There's a special bond between kids and bikes. It is a passport to the worlds beyond the front lawn as well as the neighbours' lawns. It gives them freedom and independence to roam around and is a life skill they will never forget.
Don’t wait until your kids are old enough to ride themselves. Start right now to enjoy the benefits of cycling as a family. The huge range of bike seats, trailers and children's bicycles with stabilisers means it's easier than ever to cycle with young children. It can be enjoyed by people from all age groups, so grandparents can also join the fun too.
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Here's why it’s good to start young:
•Cycling improves your fitness by strengthening muscles while your kids are also exposed to a healthy activity
•It helps relieve stress
•Develops strength, balance and alertness
•Improves your bonding with your kid
•Contributes towards a healthier environment by reducing pollution
•Doing something together in the fresh air as a family is always fun
•Once you've invested in bikes and some basic protective gear, it provides many benefits in the long run at a negligible cost.
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Buying a Bike:
- Find your child a bike that suits his physical needs and personal taste.
- Finding the right size is crucial to your child’s safety.
- Bikes that are too large can prevent a child's feet from touching the ground and his hands might not reach the hand brakes. Bikes that are too small, on the other hand, force a child to pedal awkwardly causing knee pain and tire quickly.
- While seated both feet should touch the ground. The seat height should be adjustable and hence can change with your growing kid.
- The legs should bend slightly at the bottom of each revolution when pedalling.
- Let the kid choose the colour and style of the bike, while you decide the cost, size and quality. He/she will enjoy cycling more if it’s of their choice.
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Stages of bicycling:
Bicycle with mounted seats (ages 1 to 2): Babies must be able to easily sit and fully support their head before they can join you for a ride. Look for secure harnesses and childproof buckles to avoid any mishaps.
Tricycles (ages 2 to 5): Plastic three-wheelers are perfect for preschoolers who are testing their newfound motor skills. A size-appropriate helmet when biking is an absolute must.
Training wheels (ages 5 plus): The training-wheels phase may vary depending on the child's confidence, coordination and strength. Parents can gradually elevate training wheels and remove them eventually when the child is able to balance on the bike.
Once you find that your kid has mastered the skill following all safety instructions along, introduce bigger cycles with fancy brakes and gears.
Family Fun:
Video source: instagram.com/kidsstoppress
Bicycling can bridge generations. Make your family cycling trips enjoyable.
1. Find cycling tracks in your area.
2. Make sure your family is comfortably dressed.
3. Take water bottles, sunglasses, sunscreen, hats, bike locks, a tyre pump along with loads of healthy snacks that makes it a yummy ride!
4. Click pictures to preserve pleasant memories.
So gear up and have a healthy memorable fun ride with your family- have fun!
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Parul Gupta
Mansi Zaveri
Moina Memon
Rati Ramadas Girish
Janani S Koushik
