Joined: Mar 29, 2007 Posts: 175 Location: Minnesota
Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 7:29 am Post subject: Anyone here riding with kids?
So DH says now it's time to get my daughter on the bike. (His bike of course. I don't even want to WATCH! LOL) She's turning 11, but has Down Syndrome and functions right about a 6-7 year old range. She's very used to being around our biker friends, and the loud bikes. She's only riden once, and that was about a year ago on our friend's touring bike, and just around the block.
We have good friends who's 6 year old has been riding with them for a couple of years, but they have a big Harley Ultraclassic, and a kid would pretty much have to CLIMB to get out of that thing. My dh rides a heritage softail.
I'm curious if any of you have kids riding with you? This whole discussion started because we have her Special Olympics "Blessing of the Bikes" next weekend. It our team's largest fund raiser, with approximately 3500 bikes in attendance. Both DH and I want to have our bikes there, which means we either find someone for Angela to ride with in their car, or one of us drives. She WILL be in a car, because it's too soon to get her going for an event like that, but it has certainly sparked discussion!
How did you decide when your kids were ready to try it out? Angela can easily reach the foot pegs. I'm not even sure what my biggest concern for her would be. Falling asleep? (the harness has a neck pad so their head doesn't fall backwards) Finding the right gear? Her moving around too much? She's an adrenaline junkie already so I'm sure she'll love the actual riding part. Just not sure about the attention part. LOL
Anyway, I'm curious to hear your thoughts. And just to clarify, dh has been riding since he was 14, and he's now 50. Has riden with kids before (his son is now 17, and he's taught his nieces and nephews how to ride along as well.) I was 13 before I started riding along so I don't have any frame of reference. Although, when I was a kid we did have another couple riding with us who's 7 & 8 year olds rode along. They always looked so tiny on the back of those bikes!
Joined: Mar 19, 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Guthrie, OK
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 9:02 am Post subject:
I have kids that are older, my baby is 11. I don't trust myself enough yet to put my kids on the back of me yet. I figured maybe after this year, since I am a complete newby. Once I am comfortable with myself and have more expierence than I might take then on a couple short rides. I definately don't trust anyone else with their lives. I have a hard time trusting people in general, to put my life in their hands would be my choice, my children are a different story.
Just my thoughts. Do what you are comfortable with.
Joined: Jan 03, 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Carney, OK
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 9:13 am Post subject:
I don't ride with anyone on back but I saw it a lot when I lived in Florida. I used to see this couple ride with their lil' girl (knew she was a girl by her pink helmet she looked to be about 4-5yo) and they would have her all geared out. I think that probably is one of the most important things is to make sure that she is totally covered. I saw online a suit that is basically an armor suit. It was stretchy and had armor everywhere, a huge piece in the back for the spine. Was pretty neat. Also there are armrest attachments for the backrest that would probably give her more stability. That coupled with the riding belt should secure her pretty well.
Here is a neat site that I found http://www.familymotorcycling.com/ _________________ “We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same.” – Carlos Castaneda
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.” – Albert Einstein
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she looked to be about 4-5yo) and they would have her all geared out. I think that probably is one of the most important things is to make sure that she is totally covered. I saw online a suit that is basically an armor suit. It was stretchy and had armor everywhere, a huge piece in the back for the spine. Was pretty neat. Also there are armrest attachments for the backrest that would probably give her more stability. That coupled with the riding belt should secure her pretty well.