Links:
National cyclists' organisation

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Family

With a litle thought and planning a cycle ride can be great fun for all the family.

GoCycle encourage families to ride as a close group. Ideally an adult should ride up front and one should shepherd (riding protectively) at the rear, with children between the two.

You will need to remember that rides are not a race. The family should ride at the pace of the slowest/weakest rider. Adult bikes with large wheels and lots of gears can go much faster and are easier to pedal than children’s bikes with their small wheels and fewer (if any) gears.

Don’t forget to plan where you are going. Know how far it is and possibly how long it will take. Make sure all the family can cope comfortably with the distance - you don't want to spend the time towards the end of the ride carrying a very tired child and their bike.

Plan to make regular stops, whether they are to look at the scenery or feed the horses or have an ice cream. This way the kids won’t get too tired or grumpy. And depending on the ages of your children, you may be able to use some of the new child carrying devices, such as tagalongs, bike seats or a lightweight trailer.

Cycling with your children can be a real pleasure and you can really have a great time. What better way to spend some quality time with your kids. And it’s free!

Subscribing to the GoCycle email update is a great way to be updated on family cycling events and ride ideas. To do this just click on gocycle@leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk, paste the word 'Subscribe' in the title.