Go On A Bike Ride

Riding bicycles in summer is a great family activity. You get to spend time together and get some exercise as well. We recently purchased bicycles for both my husband and I and have started taking rides as a family. My children love getting on their bicycles and hitting the road. We take it slow since my two girls still have training wheels on their bikes and can’t go too fast.

Right now we have a great place for riding bicycles. They are building a subdivision behind our house and the roads are in but none of the houses are built. So our family bike rides
take place on the empty roads. When the homes are built we will just ride around our subdivision.

Make sure that you adjust your speed and ride time according to the age and abilities of
your children. We take it slow since my two girls still have training wheels on their bikes and can’t go too fast. As they grow our speed will increase. Last night our bike ride was too long, by the end my daughters were really dragging. My youngest wanted us to push here every block. Next time we will make sure that our ride isn’t as long.

Discuss some bicycle safety rules with your children before riding bicycles. Then practice them in front of your house before heading off on a ride. You want to make sure that they know how to stay safe. Here are some important safety tips to address with your children while riding bicycles.

• Always wear a helmet. It is a good idea for adults to wear a helmet as well. It will not only protect your head, but also provide a good example for your children. We also bought elbow and knee pads for my daughters because they are not very experienced riders.
• Check to make sure that your child isn’t wearing any clothing or objects like a backpack strap or loose shoelace that could get caught in the chain. Sneakers are the best bicycle riding footwear, because they can grip the pedals. Bright colors are also good because they can be easily seen.
• Watch where you are riding; keep an eye out for obstacles or things ahead. Things like wet leaves, puddles, gravel, curbs, and changes in the road surface can cause you to crash if you aren’t prepared.
• Slow down at all corners. If you don’t take time to slow down you might miss seeing a car. If the intersection is busy stop and walk your bike across the street.
• Keep both hands on your handlebars, unless you are doing a turn signal. This way you will always have control of your bike.
• Ride on the right-hand side of the street, traveling in the same directions as cars do.
• Ride single file down the road. This is especially important in a family bike ride. You don’t want to take up the entire road.