Mountain Biking as a Family - A Beginners Guide

As a child, some of my fondest memories were going out for bike rides with my Mum and Dad. We would head out in the car, our mountain bikes safely secured on the roof or tow bar, and arrive at our destination what felt like an eternity later (probably about 45 minutes!). It was usually at a flat, family friendly cycling trail where we could head out together, enjoy some fresh air and explore the beautiful surroundings. We would chat, we would laugh at my Mum struggling to get up the hills, and we would stick our legs out to the side and say “wwwweeeeeee” when we started our well earned decent after finally reaching the top.

(Excuse the quality of this pic – it was 1994!)

Having recently returned from a family holiday and hiring mountain bikes whilst we were there, it’s safe to say that I have very quickly caught the cycling bug again. Not only was a mountain bike an easy and quick way to get around and explore the village, but I love the feeling of freedom it gave me – the breeze flowing through my hair, the acceleration as we whizzed down the hills, the time to clear my brain of all those hectic thoughts, and the satisfaction of physically pushing myself, working my way through the gears as we worked our way back to our destination. I am tempted to invest in some mountain bikes for Mike and I, with the aim of getting out more as a family, exploring the beauty of our local area and making the most of our weekends together.

Ten benefits of cycling together as a family include:

An escape from the ‘norm’ – for a city dweller like myself, going on a family cycle is a great way to remind yourself what your local area has to offer outside of your normal surroundings.
Seeing new places – cycling allows you to reach destinations further away than you would ordinarily reach on foot – streams, woodland areas, picturesque trails – there is so much of the local area we are yet to explore.
Mountain biking as a family is a low impact high cardio sport, that you don’t have to be a fitness expert to begin, you can start slowly, visit flat and easy trails first, and slowly build your way up.
For children, mountain biking helps build stamina and endurance, and improve their overall fitness levels.
Practice makes perfect – regular cycling can help children improve their coordination and balance – what better place to learn to ride a bike than away from the busy car filled roads?
Better sleep – physical exertion combined with the fresh air of the great outdoors pretty much guarantees the children (and you!) getting a good night’s sleep
Cycling is exercise that doesn’t feel like a chore, a fun, light-hearted and rewarding form of exercise that everyone can enjoy.
Cycling even small distances can be a huge mood boost and stress reducer
Mountain biking with your children can give you time to bond as a family, talking, laughing and making memories.
A bike ride can help you appreciate nature and wildlife – fresh air, trees, woodlands and animals you may come across on your journey.

Thanks to Halfords’ Beginners Guide To Mountain Biking, we have been getting lots of hints and tips about where to start our mountain biking journey, with advice and guidance on everything from choosing our bikes (make, model, wheel size and tyres), to what kit we should wear, and where to find the best ‘green’ routes, or beginners cycling routes across the country.

With the girls both being five and below, they are not quite big enough to have an official mountain bike of their own, however, most local trails allow you to hire bikes nearby, including trailers or ride along seats. Having used a trailer on holiday, I know that this would be ideal for Neve, who will quite happily be driven around like lady muck whilst exerting no effort whatsoever. Erin however has just learned how to pedal her first basic bike (after a LOT of practice) and whilst she is still using her stabilisers, a family friendly trail like Cannock Chase’s Fairoak and Sherbrook roots is an ideal place to help her gain her confidence and practice her balance.

For more adventurous riders like Mike, who may crave a more challenging or adrenaline filled route, Cannock Chase has two other trails – The Red Monkey Trail and Follow the Dog, with single width tracks, stones, steps and tree routes as well as steep climbs and quick descents.

My only other advice (from personal experience) when cycling as a family would be:

Take lots of snacks, and plenty of water, whether that be in bottles or a camelpack. There are likely to be number of pit stops on your route and the last thing you need is a hungry or thirsty toddler!
If you decide to head out on an unofficial route, make sure you plan the route in advance and try and stick to a double back relatively short distance initially – the last thing you want to do is cycle so far on the way out that everyone is too tired to do the return leg!
Be prepared for the unexpected – pack a puncture repair kit, a mini first aid kit, and insect repellent – there can be lots of midges in the woodland / forest, especially if you are out in the late summer afternoons.
Wear sunscreen – just because you think your hidden under the cover of the trees, you will be amazed how many cyclists return with a red nose!
Take your camera and capture the moment! 🙂 I am so glad I have photos like this to look back on! 🙂

I’m really looking forward to introducing mountain biking into our family routine. What other tips would you suggest for beginners trying to do the same?

*This is a collaborative post*