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Christmas day

oxomanoxoman Posts: 11,741
edited January 2014 in Family & kids cycling forum
Guess what my 8yr old said when i suggested leaving his new toys and all the chocolate.
YES
Surprised me
Too many bikes according to Mrs O.

Posts

  • fatsmokerfatsmoker Posts: 585
    Oxoman. I've been toying with getting my eldest (9 years old) a road bike, but some things hold me back, so a few questions if I may:
    Do you ride in front, or him, or 2 abreast? (I worry about my lad's road sense soemtimes so constantly talk to him about what to do and what he's doing well (which is tiring!)).
    How far can he go before he moans he's tired?
    Do you or your wife/gf worry when you're on the road with him?
    Do you turn back when he starts moaning he's tired or before?

    Ta, Mike
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 11,741
    Firstly i always ride shotgun behind him when on the road, if trails and cycle paths available he goes on those. The roads we ride on tend to be quiet so not to bad. Occasionally my eldest at 14 will turn out with us and ride in front just to give the youngest an easy wheel to follow. I am always talking to him and pointing out the dangers ie side roads etc, he is slowly recognising these himself and taking action before i need to tell him or indeed telling me. Don't really get any moans from him about being tired, he normally rides his MTB from our home to the local hicks lodge cycle centre cross country most of the way and then around the blue route and back which is between 16 and 22 miles route dependant, he has a lunch break in the middle and has done this for the last 2 years or so. Road wise we have only done about 18 miles or so as the bike is still a tad big for him. Yes we worry both on and off road as they can be unpredictable at times, infact he has stopped suddenly a couple of times when myself or the wife haven't been able to react in time. Luckily he bounces well most of the time. As to turning back we always go as far as he wants to and he tends to not want to stop so not really a problem. Hope this helps, good luck with your eldest. PS he started riding with me on the road and XC on a Adams tagalong bike from about 3 years old, used to sit behind me like lord muck in his hi viz top and flag.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • fatsmokerfatsmoker Posts: 585
    Cheers for that. We've done Hick's Lodge a few times and he loves the more advanced trail.
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 11,741
    We live just over the Border in Swad so its an easy place to get to for us, He wants to do Cannock and Sherwood with me as well, not sure he's good enough for that yet.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • fatsmokerfatsmoker Posts: 585
    Cannock has a family route but I haven't been.
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 11,741
    That's the problem i have and he wants to do the red run not the family trail, might try him at rutland first.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • othelloothello Posts: 577
    The problem is, trail grading is really subjective. Making it hard to know what is suitable or not. A blue at one trail centre might be the equivalent to a red at another, and vice-a-versa.
    Blogging about junior road bikes http://junior-road-bikes.tumblr.com
  • fatsmokerfatsmoker Posts: 585
    Been to Rutland - thought it was actually a bit censored . The path is horrible and not very scenic - at least the section we went on before we decided to turn round.
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