I am always happy to see families out and about enjoying their bikes. Cycling is such a great family activity for so many reasons. Check out my previous post to learn more about my beliefs.
There are a few things that when I see families out riding really surprise me. It almost seems to be a common theme wherever I ride in on traditional bike paths.
So here they are:
1.) The family that rides with helmets on their children but not on themselves. Okay so the important part is that the kids have helmets on, that is a great start. (It is a law in the State of Maryland that children under the age of sixteen wear one.) My question is, if it is important enough for your children to be wearing a helmet why aren’t you? Shouldn’t mom and dad be leading by example? The last thing you would want to have happen is an injury to your head that would greatly alter your life, the life of your family and possibly lead to your death. Wearing a helmet is such a simple thing to do and greatly reduces the possibility of a head trauma it is also the number one device in limiting a cycling related head injury. A bicycle helmet can reduce the risk of a serious head injury by up to 88% according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. I mean to me it is a no brainer.
2.) The family that has helmets on the children that aren’t properly fit or the helmet is outdated. While wearing a helmet is a good start it really should be a properly fit helmet. So many times I am riding by children and the helmets are, too big, too small or simply not even sitting on their heads right. In some cases an improperly fit helmet can cause more injuries if it were to snag on something when your child’s head lands on the ground. I good helmet that properly fits your child’s head is a small investment to make in your child’s future. If you are unsure of the fit of your current child’s bicycle helmet, stop by I will be happy to double check the fit and make any adjustments necessary. Or simply stop by your local bike shop. Remember you should replace a helmet every three to five years (most children out grow them sooner) or after any accident that the helmet has been in.
3.) Children that are riding bikes that are to small or improperly fit. It is great to see that you and the family are enjoying some quality time together. So why not give them the proper equipment so that they can properly enjoy the activity? You make sure their shoes fit so why not make sure their bicycle fits. In many cases it is as simple as raising the seat to the proper height or inflating the tires to the proper pressure. Teaching the kids how to use the bike pump and properly inflate the tires is a great learning opportunity. Have them take on that responsibility of proper inflation for the family bike rides when they get to the appropriate age. If your child outgrows their bike get them another one that fits. I see it on every ride where the kids are struggling to ride their bikes because they are too small or don’t fit them properly. These are easy fixes that would increase the fun factor for everyone tenfold. This is one of the reasons we offer our Youth Bike Trade in Program; to make it as easy as possible to keep your children on the appropriate sized bicycle. These trade-in bikes are also great bikes to purchase when you would prefer not to buy a new bike. The program is great for the parents who purchase a new bike, great for the family that purchases a trade in and friendly for the environment by keeping them out of the landfill etc. If you have a question about the fit of your child’s bicycle bring it on by and we will be happy to help you fit your bike. I love to see children out enjoying their bikes and they will have a lot more fun on one that fits them properly.
These are really easy issues to address and in most cases relatively inexpensive. The cost per use of a bicycle is really low when compared to so many other sports and activities. A quality bicycle will offer hours of enjoyment for your child and for you, while having a much better resale value when it is time to replace the bike or upgrade it.
So get out and ride with your family and create a great story for your family.
See you on the trails!
Ernest Freeland
