Taking a bike ride with your children: small gestures to make it a great experience!

Now that it is warmer, being outdoors with the family is such a pleasure, above all for families with young children. Taking a bike ride with your children is a lovely way to see the countryside and enjoy the outdoors.

If you are lucky enough to live in the countryside, there will be plenty of green routes to choose from, but even if you live in town there are cycling paths and parks where besides enjoying a bike ride, your children can also play on the slides and swings. Before leaving for a long bike ride, there are certain precautions you should take into account. If you take the necessary precautions, you can enjoy a bike ride with your children in perfect safety.

Firstly, avoid very busy areas, above all if your children have not yet learned to pedal properly on their own. Choose a quiet area, with well maintained roads. Damaged roadways with potholes and bumps should be avoided because they are dangerous. This also applies if you are carrying your child on your bike. An unexpected pothole could jolt your child and hurt his spine.

So focus on safety. Always get your child to wear a helmet, even if you are carrying him on a seat behind you. The helmet should meet safety standards and should fit properly and not fall over his eyes.

The bike seat is also important. The seat should be chosen according to the age and weight of your child, and may be fitted either on the front (maximum 15kg) or back (up to 25kg). The child must sit comfortably in his seat and above all, his posture should be correct. The seat belts should also meet safety standards and your child should not be able to open them too easily.

If you are undecided about the type of seat to buy, the best choice is a seat with adjustable head and foot rests, depending on the age of the child, which may be used even up to the age of 5. A word of advice: bring a neck pillow with you just in case your child falls asleep.

Another good way to travel comfortably by bike with children is to bring a trailer: a special two-wheeled trailer that you can fix to your bike with a solid and secure hooking system. The trailer has a seat with “seat belts” where your child can sit safely and comfortably, even if he falls asleep.

Trailers also have a weatherproof cover that you can open if it rains and are also fitted with a mosquito net that stops insects; a sort of camp tent on wheels! Your children will love it! The only drawback with trailers is that they are quite large and may be clumsy on crowded cycle paths.

So what are you waiting for: it’s time to go for a bike ride!