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GET YOUR KID RIDING
We've scoured our database, asked some experts (parents), did some research, cut-and-pasted some interesting info we found here and there and just plain made-up stuff that we thought might be useful for the thinking parent considering getting their daughter or their son into the wonderful world of cycling, more particularly mountain biking.

First off, yes, there is such a thing as mountain biking here in the prairies. think of it as off-road cycling without the pesky mountains to climb. Secondly, please don't take this little essay as anything other than a rough and informal guide to initiating your child to the sport. There are experts you can consult for more in-depth content as well as excellent programs such as Kid's of Mud (www.kidsofmud.com) available to you.

Without further ado, here we go:

[1] Mental and physical preparation.

So you think maybe Mountain-biking might be something your child might love to get involved in. But wait, your new biker isn't ready to be "one of the guys" or "one of the dudettes" just yet.

In order for you child to fully enjoy the experience, You might need to spend some one-on-one time getting him/her ready. For a not-so-tough kid, that means general physical conditioning first. Make it fun. Kids hate the "death-march" type of "getting-in-shape" activities adults go for. Having he/she join a group like Kid's of Mud (www.kidsofmud.com) is one way to help them get into it right. The worst way to go about it is to leave it up to them to ride out of the yard to find a trail... Preparation is critical.

[2] The right equipment.

First, you're going to need a bike. and no, big box stores are NOT the way to go. give them a fighting chance, start at a reputable bike shop and end at a reputable bike shop. Let the child be part of the decision making process. They're more likely to enjoy the bike if they helped pick it out. But that means you need to do a little prep work, so they are ready to recognize that a good bike is more than a bright-colored paint job. Make sure they understand the basics, that heavy full suspension bikes might look cool but it's no fun needing three of the neighbors to help get big yellow thing off of them. Light and maneuverable is the key word for kids bikes.

Size the bike correctly: get the biggest wheels they can handle on a frame that fits their size. Most 20-inch-wheeled bikes are difficult to ride off-road. Be carefully not to get too heavy a bike (as we mentioned above). Like one dad said "The weight makes for a great workout, but not much fun. It also makes for pretty short rides. I wanted to enjoy the longest rides I could with my son so I chose the lightest bike we could afford". Light weight might mean forgoing flashy stuff like suspension. If the kid is so light that they can't activate the suspension, make that the first thing to go.

Get solid quality. If you can afford it, go top-of-the-line. Quick-release skewers (instead of bolt-on axles), good shifters, light frame. If your budget is limited, consider a good frame with cheaper components. When he/she's good enough to need better parts, upgrade the components. Time spent in the garage wrenching with your little biker can be as valuable as time on the trail! But if you're not mechanically skilled, spend the money right off the hop to get quality. Imagine riding a bike that is 40%-50% of your body weight (that's what little Timmy has to deal with!). It's no wonder so many kids gravitate towards BMX or even skateboarding in lieu of trail riding. Like another dad once wrote "I want the best equipment I can afford. I love gear, and have no problem finding plenty of it to buy for myself. I also want to get the best equipment for my Daughter. Kids are tough on equipment. They grow so fast that it's hard to justify a large investment for such a short period of time. But the way I see it, there's good resale on kids' bikes. The investment should be worth it if you really want to get your kids out with you at an early age. Sell some of the video games, or just don't buy them in the first place, and you will be well on your way."

Norco and Jamis are among the best bike brands at making superlative kids bikes at reasonable prices. Rocky Mountain makes a VERY nice higher end kids bike, the Grind, that does everything right without being too pricey. Drop by either store to have your little dude or dudette test one out and see their eyes light up.

Secondly, you're going to need peripherals... Imagine a laptop without a power supply. Good for just a bit then it's nothing more than a $1300 paperweight. We'll narrow it down to 4 items you MUST save up for. and if that means going to Canadian Rubber for the bike then so be it. These things are, like we said: A must. So much so that Kid's of Mud participants are required to have these in order to ride with the club.

Helmet: How much is young Julie's head worth? Here's a yardstick: How much did you spend on her last pair of shoes? Spend at least twice that much on a helmet, three times that much if you'd like her to go to college on her own two feet. Parents who cheap out on helmets wholeheartedly deserve "the look".

Gloves: The basic understanding is that Jimmy is going to fall down. Getting him proper gloves will allow him to get up, dust himself off and keep on riding... without the unattractive wincing.

Glasses / sunglasses: here's where you don't need to go to Oakley Optical. Just make sure that your kid has a decent, basic pair of sunglass (they make clear ones too, for those overcast days) Why Glasses? It's a safety thing. Proper eyewear will help with errant eye-poking-out twigs and kicked-up stones and debris from riding behind someone. Just make sure the lens is not made of glass and the frame is made of plastic.

Water: All of us in the club use Camelback hydration systems... They look like a small backpack with a water bladder inside and a tube sticking out to deliver water to the user. They live on your child's back and they often offer some storage. They are not super-expensive and they arguably offer a surprising degree of protection (when worn properly) against back injuries due to impact. If it's not in the budget, a water bottle and bottle cage (that attaches to the bike) is an option. For most of us, we do both since the Camelback can hold as much as 6 water bottles worth of liquid. Notes: [1] Make sure the bladder is clean and filled with fresh water before each ride. [2] Beware, cheap hydration packs often have leaky, crappy bladders and straps that dig in and are uncomfortable. [3] Make sure the pack is fitted just like the helmet: by a professional.

[3] The riding part:

This what we'd do if we were in your shoes (it's part of what the Kid's Of Mud do): Get ready for that first ride carefully. Remember the terror you felt when you first faced steep downhill slopes -- slopes you now take with confidence. Save the rough stuff until he/she's ready.

Getting started.

[1] Spend some time riding on the lawn. A nearby park with rolling grass hills is perfect for getting used to that "off-road" feel. Grass-riding also gets legs toughened up as it offers more resistance than pavement. Plus there's that soft cushy feel of a grass wipe out that every single time beats out the inhospitable bite of asphalt.

[2] Go to the large, unused parking lot and set up a steering course using cones, so he/she can practice tight turns. Lay a series of 2x6's down where they'll ride over them on grass, so he/she gets used to hitting bumps as they turn and pedal.

[3] Ride off the curb in front of the house. Have them practice the off-the-seat, butt-back position as they rolls over the curb. When Bobby is ready, try rolling down a spot on the sidewalk where there are 2-3 steps... Put a board on the grass and have your child ride perpendicularly across it. increasing the diameter as he or she feels comfortable.

Starting to ride off-road.

Pick easy trails at first. Your first dirt can be a broad park trail or fire road, or an easy spur off the neighborhood paved trail. For very young kids, consider starting this whole process with a trail-a-bike (http://www.trail-a-bike.com) or a gator-bar (http://www.trail-gator.com) so he/she can get used to the feel of trail riding and build strength. Let your new biker learn at his or her own pace. Often, it's best to let the child lead out, especially on the uphill part of the ride. When it looks like they're wobbling, take a break. Keep it simple; make it fun. (This goes for teaching the boyfriend, wife or girlfriend, too.) Don't push to go too fast. Speed will improve as ability and physical condition improve. Spend enough time, often enough, on easy dirt before you go for the "real thing".

Facing harder trails.

Now's the time to raise the bar, to challenge them. Remember, (I know, this one sounds obvious) never belittle their abilities or act disappointed when they feel the need to get off the bike or when they back off of a section... and never push them to take dangerous slopes. Let them find their own solutions, and make it clear you don't mind if he/she gets off and walks the rough or steep sections. In fact, it may not be a tremendously bad idea to get off and walk with them as well. Show them that it's ok to play safe and congratulate them for using good judgment.

Have the child practice standing on the pedals. The natural tendency for most kids is to take their feet off the pedals and put them out to the side when they get nervous. They need to understand that the safest way to go through tricky stuff is with all their weight coming down through level pedals, and with the butt off the seat.

Monitor the their energy level, and build a lot of breaks into the ride. Being tired can be very dangerous in difficult terrain, and your kid may not want to tell you he or she is bushed. Unless of course their name is Brittany or Cody, in that case no worries, rest ssured they'll let you know when they've had enough. (yes, that last part about high maintenance kids named Cody or Brittany was a joke... some of us are still rolling on the floor laughing).

Learning technical riding.

Go ahead, show them techniques. Let your newbie watch you ride some tricky stuff. But never pressure them to do things they're not ready for. If they are too nervous to do something you think is easy, just accept it and go on. Stay positive, keep rolling.

Work on steering, with attention to the position of the head and eyes. Teach heads-up, eyes-where-you're-going steering. If a kid is looking at an obstacle, tree, or trail edge, they'll probably hit it (remember drivers ed?). Teach kids that in the tough stuff, they should always look ahead -- never at what's under the front tire. And they should keep pedaling... "Momentum is your friend", "Momentum is your friend"... Oh yeah, teach them the meaning of the word "momentum".

Some children are naturally nervous. Their sense of self-preservation will actually get them into trouble. They look down at the horrible threatening bumps under the front tire, freeze up, and try to go too slow for the terrain. (most of us adults do that too, especially adults named Darcey or JF) You need to be a lot more patient, and provide frequent positive experiences. For these kids, sometimes a single minor biff can completely undo weeks of confidence-gaining activity. The last thing they need is a big fall, or even a big scare. Keep your expectations reasonable for your child's mental state and physical condition.

With that in mind, here's the other side of the coin: Some kids have little appreciation of danger. They gain skills quickly and tend to become overconfident. These future Rodney's of the world require constant monitoring so they don't maim themselves for life. You know who those ankle biters are.

[4] Conclusion:

With basic preparation, the appropriate supervision & gentle encouragement, your little mountain biker will quickly become a great biking buddy, and before you know it, maybe one day he or she will teach you a few hundred moves or so. If you still would like to enroll your favorite munchkin into Gord's Kid's Of Mud, simply go back to Gord's Kid's of Mud Page and follow the few easy steps and voila, your work is partly done.

There. I hope this helps and I hope in the process I didn't offend anyone (except those who I purposely meant to offend). For suggestions, critiques, more information or simply to point out what an excellent article this turned out to be, simply email JF@Gords.com.