Mountain biking is quite the sport, and there comes a day in a mountain biker’s life when they have to share this wonderful hobby with their younglings. We all have special hobbies that we like to share with others, and mountain biking is a great hobby and, a lifelong sport, to add to the arsenal of children’s hobbies. You can experience so much on a single ride, from the views to the weather to the wild adventures you may have.
Is there a perfect time to get your kids into mountain biking? Not really, since it’s never too late. However, a golden period of six to eight years old would make it ideal. First of all, they’d be old enough to ride safely and follow your instruction, and second, they’d be young enough to pick up the movements and the hobby without much difficulty. Seriously, have you tried learning how to ride a bike as an adult? It’s so hard!
Why Getting Your Kids Into Mountain Biking Is A Good Idea
Before we get into how we should get into why mountain biking is such a good idea for both your kids and you:
It’s a Great Bonding Time
Seriously, doing any kind of sports with your children is a magnificent time to bond and become closer as a family. With mountain biking, not only do you bond on the trail itself but behind the scenes, as well. Think about it. You get the quality bonding time of teaching them how to ride and all the technical aspects, the quality time of putting everything together (Buying their first mountain bike can be way more emotional than buying them their first car), and then the absolute pleasure of actually riding with them.
It’s Great Exercise
Sports, or any kind of exercise, are a must for kids (and yourself). So, unless your kids are killing it on the soccer field three times a week, they need to get their bodies moving from a young age to live healthier, longer lives in the future. Starting cardio from a young age is always a great idea, and there is no greater cardio exercise than mountain biking.
The exercise will benefit both them and yourself, as it will keep you healthier and around for longer, which means even more quality bonding time! See? It all comes full circle.
It’s A Much-Needed Disconnection
Let’s face it, everyone these days, especially kids, is wired hard to technology. From social media to streaming to video games, kids are in desperate need to just go outside and experience the real world as it is. So few kids these days are getting to actually go on adventures, face nature, and see breathtaking views outside their screens. In this case, mountain biking will take them on trails and places they could only dream of. This disconnect will help them relax, have more patience, gain a longer attention span, and generally be more “real”.
It’s Educational
Just like anything that takes effort, mountain biking is highly educational. First, the kids will learn about nature, trails, navigation, how to survive outdoors, and various bits of trivia they pick up along the way. They may also learn some basic first aid should there be an unfortunate knee scuff or tiny tumble.
What You Need To Get Your Kids Into Mountain Biking
Now that we have covered why it’s a good idea, let’s get into the things you need to keep in mind before ever getting your kid on a mountain bike:
1-The Bike
The bike is obviously the most important part of all this. You need a well-fitted bike that will be easier for them to ride. The whole thing becomes a hassle if it’s too big or too small. Not all bikes were created equal, though; you also need to make sure what kind of bike you need.
While you may think about starting off with a normal bike first, it’s best to just go directly into the belly of the beast and get them on a fully-prepared mountain bike. We’re talking big wheels, fork rakes, handlebars, and hydraulic disc brakes!
When it comes to kinds of mountain bikes, you can go for uphill-specific bikes, downhill-specific bikes, or the bike that fits all. In general, uphill bikes are lighter, while downhill bikes can take more of the rough terrains. When it comes to the bike itself, you can choose either between aluminum or carbon fiber. Carbon fiber bikes are lighter and generally considered superior, but they come at a hefty price point. The aluminum bike will do for a beginner like a child, and you can always upgrade later.
2-The Trail
Now that you have your bikes, it’s time to pick a trail. Obviously, since it’s kids, you want to pick something nice and easy for their first go and then move up. For your first rides, there are certain elements you want to keep in mind. Time of day is very important since you don’t want to do this as it gets dark and also not too midday when it’s hot. A good morning ride will be perfect.
The season itself is another important factor. Don’t start your kids’ mountain biking journey in the dead of winter when they’ll freeze, and not in the agonizing heat of summer in July or August. Fall or spring will be your ideal choices here.
As for the trail itself, you want it to be short and easy, but not too short and easy. Something under 5 miles with a few loops and some climbs is important since you don’t want it to be just a breeze. Still, you want to stay away from steep climbs and rough terrain. You don’t want a sharp rock to cut your first ride short.
3-The Brakes and Gears
The brakes and gears are perhaps the most important part of learning how to mountain bike. Like driving a stick, you will have to get your kids used to changing gears. Ideally, you would do that away from the bike trail to have them build up their skill and confidence and then take it to the trail later, where they will learn when to change gears when ascending or descending.
With the brakes, there is a lot of ground to cover. You need to get them used to the front, rear, and hand brakes.
4-The Techniques
There are some extremely basic techniques in mountain biking. A good example of this is standing up when descending, turning, or traversing tough spots. It can be scary and a little bit dangerous, but perfecting the standing-up technique is vital, especially when it comes to the rough terrains and tight areas.
There are a few main techniques that are very important to teach to a beginner mountain biker. Some of these include easing into a squeeze for the brakes and always keeping a finger on both brakes. Other techniques are more conduct-based, like keeping a good distance between yourself and the other bikers, using greetings and signals, and going to the right of others when going uphill.
5-The Gear
No, not the gears, the gear! This time we’re talking about all the important things your kids should wear. There are a few things you should shop for before ever hitting a trail with your kids. A helmet is imperative, and it has to be the right size, and it should have good ventilation since you don’t want everyone to be getting all hot and struggling with sweat and humidity. You can go for a full-face helmet or a regular helmet that covers your head only. It’s safer to go for the full-face helmet, but if it’s a relatively easy trail, you can be safe with a head-only helmet.
Goggles are a good idea, but not everyone goes for them. If the kids are just starting out, they may get a feel of the goggles, and they will definitely need them once they advance to the more complicated trails. Make sure they are high quality, as fogging can cause a big problem at high speeds.
Now it’s all about the guards. We have knee guards and elbow guards. Should you get them? Yes! You will want all the protection your kids can get, so don’t skimp out on these. If you have to get only one, prioritize the knee guards, but getting both is advisable. Do you know what’s also very important for your limbs and bones? Gloves! Gloves will give you better grip and handling, so your hands don’t slip off when you get sweaty. Also, they will add protection just in general if you fall.
6-What’s In The Bag
Obviously, you will be taking a backpack (or several) with you when you go mountain biking. Water, water, water. Please don’t forget a big bottle of water. Snacks are also a must but be warned that something too heavy will make them all sleepy afterward. You want something healthy and quick energy, like good energy or granola bars.
Other things you can consider in the backpack are an emergency first aid kit, flashlight if it gets dark, deodorant, tissues, a portable charger, extra gear, and a multi-tool or pocket knife. Why the knife? You never know what crazy adventures you will find on these trails.
Other Helpful Tips
- Don’t Teach Too Much: After all, you’re a parent, not a teacher. You want to get your kids used to the idea of biking easily, but you don’t want to keep constantly instructing them about everything. Let them figure some stuff out and have them practice. Nobody likes being told what to do too much.
- Be Patient: Like any sport or hobby, it will take time to pick up and be good at. Just wait until they get better bit by bit and take them on more trails before advancing to bigger ones. This can be a lifetime hobby, so let them take their time.
- Don’t Force Them Into It: If you’re a hardcore biker, your kids will naturally be curious. If not, then you can keep suggesting the idea to them subtly. Don’t bother them too much about it. Give them some hints, like videos or open up the conversation and see if they are into it. Maybe they will even suggest trying it themselves. If they don’t, never make them feel like it’s something they have to do.
- Be Consistent, But Rest: To learn anything, they must do it several times, but you should also know when to rest on the ride itself and in general between rides. If you find them struggling with the ride, then take a break to have some snacks, get to know the other bikers, or even just look around and enjoy the scenery. If they have been on many rides in a row, let them disconnect from mountain biking for a bit, so they don’t get bored.
- Keep It Simple: Just like driving a car, it can be overwhelming to teach everything at first. Brakes, gears, ascending, descending, signals, it’s all too much. Try to keep things as simple as people and take it one by one. You can take a whole day just to get the brakes right, and even then, don’t bother them with the details. They’re not doing this professionally.
- Go Hard When You Need To: Let’s say you started out the biking journey just around the neighborhood or the local easy trails. You can’t do this forever. As soon as you feel like your kids are good enough, take them off-road onto the more difficult trails. Keeping them in the comfort zone for too long will not have them develop, so eventually, you will have to go steep, trust their abilities, build up their confidence, and make them believe they can do it.