Last week on the Oakeley blog we featured news of a brand new mountain bike trail that’s opening in Mid Wales, not far from us here at the Oakeley Arms.

Well if you’d like to get out and explore Wales on two wheels but are wondering how to get the whole family involved, then read on for some top tips and ideas! You’ll soon all be out and about, making the most of beautiful Wales and all the wonderful mountain bike opportunities there are here.

Big kids, little kids and even grown-ups will love the thrill of a day out with the bikes. Not only do you get to explore somewhere you wouldn’t otherwise have seen from the car, but at the end of a day filled with adventure and fresh air, the children will be too exhausted to do anything but sleep and the grown-ups will have deserved a refreshing drink, or three.

And the benefits of family cycling have long been cheered. Children will love the freedom and independence that it gives them, it starts them on a good road to fitness and a healthy, active lifestyle and it helps them learn balance and co-ordination skills. And best of all, after the initial outlay for a bike, it’s a free activity!

If you think that mountain biking is for speed demons who like to throw themselves down mountains every weekend, then it’s time to re-think. As in Coed y Brenin, many mountain bike centres now cater for all abilities and families with various grades of track and trails. And you don’t even have to visit a dedicated mountain bike centre either. There are off-road cycle trails that are safe for families dotted across the country – these often utilise abandoned railway tracks or are in parks so they’re often mostly flat.

 

Essential Kit

If you already have bikes, then it’s easy (if you don’t own bikes and need to hire them, then look out for trails and forestry that have a bike hire facility – many do). There are plenty of options for carrying your bikes – carriers can hold anything from one to five bikes. Some carriers fit onto the tailgate for bikes to be carried at the rear, and others sit on the roof so that bikes are secured onto the top of the car. It’s best to ask advice from your local bike shop who will be able to help, or stores like Halfords. In order to stay safe and legal, you’ll need to remember that the driver must be able to see properly out of the rear window when the bikes are mounted and the car’s number plates and lights must never be obscured. Depending on the carrier, this might mean an additional light board or number plate bar attached to the back of the bikes. And if you choose to transport bikes on the top of the car then don’t forget to make a note of the car’s total height including bikes in case you need to use car parks with height barriers or multi-storey car parks.

So, once the car carrier is sorted you really need little else. Some extra bungee cords are always useful, as are some bike locks and of course don’t forget helmets for the whole family.

 

 

Family Fun

Now that you’re ready to set off on your biking adventure, a little planning and preparation on the day will ensure that everyone has a great time and no-one is throwing their bike to the floor and stomping off in a rage by 10am. Do a bit of research before you set off – is there parking nearby, or will you have to cycle to the cycle trail? Is there a café or refreshments available? If not, then pack a picnic and let the children choose the picnic spot. Check what other facilities are nearby – some mountain bike centres have bike washes, bike hire and repair huts, showers and toilets. And don’t forget to check the grading of the trails (see our guide below) so that you know what to expect in advance and don’t inadvertently take the kids on a black graded route…..

Children will love the adventure of mountain biking – after all its full of opportunities to get really muddy, to get really lost and to eat lots of biscuits for sustenance – so make sure it stays a fun day out for them. Be realistic about their abilities and don’t try to push them too far; it’s a fun family day out not an endurance test! If they start to get bored, younger children might respond well to fun activities such as nature spotting, a treasure hunt or an ice cream stop en-route.

If you’ve got really small children you can still take them along for the ride. There are several options for attaching child carriers onto your bike. Seats that sit behind the rider or in front of them are readily available, as are trailers that attach to the rear of the bike – these are great for carrying more than one child, although restrict your cycling somewhat to level trails.

Your local bike shop can give you more advice on baby and toddler seats, but don’t forget to pick up a helmet for your little one and take some extra layers for them – they’ll get colder quicker they’ll be sitting still. But using a toddler seat or trailer is a fantastic way to get children involved and used to being on a bike from an early age.

And now all you need to do is get on your bike and have some fun! What better way to enjoy a family camping holiday than on two wheels with the wind in your hair? And hopefully you’ll inspire the next generation of bike addicts who’ll get a big kick from a day out in the great outdoors. See you on the trail!

image by Crissy Pauley

Mountain Bike Trail Colour Codes

Understand the colour coded trails at mountain bike centres so you know what you’re letting yourself in for!

• Green graded trails are classified as “easy” and suitable for novice cyclists as well as children and bikes with child seats or carriers, or for cyclists with disabilities.
• Blue graded trails as the next level up and are suitable for cyclists with previous experience hybrids or solid tourers.
• Red marked trails are for cyclists with a lot of experience of trails and are really only suitable for use with mountain bikes, rather than tourers.
• The black graded trails definitely shouldn’t be attempted by beginners! These are for expert and experienced mountain bikers and are full of technical and physical challenges.

Find out more at www.imba.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find out more at www.imba.org.uk