolin. if he is, then try epaderm which is made of emulisfying wax and yellow parrafin (no fragrances etc.)

Son no 1 has a 24" beinn and lives on it!

 

[funnymummy]

He lives and breathes it like your boys! Weather was terrible today yet he still carried on and did 14/15 miles and he's on a 13kg 14" lump of steel that belonged to his older brother, he won't believe how much nice it will be in a weeks time and he receives his Islabike! He's 6 in 3 weeks yet all he wants is cycling clothes, a hydration bag and perhaps some warhammer!

LOL!! Sounds just like my boy!!
I bought him a bike last year, I was looking at Islabikes, but wasn't sure if he'd like cycling solo, so settled on a Raleigh, it's heavy & got lumpy tyres, but figured if he could master that i'd get him an Isla for Christmas this year.
And it was his birthday 2 weeks ago...On his list was
A Foska Jersey (skull & crossbones)
Proper shorts (He got baggys, with padded liner)
Hydration bag (Got him the Deuter kids bag)
Proper Helmet (Spesh one like Mummys!)

#2 suffers from terrible excema, and I have tried just about everyhting on him - Chamois cream worked for him!!
Good Luck x

 

[downfader]

With eczema having suffered with it for years myself I find the best things for it are the steroid creams (on Doctor's advice, obviously) or e45 cream for general dryness. Its also beneficial to towel away sweat and drink plenty of fluids if doing exercise, as I find that keeps the flare ups at bay. Different people seem to respond differently to eczema and its various treatments.

With kids not being a parent I cant give any parenting advice. However I know the CTC and IAM offer cycle training, phoning either of them should put you in touch with either local instructors or some local advice. Also google for your local Cycle Campaign, as they tend to be affiliated - some even organise family rides.

http://www.ctc.org.uk/
http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=5116

http://www.iam.org.uk/welcome/welcometoiamcycling.html

Obviously I would recommend a brush up on the old Highway Code as it has changed a little since many people last read it. There is a cycling section too:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/Cyclists/index.htm

Welcome to the forums!

 

[mickle]

Aldi had kids gloves in recently.

 

[The Dwaff Family]

Thanks everyone. We already see specialists in Oxford for his skin and have just about every cream going, every steroid going and his hands still end up being infected,crusty and little fat fingers!! Back to Oxford again I think! He currently has some polaris gloves and luckily they don't irritate the skin, started to shower him and cream after every cycle ride now.

He went out again today and did a 9 mile ride along the canal, that's 30 miles he's covered this week


Downfader-He's just joined a local Go-Ride club and getting some good training in, will ask them about any local rides, I read somewhere that Skyride may be coming soon to Aylesbury and Milton Keynes, we are smack bang in the middle of the two so can't wait for that!!

4 weeks ago I had never heard of Islabike, Go-Ride, Skyride and loads of other things.

 

[funnymummy]

4 weeks ago I had never heard of Islabike, Go-Ride, Skyride and loads of other things.

Your lives will never be the same again... In a good way xx

 

[The Dwaff Family]

 

[The Dwaff Family]

Any recommendation on kids gloves with top range products used would be greatly appreciated, or what you use to make it more comfortable on the old hands whilst cycling.

 

[downfader]

Any recommendation on kids gloves with top range products used would be greatly appreciated, or what you use to make it more comfortable on the old hands whilst cycling.

Try leather mits with crochet wool for the backs of the hands. A couple of companies make them and my old dematologist used to recomment leather over artifical fibres. I don't know if you'll get kids sizes but its worth a try.Alternatively email a few manufacturers (Altura, Endura, Gore) and ask.

I also find that when I wash the cycle specific materials that I need half as much powder/detergent, and that you should avoid using the softeners as they intefere with wicking.

 

[funnymummy]

Oh bless him, that does look so sore XX
# 2 gets it down his leg, back & inside elbows, it's easy to keep it clean & put cream on those areas. Your sons hands look like my dads, he has some special cotton gloves that he wears (usualy at bedtime) he applies his cream then puts gloves on, it really hleps him, Maybe you could try this with your son?