Touring with kids

[Moodyman]

Hello - I'm thinking of doing some short overnight tours around the North of England in May /June. Probably be cycling around 15-30 miles a day at a leisurely pace for 2-3 days.

I'm quite fit and would have no issues with this, BUT am thinking of taking my 8 year old son on his MTB. I know that he'll love the idea of sleeping in a tent and the cycling, but is it too much to expect an 8 year old to have the legs for this sort of a distance. We've done short rides before - 4/5 miles and he's been okay with those, but I'm worried that the distances mentioned may be too much.

Anyone else ever toured with younger children? If so, any advice would be great.

Thanks!

 

[Gareth]

You'll be alright; its surprising how much go an 8 year old can have on a bike.

 

[andym]

Depends a bit on the kid. Might be 'go-for-it' on Day 1 and then a bit 'been-there-done-that' on Day 3. Maybe a shorter weekend trip to test the water? Possibly a route with the option of catching the train back if Day 3 is a bit too much.

 

[arallsopp]

A couple I used to ride with had a steel tether that linked a child's (complete) bike to an adult's seat stem. Like the tagalong, but independent of the rear bike.

They had a little girl, maybe 8 years old, who'd tail along with assistance when necessary, and amble ahead when not. Seemed to work very well, and wasn't visibly cumbersome when removed.

It was a Bromley Cyclists ride, so maybe Ianrauk or Steve(?) knows more on this.

 

[arallsopp]

Here you go. It was nothing like this.

 

[Moodyman]

Thanks for that Arallsopp. I've seen this before, but didn't want the front wheel lifting off the floor. It's supposed to be uncomfortable for longer rides.

I'm leaning towards doing a couple of day tours of 15-20 miles and seeing how they go. Like AndyM says, being close to train stations is a good idea. There's plenty of these around the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, which is where we'll be cycling.

 

[Cathryn]

Being a local you know this, but the Dales are flipping hilly and if you do your regular mileage in those hills, you might find it much harder than anticipated. I did a 40 miler last year in the Dales and was absolutely shattered whereas I could do up to 60 comfortably (ish) in less hilly circumstances.

 

[Moodyman]

True Cathryn. This is why I'll be choosing the relatively flattish routes to avoid the big hills.

By the way, have never toured the Dales on bike. What are the routes like, I mean are they mostly quiet roads/cycle paths or mostly offroad?

 

[ufkacbln]

Short spells in the saddle with breaks and where possible interesting stops - breaks up the distance into easily manageable sections.

 

[Cathryn]

True Cathryn. This is why I'll be choosing the relatively flattish routes to avoid the big hills.

By the way, have never toured the Dales on bike. What are the routes like, I mean are they mostly quiet roads/cycle paths or mostly offroad?

The cycling I've done up there is mainly on quiet roads. There aren't loads of roads there, and they can get busyish, but feel very safe and there are often lovely quiet stretches. My favourite stretch is from Ingleton to Dent down the back road. Goes through Deepdale. It's hard work but breathtaking. You feel miles from anywhere.