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I have always loved riding a bicycle. Riding bikes on the country roads or around the campgrounds on family vacations are some of my favorite childhood memories. I still love the thrill of the wind rushing in my face as I race down hills at our favorite state parks. My parents did not join us then, but now, in their sixties, we enjoy family biking together with my parents and my children. We usually forgo the big hills and create memories on leisurely rides through the woods on the Longleaf Trace, a part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

We’ve made memories of rabbits and snakes, flowers and trees, and wasps and rain. We’ve walked around with sore bottoms after the first ride of spring (even padded bicycle seats definitely take getting used to!) and tended scrapes from small wrecks.

After studying China, we’ve hunted bamboo to save for the pet panda our little boy determined he would have soon. We’ve collected rocks and leaves, and we’ve taken pictures of flowers and other interesting finds along the way.

As we ride we praise God for the beautiful weather, nature He created, and healthy bodies that allow us to enjoy riding. As we look at a plant, my mom may ask the little ones, “Who made that?” And talk about the glory of God in creation.

When was the last time you rode a bike? The saying is true. “It’s like riding a bike!” You don’t forget how.

Family biking can be a great experience both for exercise and for creating lifelong memories together. I’ve discover a few tips that for a fun, smooth experience.

Tips for Creating Memories through Family Biking

Prepare bikes: Make sure you air up bike tires to the maximum poundage listed on the tire. My dad check ours and uses his air compressor to fill the up. Also, a little WD-40 on chains and wheels make a smoother, quieter ride. Check brakes as well.

Water & Snacks: Use a back carrier rack or light back pack to bring plenty of healthy snacks and maybe a few sweet treats. I love to pack apples and oranges, nuts, granola bars, crackers, and sometime a few cookies.

Little Ones: I love my bike trailer for hauling babies to preschoolers. I like it better than an attachment on my bicycle because if I were to have an accident, the trailer will stay upright. At first, I was afraid it would be too hard to pull with, but once I get going, I can hardly tell it is back there. It is a two seater with padded harness seatbelts.

My-four-year-old just got his first big boy bike for Christmas. He rides pretty well, though the training wheels slow him down a little. He’s not quite up for such a long ride as the rest of us. When he gets too tired, we leave his bike on the side of the trail and he rides in the trailer. Then on the way back through, after a little rest, he rides his bike again.

Older Kids: Our teens can outride me and the little ones anyway, so they would get bored having to go slow and stay with us. We allow them to ride ahead to a certain point (often with my dad who can outside us all), then either stop and wait or ride back toward us.

Plan for the weather: One of our daughters has albinism, so we always need sunglasses and sunscreen.  (We use Blue Lizard ™  because it is so highly recommended by other parents.) Sometimes we take a light jacket. We have ridden through surprise showers and wished we had ponchos!

Tools: It’s always a good idea to take some basic tools for inevitable bike trouble. A bike mounted pump can prevent walking all the way back to the car (which we have done!) after a flat. A multi tool can come in handy for adjusting seats, tightening handlebars, or repairing chains.

Camera: Definitely bring a phone or camera to document the trip and interesting finds. Just don’t spend so much time behind the lens that you miss out on riding! I like to enjoy riding the first half, then stop and take pictures on the way back when we are a little tired and need more breaks anyway!

Safety: Obey the rules of the trail. Some require helmets, which are best for safety anyway. Most advise you to call out when passing and to ride on the right hand side of the trail. I constantly remind my kids to look ahead, not beside or behind them to talk! Also, remember to warn the person behind you before stopping of slowing down to avoid a collision. Levi wrecked to keep from hitting his sister who stopped suddenly on our last trip.

Fun over exercise: With family biking, the fun takes precedence over the exercise. Stop to smell the roses. Don’t get frustrated with the slow pace or breaks needed by little ones or inexperienced bikers. Just enjoy the experience of being outdoor together!

Tracking Miles: I use my Fitbit Charge 2™ to track our miles. It’s fun to see the stats of average mph, the circles I made in the parking lot, and my heart rate. It is especially helpful in places without mile markers.

What if you don’t live near any bike trails?

We drive over forty-five minutes to bike at the Longleaf Trace. That means loading eight bikes and a bike trailer on our trailer-hitch bike rack and in the back of our van. It is not an easy or quick task, but well worth it! The Longleaf Trace is a part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy program which transforms unused railroads into recreation trails. Check here to see if there is one near you.

When we have some time, but not enough to go to the trail, we ride at a couple local parks. Check the rules to make sure the park allows bikes first. We like to ride a small paved trail that surrounds the playground at our local park or ride around the parking lots and fields at a sports complex when games are not being played. Always watch for pedestrians and be respectful of others.

Most often, we ride in the church parking lot across the street from our house. Riding in circles does get old, but it’s fun for a while and we don’t have to load up bikes! If you live in a neighborhood with little traffic, you might ride around the block or down the street. Some friends ride around the parking lot of the local school after school hours. Check for both safety and permission before riding in a new location.

We also love to take our bikes to state parks. State parks have very low speed limits and drivers are accustomed to both hikers and bikers. Big hills make for hard climbs where we must get off and walk our bikes, but then we experience the fun of soaring down. (Definitely a place for helmets and teaching young kids to use breaks to keep from racing down the hill too fast.) Go for a camping trip or just for the day to experience memory-making family fun.

Take advantage of the weather, get out with the kids, and ride!

Family biking provides wonderful opportunities for creating lifelong memories in everyday moments! Plus you get the added benefit of much needed exercise and fresh air in a day when both kids and parents spend too much time in front of a screen. Maybe we’ll see you on the trail!