In the first part of this article, I claimed that mountain biking can certainly be a family sport. As proven all over the world in the past few years, all ages are fit for mountain biking. A mountain biking vacation in Morzine can definitely become an enjoyable family vacation. In the first part of this article we gave a few preliminary tips regarding choosing your child’s bike and the physical and mental preparations needed before starting. In this part, I’ll give a few useful tips on how to get started mountain biking with your child:

- The key word: GRADUAL PRROGRESS: I can assure you, that there are many aspects of mountain bike riding that you take for granted, that will be quite difficult for your child. The first object should be getting your child used to the ‘off-road’ feel. You can begin exercising that feel from riding on the lawn or on an empty field close to home. The main object should be the understanding that mountain biking demands much more control over the bike than city bike riding. In continuation to exercising control, try to build an obstacle course for your child to ride through. An obstacle course can be composed of cones or rocks placed close together in order to practice turning sharp curves.

Don’t push them too far: As you advance with your child to riding harder trails, let them set the pace. Remember your first steps on the saddle. Give them the feel that it’s OK to get off the bike and walk up or down an obstacle. Keep an eye on your child’s energy level. – Riding up and down hills is very tiring especially for a child beginning to ride off road trails. Riding trail with low energy can be dangerous.

Mountain biking can be a positive and strengthening experience to your family and children. Through mountain biking together you’ll have a chance to enhance your relationship with your children. In addition, your children can boost their self confidence through overcoming the obstacles that come with mountain biking.

To get more info about bike vacations in Morzine

Share on Facebook

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Most families enjoy setting out on a family vacation most summers. Many parents enjoy mountain biking, yet don’t think about including their children in the sport that they love. Mountain biking has been thought to be a sport fit for grownups and too dangerous or strenuous for children. The evolution of mountain biking in the past ten years has shown that mountain biking can be an activity for the whole family. A mountain biking vacation in Morzine can be an excellent opportunity to introduce your children to mountain biking. I’m sure they’ll surprise you in their fast progress. Here are some useful tips for easing your children into the world of mountain biking:

-Prepare your children mentally and physically – Mountain biking, especially for a child beginning his first steps on a mountain bike, is not an easy sport. The effort that has to go in to mountain biking is much more that has to go into riding a bike in the neighborhood. In order to make the first steps of mountain biking, an exciting challenge instead of an unpleasant experience, you should prepare your child mentally and physically towards the effort needed for biking.

Purchase the right equipment – Biking equipment in sizes that fit grownups are not necessarily fit for children. Usually 24” inch wheels are fit for children ages 10 – 14. I recommend involving your child in the decision making process of choosing the mountain bike. Any child that takes part in choosing his bike will grow more attached to it and be more enthusiastic about riding. It’s important to purchase the necessary safety equipment your child’s size – (helmet, knee guards, etc…).

In the second part of this article, I’ll write about the process of easing your child into riding off road trails.

To get more info about bike vacations in Morzine

Share on Facebook

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!