Need bike-help for son

W.L. Sartore said:

Anyway . . . we need to get our ten-year-old exercising. He's pretty much
the way I used to be when I was his age - overweight! Having been down

that

Quoted message said:

road, I know what it's like for mom and dad to want you to do something

and

Quoted message said:

end up hating it.

I've come to enjoy biking as my means of exercising (not enough lately)

and

Quoted message said:

relaxation. I'd like to share it with him - but don't want to push to the
point of having him hate it. He usualy enjoyed going on bike trips but
lately he has come to dislike it because he gets out of breath easily.

This may (in part) be a matter of either poor technique, improper fit, or
both. People who mash the petals (use lots of force with too high a gear)
get tired out/out of breath easily. If he is seriously overweight, that can
also be a contributing factor. If you get resistance trying to correct
this, don't try. He's approaching the age when anything that comes from Mom
or Dad is automatically poisoned. Get someone else involved who knows what
they are doing.

Quoted message said:

THe
doc checked him out and assured us he just needs to get in shape.

I know his present bike is too small now and, besides,it weighs a ton.

Both of those can contribute to him being out of breath (especially too
small). In addition, too small can cause knee pain that take some of the
fun out of cycling.

Quoted message said:

This
brings up the next question - How do I steer him away from the typical
Toy's R Us flashy, HEAVY, springs-and-shocks-all-over-the-place kind of
bike to something of better quality that usually lacks the kiddy-kurb
appeal?

There are plenty of high-quality bikes with all the bells and whistles at
the local bike shop. For a price, he can have the most comfortable, easiest
riding bike in the neighborhood, with all the flash and glitz of any X-mart
bike. In addition, there will be someone there who will be able and willing
to maintain the bike should it need it.

One other thing, he may need some incentive to ride. There are a variety of
ways to do this. Going on family rides that "turn around" at the local ice
cream stand can help. (I know this sounds counter-productive, but first you
have to make cycling FUN.)

Another approach is to "link" his allowance to the miles on the new cycling
computer you are going to get with the new bike, for example having a bonus
every week with more than 50 new miles, and a much bigger bonus when it hits
100 new miles per week. Maybe it would be more effective to link a new
video game to completing enough miles over a longer period of time.

Enroll him in a "street smarts" or "effective cycling" course, and then let
him go farther on his bike. Try to equate bike == freedom, such that he
can't go more than a block on foot, but a mile on bike (or whatever is
appropriate for your situation).

Austin
--
I'm pedaling as fast as I durn well please!
There are no X characters in my address

W.L. Sartore said:

I know his present bike is too small now and, besides,it weighs a ton. This
brings up the next question - How do I steer him away from the typical
Toy's R Us flashy, HEAVY, springs-and-shocks-all-over-the-place kind of
bike to something of better quality that usually lacks the kiddy-kurb
appeal?

BMX style? No shocks, one gear, etc. And it encourages short spurts of
pedalling- coasting, which can get him moving without making him like
a loser because of no breathe. Once he spends some time and gets a
taste of the freedom a bike can give him, he could go to a different
style.

But then again, whatever you or I say, it will be wrong for a 10 year
old boy. It might be hard to do, but the best might be to let him pick
a bike.

Maybe the thing to do is give him a number, a dollar amount. Enough to
go to a real bike shop and see what's there. Take him to a good shop,
let him look, ride, etc. Once he has the option to get a good bike,
you'll probably have to just accept whatever appeals to him.

"W.L. Sartore" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

How do I steer him away from the typical
Toy's R Us flashy, HEAVY, springs-and-shocks-all-over-the-place kind of
bike to something of better quality that usually lacks the kiddy-kurb
appeal?

Make it fun. Get a BMX bike and build a ramp.

If your son is not into any "eXtreme" stuff, try a ride with a reward
at the end. My family and I (9-year-old on bike, 5-year-old in
trailer) typically go seven miles with some frozen custard, soft serve
ice cream, a fruit smoothie, or something equally scrumptious at our
destination.

RFM

"W.L. Sartore" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I know his present bike is too small now and, besides,it weighs a ton.

This

Quoted message said:

brings up the next question - How do I steer him away from the typical
Toy's R Us flashy, HEAVY, springs-and-shocks-all-over-the-place kind of
bike to something of better quality that usually lacks the kiddy-kurb
appeal?

Mike J - any suggestions?

I second the BMX recommendations. Depending on size, of course. A tall/large
10 year old could get away with a smallish MTB, but would probably quickly
grow out of it.

My son didn't graduate from a BMXer to a small MTB (GT Avalanche) until age
13.

Any BMX tracks in your area?

Pete

Quoted message said:

I know his present bike is too small now and, besides,it weighs a ton.
This
brings up the next question - How do I steer him away from the typical
Toy's R Us flashy, HEAVY, springs-and-shocks-all-over-the-place kind of
bike to something of better quality that usually lacks the kiddy-kurb
appeal?

That can be a tough one. The el-cheapo bikes aren't great at being bikes,
but believe me, they put a whole lot more money into researching what makes
something *look* cool than the "real" bike companies do. That's beginning
to change, but geez, you ought to see the way some of us dealers react when
a company like TREK shows us their latest offerings, and we're remarking
"Yuck, they look like something from K-Mart", not realizing that that's not
always a bad thing.

10 years old? What are the riding opportunities in your area? Is it mostly
flat or hilly? Is it practical for him to ride to school?

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"W.L. Sartore" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[...]
I know his present bike is too small now and, besides,it weighs a ton. This
brings up the next question - How do I steer him away from the typical
Toy's R Us flashy, HEAVY, springs-and-shocks-all-over-the-place kind of
bike to something of better quality that usually lacks the kiddy-kurb
appeal?
Thanks!
Bill S.

BMX is the way to go. They are durable and don't have too much junk on
them and are pretty much kid-proof. They do have curb appeal. I
wouldn't worry about form and any kind of distance riding. Kids find
that stuff boring. Other kinds of bikes will be expensive and have to
be fitted and will be outgrown in a year or less at that age.

Show some videos of people doing bmx tricks to jazz him up about it.
Get those axle extension thingies so he can take his friends with him
on a ride.

I got my 9 niece a bmx bike this summer. She is pretty much in the
same boat as your kid. Her thing is that she does not want to exert
herself in any way. Uphill is out of the question for her. I had to
explain to her while she was whining that it is _NOT_ possible to take
a ride that is _ALL_ downhill and end up in the same place that one
started.

On the other hand if she plays on the bike with other kids, she works
herself up into a frenzy and exhaustion (a good thing). Going on a
bike ride with the uncle is a hell-trip, however.

Thanks for all the suggestions. This may be a tough one.

We're checking into some alternative stuff as well (gyms and indoor pools)

Southwest PA is rather hilly and the winter / spring WX can be quite cold
and wet. There's plenty of groomed trails in the area - one reason for my
favoring a hybrid over a BMX.

-Bill S

I have to respectfully disagree with those who suggest BMX style bikes. BMX bikes are tough enough to handle anything a kid will throw at them but arn't much fun if you plan on riding several miles with a mild hill or head wind. For that type of riding you need something with gears to make the ride easier. For a 10 year old the wind is magnified due to the lack of weight and the gears are necessary to make the ride enjoyable (would you want to ride in wind & hills on a single track?).

I have 9 & 12 year old kids and I managed to get both of them into cycling. Both started with mountain bikes and my oldest took to riding immediately while my youngest initially hated it. After disussing the matter with my 9 year old I found that she didn't like riding with wind or hills much becuase it was just too hard. Her bike was somewhat heavy (typical x-mart mountain bike) and she couldn't keep up very well until I started spending time teaching her how to shift. Eventually I got both kids road bikes and now they absolutley love riding. They can't wait for our scheduled rides and get upset if we can't make a ride (makes a dad proud 😉.

Bottom line, determine the type of riding you and your son are willing to do together and buy a bike that matches your type of riding. Don't fall for all the flashy stuff and get something that fits the purpose. Looks and Style might be cool initially but quickly wears off and is no fun after the first couple of weeks or first longish ride.

Dan.

"W.L. Sartore" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi gang!

Long time no see. I see a few names haven't changed. Howzit going Claire?
Still enjoying that rhubarb 'n cream? (bleeech) ;-)

Anyway . . . we need to get our ten-year-old exercising. He's pretty much
the way I used to be when I was his age - overweight! Having been down that
road, I know what it's like for mom and dad to want you to do something and
end up hating it.

I've come to enjoy biking as my means of exercising (not enough lately) and
relaxation. I'd like to share it with him - but don't want to push to the
point of having him hate it. He usualy enjoyed going on bike trips but
lately he has come to dislike it because he gets out of breath easily. THe
doc checked him out and assured us he just needs to get in shape.

I know his present bike is too small now and, besides,it weighs a ton. This
brings up the next question - How do I steer him away from the typical
Toy's R Us flashy, HEAVY, springs-and-shocks-all-over-the-place kind of
bike to something of better quality that usually lacks the kiddy-kurb
appeal?

Mike J - any suggestions?

Thanks!

Bill S.

When my older son was that age I was able to steer him away from the
cheap full suspension bike by having him pick it up and compare the
weight to the better quality bike shop alternative. He figured out
which one would be easier to ride pretty fast.

The challenge in buying a better quality bike for a 9yr old is that no
matter what you do he will grow out of the bike pretty quickly.
Having two kids, I can buy a decent bike for my older son and pass it
on to my younger son, and then in turn pass it on to friends with the
bike still having plenty of life in it. Still, it makes little sense
to go above the $200 range, which is why that seems to be the magic
price range for better quality 24" kids bikes.

The real problem in getting kids to ride these days is the idea of
bicycling as something you do with your parents vs. bicyling as a
source of mobility and freedom. My kids rebelled against the family
group ride thing pretty early. As a kid, a bicycle to me represented
"wheels" - the ability to go places and do things and experience
adventures independently. If your area is safe enough, you might
associate a new bike with the privelege of venturing further from
home.

"W.L. Sartore" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi gang!

Long time no see. I see a few names haven't changed. Howzit going Claire?
Still enjoying that rhubarb 'n cream? (bleeech) ;-)

Anyway . . . we need to get our ten-year-old exercising. He's pretty much
the way I used to be when I was his age - overweight! Having been down that
road, I know what it's like for mom and dad to want you to do something and
end up hating it.

I've come to enjoy biking as my means of exercising (not enough lately) and
relaxation. I'd like to share it with him - but don't want to push to the
point of having him hate it. He usualy enjoyed going on bike trips but
lately he has come to dislike it because he gets out of breath easily. THe
doc checked him out and assured us he just needs to get in shape.

I know his present bike is too small now and, besides,it weighs a ton. This
brings up the next question - How do I steer him away from the typical
Toy's R Us flashy, HEAVY, springs-and-shocks-all-over-the-place kind of
bike to something of better quality that usually lacks the kiddy-kurb
appeal?

Mike J - any suggestions?

Thanks!

Bill S.

Bill:

What do YOU ride? I ask because it makes a difference. My kids see
me commuting to work every day on roadbike. So...my daughter (15) has
a road bike, my son (13) is commuting to a summer job on his road
bike, my son (10) can't wait to grow an inch or so, so that I can
assemble the parts and frame down in my shop into HIS road bike, and
my youngest (5) is just putting up with waiting right now.

BMX is cool for some kids; but parental modelling works for others. I
should say that my 10-y-o inherited his older brother's 3x7
24"-wheeled MTB last year, and was so happy to get out of the
singlespeed trap it was kind of funny.

BanditManDan <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I have to respectfully disagree with those who suggest BMX style bikes.
BMX bikes are tough enough to handle anything a kid will throw at them
but arn't much fun if you plan on riding several miles with a mild hill
or head wind.

My 9-year-old son has a decent quality, multi-speed MTB that I bought
from the LBS for a few C notes. He enjoys the longish rides across
town with me, but he also enjoys beating the snot out of the bike just
having fun and being a kid. I'm amazed his rear derailer still
functions. His next bike will be a single-speed BMX with pegs.

For his birthday, he got a new pair of inline skates. Here's a game
the neighborhood kids have invented: Street dodgeball on skates.

RFM

"W.L. Sartore" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi gang!

Long time no see. I see a few names haven't changed. Howzit going Claire?
Still enjoying that rhubarb 'n cream? (bleeech) ;-)

Anyway . . . we need to get our ten-year-old exercising. He's pretty much
the way I used to be when I was his age - overweight! Having been down

that

Quoted message said:

road, I know what it's like for mom and dad to want you to do something

and

Quoted message said:

end up hating it.

I've come to enjoy biking as my means of exercising (not enough lately)

and

Quoted message said:

relaxation. I'd like to share it with him - but don't want to push to the
point of having him hate it. He usualy enjoyed going on bike trips but
lately he has come to dislike it because he gets out of breath easily. THe
doc checked him out and assured us he just needs to get in shape.

I know his present bike is too small now and, besides,it weighs a ton.

This

Quoted message said:

brings up the next question - How do I steer him away from the typical
Toy's R Us flashy, HEAVY, springs-and-shocks-all-over-the-place kind of
bike to something of better quality that usually lacks the kiddy-kurb
appeal?

Have you thought about buying him a BMX? With the popularity of the X Games
I'm sure BMX bikes have street cred. If you get him a racer maybe he'll want
to start racing BMX. Good way to learn excellent bike handling skills....
:-)

"W.L. Sartore" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi gang!

Long time no see. I see a few names haven't changed. Howzit going Claire?
Still enjoying that rhubarb 'n cream? (bleeech) ;-)

Emma still enjoys "The Seven Silly Eaters".

Quoted message said:

I've come to enjoy biking as my means of exercising (not enough lately)

and

Quoted message said:

relaxation. I'd like to share it with him - but don't want to push to the
point of having him hate it. He usualy enjoyed going on bike trips but
lately he has come to dislike it because he gets out of breath easily. THe
doc checked him out and assured us he just needs to get in shape.

What about doing tandem rides? My 11 year old is not confident in traffic on
her single, but she did a 35 mile ride with me this summer on the tandem. We
were just on Orcas Island (another post I gotta write, maybe tonight?) this
weekend, and she rode out with me from the ferry terminal to Camp Orkila. I
wouldn't be surprised if that ride had 700 feet of elevation gain (and loss)
over 10 miles. One or two of those hills we had to stop for a bit midway up
to catch our breath, but otherwise she could handle it just fine. She's now
talking about training for STP with me this spring.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply
Home of the meditative cyclist:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

"WTD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The real problem in getting kids to ride these days is the idea of
bicycling as something you do with your parents vs. bicyling as a
source of mobility and freedom. My kids rebelled against the family
group ride thing pretty early. As a kid, a bicycle to me represented
"wheels" - the ability to go places and do things and experience
adventures independently.

This depends so much on the personality of the kid. For me, yes, and for my
younger daughter, definitely -- bike = freedom. My 9 year old is currently
with an 11 year old cruising *outside the neighborhood* (a Big Deal, they'd
let you know), with the provision that she needs to be back in time for
dinner. She also has a frame of certain streets that she needs to stay
within, but it's a pretty long perimeter. Where she and her older friend go,
though, is for them to decide and explore.

The 9 year old, though, is a lousy tandem stoker -- suddenly lurches or
stalls, argues with the captain over nearly everything -- argh. My older
daughter, who does not hear the call of the freedom of the road, is a dandy
stoker -- steady, even, and happy to have me steer and determine the route.

So, what kind of kid do you have? The stuntman? Then BMX. The explorer? Then
maybe a smaller road bike. A team player? Then maybe you should find
yourself a used tandem.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply
Home of the meditative cyclist:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

"Claire Petersky" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

So, what kind of kid do you have? The stuntman? Then BMX. The
explorer? Then maybe a smaller road bike. A team player? Then maybe
you should find yourself a used tandem.

Actually, my son seems to go from "ball of energy" to "couch potato"
from one day to the next. We haven't made any decision on the bike yet.

We did join a local health club that caters to family types. The kids
can swim, play raquetball (something we'll have to learn), and there's a
slightly smaller basketball court as well. Matt loves playing basketball
(even though he's built like a linebacker) and enjoys doing some laps in
the pool. Once the kids turn eleven, they can use the equipment after
having been through a training course (additional cost). Our daughter
(12) is pestering us daily to enroll her in this course. The kids still
have to be under adult supervision regardless - so you can't leave the
kids in the pool or gym while you go do a half hour on the treadmill. I
have no problem with this.

We started Matt in a Kidshape program (not associated with the gym).
It's an eight week, parent/child course that meets once a week. They
discuss nutrition, portion sizes, excercise, and have group dicussions
(kids only / parents only).

Keeping him active and eating right will be the key here. *Making* him
get on the bike will be a surefire way of getting him to hate it. I'll
have to play to his strenghts. I may not enjoy basketball that much -
but I enjoy spending the time with him. So, I'll adapt.

My brother-in-law has offered a not-so-old, outgrown, X-mart bike that
looks to be just his size. Matt's been asking when I'll go pick it up
(probably tonight). I'll give it a good going-over and see how he likes
it.

I like the idea of the tandem! However, I'll have to try before I buy!

Cheers!

Bill

--
To reply via email pull out all the stops!

This road bike may work well for your son.
~1970's(?) CENTURION JUNIOR ROAD BIKE/BICYCLE
e-bay item number 7102546917

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7298&item=7102546917&
rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

"W.L. Sartore" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi gang!

Long time no see. I see a few names haven't changed. Howzit going Claire?
Still enjoying that rhubarb 'n cream? (bleeech) ;-)

Anyway . . . we need to get our ten-year-old exercising. He's pretty much
the way I used to be when I was his age - overweight! Having been down

that

Quoted message said:

road, I know what it's like for mom and dad to want you to do something

and

Quoted message said:

end up hating it.

I've come to enjoy biking as my means of exercising (not enough lately)

and

Quoted message said:

relaxation. I'd like to share it with him - but don't want to push to the
point of having him hate it. He usualy enjoyed going on bike trips but
lately he has come to dislike it because he gets out of breath easily. THe
doc checked him out and assured us he just needs to get in shape.

I know his present bike is too small now and, besides,it weighs a ton.

This

Quoted message said:

brings up the next question - How do I steer him away from the typical
Toy's R Us flashy, HEAVY, springs-and-shocks-all-over-the-place kind of
bike to something of better quality that usually lacks the kiddy-kurb
appeal?

Mike J - any suggestions?

Thanks!

Bill S.

--
To reply via email pull out all the stops!

On Sat, 18 Sep 2004 18:44:46 GMT in rec.bicycles.misc, "Frank

Knox said:

How do I steer him away from the typical

Quoted message said:

Toy's R Us flashy, HEAVY, springs-and-shocks-all-over-the-place kind of
bike to something of better quality that usually lacks the kiddy-kurb
appeal?

you give it to him as a present, fait accompli.

but let the kid have front suspension forks. just make sure
they're good ones, not cheap ones, since overweight kids will
destroy cheap ones.