Biking Fun!

With the weather warming and ice defrosting, the kids are ready to get out and play. It’s time to get rid of those winter coats and roll out those two-wheelers! That’s right, it time to get out the bikes. Now for parents, this can be fascinating, frustrating and fun. After all the seasons have passed, your children may have grown or the neighborhood may have changed. But don’t worry. After you follow these simple tips and tricks, you’ll be prepared for whatever comes your way!

Safety first!

Children grow overnight, and we want to ensure they are safe at all times. Making sure helmets and kneepads are the correct size is the first step in biking smart with little ones. Reflectors are a great safety feature. Make sure you don’t delay replacing the broken or cracked reflectors on a bike—it’ll save you the headache later.

Watch the trailer.

Like at the movies, don’t be afraid to watch the trailers! Trailers are a great addition when biking with children. They’re balanced, you don’t have to worry about the kids’ taking off, they’re contained and they’re within arm’s reach. Trailers are a great fit for children between the ages of 3 and 6. Now there are also other alternatives. Some parents like to go the bike seat route. While that is an additional resource, remember that if you fall, so do your children. Bike seats are also meant for small children. Kids in bike seats have to be able to support their own weight when sitting, so if they need help sitting or you have to adjust their seat often, this quick fix may not be the right one for you and your family.

Training wheels.

Before we get to the big timers, let’s not forget about those in training. The purpose of training wheels is to guide your child into feeling more confident in riding a bicycle by himself. Training wheels can be removed at any time and are quickly outgrown. If your child is a beginner, training wheels are a great approach to make him feel comfortable in riding a bike all by himself.  If your child is growing, it’s still okay! Just pop those bad boys off and let him ride with the wind.

Finding the right fit.

One of the most common mistakes parents make when buying a bike for their child is buying one they hope their child will grow into. This approach is tempting—after all, you don’t want to have to buy a new bike for your child every year. But buying a bike that doesn’t fit will only set you and your child back. When choosing a bike, take your child with you. Find her one that is comfortable to sit on and easy to make emergency stops with. Measure the bike’s wheels, not the frame. When you find a bike where your child can place both feet on the ground and sit, you have a winner. Of course, choosing color and pizzazz is challenging, but we’ll let you figure that one out!

            Jessica Samuel is a native of St. Louis and current Kansas City resident, journalist, photographer, graduate student and ALLY.