Biking with kids – 8 ways to make it family fun adventure
Biking with kids is a great adventure, but also a big challenge. In order for it to be without surprises, you need to plan it properly, especially if your kid is a beginner little cyclist. From the place of departure, through the preparation of equipment, to the necessary cosmetics and accessories and route selection. Check out the best ways to plan your bike trips with your kids! Let’s make cycling a family-bonding activity.
Biking with kids is slightly different than a trip with adults. Children are not that tough, they have their own needs and are often unable to focus their attention for a long time. Of course, this does not mean that biking with kids is bad! This is a great opportunity for your kid to get to know the world and learn many things. If you want to spend your free time together in nature or have your kid learn through activity and play, biking with kids is the perfect solution.
How to prepare for biking with kids adventure?
If you do not have experience in planning biking with kids adventures, we suggest simply taking a shorter route than you’d normally take. The route can also be enhanced with various attractions, e.g. stopping at the playground or in the park – the routes we choose are ideal for trips with children, and their advantage is interesting places and attractions for children located within a short distance.
What to pay attention to when planning biking with kids?
- Availability of interesting places along the route where you can stop and rest
- Packing the right amount of things
- Means of transport for younger children (car seat, trailer) – is the surface properly adapted?
When planning for biking with kids, especially with the small ones (below 7), it is worth starting with choosing the destination of your trip. We recommend that you choose an easy route for the first time, without major gains, especially when your little ones are already riding a bike. The mountainous route may discourage them from further riding, and we want to spend a good time with our loved ones.
During the first biking trip with kids, especially small, you will check how you find yourself in the new conditions and whether this form of active leisure is suitable for you. It may turn out biking with kids is not for you and you definitely prefer a different type of rest. Or maybe, like us, you will love exploring the world on two wheels and only in this way will you want to explore it further.
When choosing bicycle paths for children, it is important that there are also child-friendly places on the route, whether it is a playground or other attraction that will allow the toddler to relax and take a break from cycling. These types of places can also be motivators for children who get bored of pedaling. It is good for young cyclists to always have a chosen destination, thanks to which we can be sure that until it is achieved, they will be happy to follow it.
At what age you can start biking with kids?
The first biking with kids trip can take place with a child of around one year old. It is around this time that his spine is properly shaped and rides become safe. Of course, you should take care of a suitable bike seat adapted to the child’s age. You can choose between front and rear seats. Which one to choose? Physiotherapists especially recommend rear seats, in which we provide the child with an appropriate position that reduces the load on the spine, as well as protection against wind.
An alternative to the seat is a trailer that protects very well against cold gusts and rain. We have a whole article about riding a bike with a baby carrier, here. The right equipment makes traveling with a child a pure pleasure!
How to stay safe when biking with kids?
When getting ready for biking with kids, you should not forget about helmets for the whole family. For children, it is best to choose one with an adjustment option, thanks to which they will last for a good few years. Also pay attention to the large number of vents that make wearing the helmet comfortable for a child, even on a hot day. And don’t forget about appearance – older children can be demanding in this matter! In addition, your biking with kids trip will become much more enjoyable if we provide children who are already cycling independently with cycling gloves. Thanks to them, even long routes will become comfortable and there will be no slippage of hands from the steering wheel or the formation of corns.
Best clothing suitable for biking with kids
Biking with kids adventure requires you to be prepared for every possibility – also when it comes to clothing. Take waterproof coats or raincoats just in case. You will certainly find those that will take up little space in your bag or backpack. Also, do not forget about protection against a sudden drop in temperature and against sun (P.S. we’ve covered sun protection issues in this article). Carry light fleece jumpers or a small toddler blanket. This can be useful especially during stops, during which it is sometimes cooler than when cycling. It is also worth getting a quick-drying towel in case of an unexpected trip along the lake shore or crossing a stream. It’s also always a good idea to pack an extra pair of socks.
How to comfortably pack all biking with kids essentials?
Biking with kids does not have to be difficult to organize, but it is impossible to avoid taking a few (and sometimes a dozen) necessary things. Like those you can’t do without, and those just in case. How to pack it all, and most importantly, how to fit it in comfortable bag? The most obvious solution seems to be a backpack, but it can be disturbing, especially when we have a lot of things and when we use a rear seat. However, the extraordinary comfort and capacity are distinguished by bicycle panniers. Their great advantage is the possibility of evenly distributing the weight on both sides.
What to take on a biking with kids trip?
When going for a biking trip with kids, do not forget to stock up on appropriate cosmetics. Products with sun filters are very important as they protect the skin from the harmful effects of sunlight. If you plan to travel by bike to places such as meadows, forests or even parks in spring and summer, be sure to protect yourself and your child from insect bites. After all, nobody likes to end up having a great fun covered in blisters from mosquito bites.
It is also necessary to take care of the right cosmetics for children. It is especially important to take the most practical ones. Among them, undoubtedly, there should be a protective + soothing cream that protects the child’s skin against the harmful effects of the environment, i.e. wind and cold. For older children who want to show independence, a light face and body cream, the light formula of which facilitates independent application, will be a good solution. The journey must also include unscented mouth and hand wipes, which help with all small crises – from sandy hands to problematic eating while traveling.
How to choose the best routes for biking with kids?
It is best to bet on routes leading through bicycle paths. We know, however, that it is not always possible, so we also recommend cycling through asphalt roads, which usually have little traffic – they are really comfortable to ride on. Gravel and field roads are also noteworthy. It is good if the bicycle routes lead rather through shaded places. Thanks to this, both us and the child will not get tired so quickly.
As you can see, biking with kids requires proper preparation, but we assure you that it is worth it! It is great fun for both adults and children. Thanks to it, they not only experience the benefits of movement, but also learn more and get to know the world!