When children learn to ride a bike, it's like a birthday and Christmas in one day for bike-loving parents. The first tooth, the first steps, the first words. All well and good, but riding a bike is a huge evolutionary step towards a family bike tour, a podium at a junior race, a family holiday in a bike hotel. But be careful! If you want to force such expectations and dreams, you can spoil the fun of cycling for your children. The most important prerequisite for family cycling fun: suitable equipment and measured motivation.
- the right frame size for the respective age groups
- for child trailers and bicycles
- to the child seat on the parent bike
- for child-orientated motivation
- to stylish bike clothing
- for dosed training
- and bike holidays
You can find the entire children's special as a free PDF download below.
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And here are the interviews with the experts on the subject of "Kids on Bike":
Stephan Hahn - Development Engineering, S'cool Bikes.
Topic: The special requirements for children's bikes
What should I look out for in the geometry of the bike?
The problem is that almost all parameters differ in relation to those of adults. In addition, unlike adult bikes (where all the basic data remains unchanged over the term), children's bikes are confronted with variable data (the child grows continuously). In other words, smart "tricks" have to be used to develop a vehicle that is suitable for many (or growing) children. Downsizing (even if it is currently fashionable in other sectors ;-) ) is completely wrong, which is also the reason why even the most renowned bicycle manufacturers do not necessarily build good children's bikes.
Where does the design differ completely from that of adult bikes?
a. Changing driver data
b. Weight ratios (driver to vehicle)
c. Riding behaviour (lower speed range, lower vehicle control, completely different area of use)
d. Each bike size has a completely different target group/rider behaviour (a bit like DH freeride ATB marathon)
What role does weight play? How can it be optimised?
Weight plays THE decisive role! The aim is to
a. to teach children how to ride and handle safely
b. to make cycling fun for the children.
c. As our comparative calculations make clear (see appendix), children have to handle a vehicle many times their body weight, which is detrimental to both safety and fun. For this reason, deVELOpment has developed an optimum weight/performance ratio for children with the new Scool XXLite series.
What price range is there for this on the market?
NONE! There are fixed price points that are cemented like nothing else. If you go beyond that, the buyer group collapses completely except for a few fans. It is inexplicable why parents spend a lot of money on many things that are irrelevant to children's development, but are prepared to compromise on the healthiest and most important children's product (a child will never be more mobile and athletic than when getting on a bike). Maybe it's because you can't recognise low weight, good ergonomics and suitable geometry and the layman thinks it's all just money-making...).
The parents are obviously not aware that, for example, a spoke reflector that has already been lost does not offer the same level of safety in an emergency as a reflective strip on the tyres (which costs a few euros more) (all S'cool bikes are fitted with reflective tyres according to our own SQS standard)!
Peter Voitl, Voitl Bikes
Topic: Children's bikes and attachments have to be cool and fit.
What are the critical points for children's bikes?
First of all, children's bikes are too heavy across the board, but this is a question of price. With the psychological price scales of 249, 399 and 499 euros, it is difficult for manufacturers to build a good and light bike. However, there are things that could be avoided.
What are these things?
Especially unergonomic grips, but also cranks that are too long and heavy attachments such as saddles and pedals. In addition, cables should be routed under the top tube of a children's bike. What child is going to shoulder their bike?
What about suspension, brakes and gears?
Of course, it's all about the coolness factor of the parts. The kids prefer to ride with the optical equipment of adults. But there is hardly a sensible suspension fork for children. No child needs 27 gears either. You have to try to make the gear hub cool so that everyone wants it.
Michi Grätz, Liteville
Topic: Children's bikes, weights and suspension
There are rumours that Liteville is designing a children's bike. Is that true?
Yes, there is a joint project for a children's bike frame with Cube, which both manufacturers then equip differently.
How did this come about?
When I was looking for a bike for my son, I realised that the existing models didn't fit properly. There were people at Cube with similar experiences. We have since developed a prototype together.
What should you pay particular attention to when designing a children's bike?
The factors are actually the same as for adult bikes. The only difference is that the add-on parts often don't fit. The rule is that the arm length and the Q-factor of the cranks fitted are far too long and the bottom bracket is too high. When a child rides such a bike, it looks horrible.
Another problem is often the high weight of children's bikes. Where do you see the pain threshold?
We are planning a maximum weight of seven kilos for our 20-inch bike. Even that is still a good 30 per cent of the rider's weight if the child weighs between 20 and 25 kilos. You have to imagine that for an adult.
What is the equipment that makes such a weight possible?
Suspension is to be provided by a 2.4-inch tyre that can be ridden with low air pressure. Children usually only ride on gravel tracks, and they are so light that suspension elements cannot function properly.
What brakes and gears are fitted?
When it comes to brakes, there are weight, cost and safety reasons in favour of V-brakes. A disc simply requires more experience. In addition, 7 to 9 gears are sufficient. Children don't need that much range.
Martina Ottmar, social pedagogue and mother of three children
Topic: Motivation on the tour
Cycling with children - what should parents look out for?
'Challenging but not overwhelming' is often the key to a successful family outing. The tour must remain manageable for the children, intermediate destinations must not be too far apart and, of course, the tour must be manageable. Parents who go on a tour with their children need to lower their own expectations considerably.
Which terrain is suitable?
If you set off with children, you should know the surroundings and the route well. Where are the climbs and how long are they, are there any interesting rest points, waterfalls or similar. Emergency exits are also very important, where you can stop the tour in case of problems. If you are not familiar with the route, you should study the maps beforehand. Longer climbs are poison - no child likes cycling uphill non-stop for an hour.
What distances can you cycle with children?
This varies greatly and also depends heavily on age. In my experience, the form of the day also plays a big role. I've been out with children who don't get tired at all, while others ask after two minutes: "How much longer?" I really can't give any figures. But I have noticed that many parents can judge their children well.
Erik Becker, fitness expert from Beckercoaching
Topic: Training and protection mechanisms
What should you look out for when cycling with children?
It's always about the same thing: sport with children should always be fun and age-orientated. It is important to differentiate between chronological and biological age. There are early and late developers.
What distances can children be expected to cover?
There is no rule of thumb for this either. However, the fear that children could be harmed is unfounded. Children have a well-developed self-protection mechanism that makes it almost impossible to overload them. The prerequisite is that no pressure to perform is built up.
How should children be motivated?
It is important to clearly state the destination of the tour and plan in breaks. For example: "We're going to the ice cream parlour in the neighbouring village", the reward is already included. Sometimes children are even over-motivated, so you have to slow them down a bit. The trick as parents is to develop a feel for this.
What should be done if the child has nevertheless exhausted itself and doesn't want to go on?
You should have a kind of emergency programme ready just in case. It is important to package towing or pushing in a playful way. This way, the support can have a motivating effect again.
If everything has gone well and the kids are keen on biking, at what age should they start training properly?
That depends on your biological age. With performance-oriented training, for example, an eleven-year-old can already ride 1500 kilometres a year, but should do an additional 70 units of athletics training in the same period. These should also be playful and include coordination exercises wherever possible: half an hour playing frisbee would be one such unit.
Peter Brodschelm, riding technique expert and tour guide
Topic: Driving technique for children
How can I practise riding technique with my child?
It is very important that each exercise is packed into a game. This works best in a group of children. You can really grab their ambition there.
When should you start?
Technical training makes sense for children from the age of six, when they are sufficiently physically developed.
What should the first goals look like?
Riding with foresight and correct movement on the bike are particularly important. Parents should also make sure that their child learns to ride standing up.
What do I do if my child doesn't feel like it?
The best way to show children the benefits is to demonstrate the movement. Then they usually realise the benefits. However, if my child is afraid, I have to try to understand why. This is often due to the bike, slippery pedals or shoes.
How else can you practise?
By riding simple off-road routes with the child - and doing so regularly. However, you can also play small action or skill games such as slalom on a short circuit if you can find a suitable place to do so.
