Cycling Families

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Comment by Liz W. Durham on November 21, 2009 at 6:46am

Why oh why can't Chicago be motivated for family cycling like this http://bikeportland.org/2009/11/20/portland-rolls-out-its-latest-fo...

Comment by Bob Kastigar on October 2, 2009 at 7:34am

This is a GREAT opportunity to take the kids out on a bike tour; the ride will be short (less than 5 miles or so) and very slow speed (Ald Laurino isn't a regular bike rider!)

THIS Sunday, Oct 4th at 10:00 AM

Starts at Bryn Mawr (5600 North) and Kostner (4400 West). Map: http://tinyurl.com/mqgu5c

Chicago's newest bike path, the Saugansh Trail, Valley Line Multi-Use Trail Project Completed Crews have completed work on the Valley Line Trail project. The one mile long, multi-use trail was constructed on a former railroad embankment located just east of Kostner Avenue between Bryn Mawr Avenue and Devon Avenue in the Sauganash community.

Also known as "Marge's Mile" after Alderman Margaret Laurino, 39th Ward, who will lead the ride and provide historical notes of interest about the surrounding neighborhood.

More information: http://www.neiu.edu/~BikeNEIU/Ward39.html

So far, no rain scheuduled, bit just in case check the Alderman's web site, http://www.aldermanlaurino.com/

Comment by Bike and Roll Chicago on June 17, 2009 at 4:21pm

Check out Bike and Roll's most popular tour, the Amazing Lakefront Tour. This ride includes it all: beaches, lagoons, gardens, animals, architecture and good times! Plus it's kid friendly! For more info. and info. on all of our tours click, Bike and Roll Chicago Tours

Comment by Jane Healy on June 4, 2009 at 9:56am

There is a great book called _Bicycling with Children_ by Trudy Bell, that can be an excellent reference on things like bike fit, bike style, and understanding kids on bikes.

From my own experience with three kids, as well as running a kids bike club, a good way to get kids to ride without the training wheels is to get them comfortable with the balance first, then get them soloing.

Step 1: Remove the pedals, training wheels, and lower the seat. The child's feet should be able to be flat on the ground when sitting on the seat.

Step 2: Let child "scooter" on the bike. Start on straight lines, then go to turns. Once mastered, have the child start to pick up their feet for longer distances to glide on the bike. If you have a low grassy hill in your area, you can have them practice on it.

Step 3: Add the pedals back on. Remind children that bikes are UNstable when they are going slowly. Decent speed makes a bike MORE stable and safe.

Step 4: After about a week of good riding with pedals, you can start to move the bike seat up. Don't rush this step until they really show mastery. While it might kill your or I to ride with our seat so low, kids knees are strong!

Kids with good gross motor skills or older kids usually can go from training wheels to no training wheels in a couple of hours (sometimes much less).

Once soloing, remember that kids under the age of 8 or 9 have a hard time with critical thinking skills. They literally can't see beyond the parked cars and are unable to think of what they can't see. They also don't get that turn signals = turning cars, or that all car drivers can't see them.

This should not dissuade you from street riding, but you need to remember it because little kids will make hairy manoevers that will freak you out if you aren't anticipating them. * Talk to kids all the time when you ride! * "Hey, we are coming up to a busy street, get ready to stop. Okay, start stopping... STOP!" Sounds like overkill but it make a HUGE difference when riding with little kids.

Positioning: ride behind, and slightly to the right of, little kids. This way you can oversee what they are doing while blocking traffic from behind.

Don't be afraid to take over the street. You have the right to be there and you want cars to go WAY around you. A car who has to pass on the far left side of the street is paying attention a lot more than a car passing close to you in "their" lane.

Also remember that little ones are easily distracted when they ride. I can't tell you how many times I've had kids run into parked cars when I've been riding with them! They love checking things out around them (and let's face it, that's part of why we ALL love being on a bike), but that curiosity can also work against them.

Comment by Homebuilt on March 20, 2009 at 9:31am

So, I think we're going to start the 5yo on the way to training-wheel-independence this spring. Her best friend is already trying it, so we can't really say no. Any hints/experience? I imagine a I'll be doing a lot of running along the sidewalk.

Comment by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on February 17, 2009 at 2:07pm

Does anyone know a group my nephew can join in and around Deerfield? He is 7 years old.

Comment by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on February 5, 2009 at 4:15pm

Hi Families! I'm doing a project for school designing child safety products. I'm in the research stage right now, and I started a discussion with some questions. If anyone has time and would like to help, here's a link to the discussion:
http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/kind-of-ot-parents-of

Thanks!
Gabe

Comment by Lee Diamond on February 5, 2009 at 4:12pm

Thanks Nick. I have been meaning to get there to do some volunteering anywho.....i will do so soon! Thanks again - lee

Comment by spacemodular on February 4, 2009 at 4:47pm

Hi Lee,

My brother Alex at West Town Bikes has built some custom bikes for special needs kids. He has also built trailers. Based on what you are saying - you are going to need something custom built. With some planning and ingenuity I think you could fabricate something that fits the bill, but doesn't have the outrageous price tag that I have seen on commercial built special needs equipment. You should talk to my bro (he's here on the chainlink as well) and he should be able to get you started on this project. I don't think he can do the project for you at this time (he is very busy with WTB) but he would be more than willing to talk to you about it. Good times to see him in person are at the open shops on Tuesday night (7-10pm) and Saturday afternoons (noon-6pm) at West Town Bikes. Just touch base with him to make sure that he will be available.

Good luck with your project - I think it is doable without breaking the bank.

Nick

p.s. Our pediatrician said 9 months or whenever our son could hold his head up before biking with him.

Comment by Lee Diamond on February 4, 2009 at 12:03pm

Hi guys, I am hoping this group in particular has a good solution for my dilmena. I have a 5 year old son with Cerebal Palsy. He spends the majority of his life lying down, and his wheelchair is permanently inclined. It is my dream to do some cycling with him! I am building my wife a nice Raleigh 3-speed and when our daughter is a little older (she's 4 months now - waiting a bit per wife's directive before cycling with her), I would like seat for her, and a trailer for Jackson. The problem is that the seat for Jackson needs to be inclined more than any of the seats I have seen. The Burley top of the line models, while pricey as heck have an inclined seat, but it is barely inclined at all, and would not prevent Jackson's reflux and discomfort. It also needs some head support, but being a creative guy, I think I can work something up with padding, needle, thread and velcro.

Now I have personally seen some special needs models but we can't even get insurance to pay for obvious needs so there is zero chance they would pay for something like a special needs trailer for a bicycle and the cost is astronomical.

Therefore I am wondering if any of you cycling families have come across a trailer that can be rigged to ride at an angle, or allow enough adjustability to keep our son no steeper than say 40 degrees.

Crossing fingers and looking forward to replies. Thanks all - Lee Diamond

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