How to take a family bike ride has been sponsored. All opinions are mine.
Getting outdoors has always been not only fun for our family over the years, but with three young boys, it is a necessity! During the summer, it is hard to get motivated to get out and face the heat. The rewards of riding bicycles together as a family are worth the work it takes to get everything prepared. Some of our best times have been on a family bike ride!
There are a few things to plan for when riding bikes in the summer. Different ages means different ability levels. If you are going to be riding a far distance, you will want to plan for little legs to get tired. Our three year old loves to ride his bike with training wheels, but that just is not going to happen for a long bike ride. That is when we hook up the bike trailer to an adult bike and cart him around. The extra weight is a a great way to up the exercise factor for Mom or Dad, too!
We always ride bikes in the evenings when it is a little cooler, but if you are up for the midday heat, go for it! Just lather up the sunscreen.
When the kids get older, plan to go bike touring in Japan!
Things To Pack For A Summer Family Bike Ride
I have a basket on the front of my bicycle and a book rack on the back and Hubby and I both have water bottle holders, so that makes carrying things easy. We do usually have to take a backpack for other items, though.
- Cool towels really help with the heat. Just get them wet and wear them on your neck and you will be amazed at how much cooler you will feel.
- Lots of water! You will need at least one bottle of cold water for every member of the family, per 30 minutes you will be out in the heat. More water may be necessary for wetting the cool towels or washing hands.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Wear breathable clothes, helmets, and tennis shoes with socks. This is both for comfort and safety. You will see from the pictures that my kids do not always follow all of these rules, but it is the safest and best way to ride bikes in the summer.
- Snacks! You just never know when you or your kids will be hungry. For us, it always happens at random times and we have to be prepared unless we want to turn around after 10 minutes and go home.
Our kids all love chips and pretzels, and carbs are a great way to replenish the energy used on a family bike ride. Take breaks and refuel with lots of water and snacks, like Snyder’s-Lance snack packs. The kids can choose what snack they prefer. (Choices are always good for kids and parents, too!)
These snack packs are perfect on-the-go snacks for family bike rides, road trips, picnics, team sports events, outdoor concerts, hiking trips, visits to the lake or beach, or anywhere your summer takes you! The single-serve sizes are great for portion control and not having to store a big bag and having pretzels spill all over the floor of the van. (Yes, speaking from experience!)
What are your tips for enjoying a family bike ride?
