This is an all day topic for cycling parents with kids. I have two boys, 7 and 9 who have been part of our cycling plans since birth. We have gone through the Burley D'Lites, child seats, Adams tag-alongs, tandem set up for kids, as well as their own trikes and bikes. Two thoughts come quickly to mind. They are not endurance athletes yet, so long distances are out of the question. Parents have to settle for a ride to the park or to Tim Horton's for a doughnut and chocolate milk. During this expedition there are so many opportunities to reinforce the rules of the road. Secondly, kids need equipment that fits and has been maintained. For longer rides I would use a tandem that I bought from an OBC member that Mike Plummer put together years ago. Many times I took one as a stoker to daycare or over to a friend's. Soon they were asking to go on the tandem. I realized that at this age neither speed nor long distances were a concern, so I converted the front end to mountain bike handle bars and shifters. I am now looking into better quality tandems for longer rides. I have an older tandem that I am considering putting a child-stoker kit on, although some of the newer tandems have a low (16") rear that would work directly. It's costly, but the safety aspect gives piece of mind which as the saying goes is priceless. My wife and I ride with a tandem group (10+ tandems) in the east end of Ottawa. I would not consider riding with kids with this group for the forseeable future as the pace is just too much. Although kids prosper well with other kids, not everyone is going to be at the same level. In the end I think it falls onto the cycling parent(s) to organize small cycling outings. I allow each boy to bring one friend when we go exploring on bicycles. Inevitably I have to adjust a brake and raise a saddle; but once rolling we have fun. A usual destination is Lac Philippe and the trails to Lusk caves or Herridge lodge. Although I have never been on the converted railway beds off Andersen Road, it is going to be a destination this year. Of course it is a goal of ours to do the RLCT with our kids, You have to keep this in perspective though. I remember passing the 12 year old boy last year stoking for his dad. I passed him going into Westport (Sat) and certainly encouraged him when I asked him how old he was. He looked tired and it made me wonder just what is a good age that kids should try such back to back distances. Does anyone know if he made it?
Incidentally that tandem set up for a child is for sale. $400. You can email me off line for more details. My two cents Wil ------ To unsubscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Club Office: [EMAIL PROTECTED], (613) 230-1064 Web/mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb Newsletter: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb/Newsletter ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiDo.a2i8p1 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
