Cycling with Kids: Planning and Insights from Family Bike Trips

The Beginning: Getting My Child to Love Cycling Too

My child is eight years old this year. When she was five, we started riding bikes together. At first, it was just circling around the park—she rode a kids’ bike while I jogged alongside. Back then, she was full of curiosity about cycling and never wanted to stop after each ride.

Last year, her skills and stamina showed clear improvement, and I began considering taking her on something a bit more formal—a “cycling trip”—not just circling the park, but actually riding out to a destination, experiencing a complete cycling journey.

Gear Selection: Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive, But Must Fit

When it comes to gear for parent-child cycling, there are a few key points to consider:

The child’s bike: For an 8-year-old, a kids’ bike with 20-inch wheels is recommended. Models with a gear system make climbing hills easier. I chose a mid-range kids’ road bike with 7-speed gearing and adult-style lever brakes (much better than the hot-dog brakes found on kids’ models).

Helmet: This is one thing you absolutely cannot skimp on. Choose a certified model, in the correct size, and in a style the child is willing to wear. I spent a lot of time letting her pick the color herself—she chose purple, and because she liked that helmet, she’s happy to put it on every ride.

Knee and elbow pads: Highly recommended for the beginner stage. They significantly reduce the risk of injury from falls and also give the child a greater sense of security, making her more willing to try new skills.

Extra gear for parents: When riding out with my child, my backpack carries more than on a regular ride: a spare inner tube, a basic first-aid kit, an extra towel and a spare jacket (kids sweat easily and can catch a chill), plus extra snacks.

The First Real Route Ride: Dadaocheng to Guandu

For her first ride with a destination, I chose the Dadaocheng to Guandu section of Taipei’s Riverside Park. It’s about 13 kilometers one way, entirely on dedicated bike paths with no car traffic, and completely flat terrain.

Before we set off, we looked at the map together. I asked her, “Do you know where we’re riding to?” She pointed at Guandu on the map and said, “There!” Then she asked, “What’s there?” I said, “You’ll find out when we get there.”

That ride took about an hour and ten minutes (including a few short breaks). When we arrived near Guandu Wharf, she looked at the mangroves and waterbirds and said something that really touched me: “Dad, we rode so far.”

It wasn’t that far. Thirteen kilometers is a warm-up distance for an adult. But for a child riding that long for the first time, it was her 100 kilometers.

Key Principles for Parent-Child Cycling

Pace yourself to the child: This is the most important mindset shift for parent-child cycling. When you go out with your child, your goal isn’t “finish this stretch”—it’s “make it fun for her.” As long as she’s still smiling, it’s a success.

Let the child participate in planning: Having the child look at the map, discuss the route, and know what’s at the destination before setting off can greatly boost motivation. The destinations we’ve been to include: a shop with special ice cream, a pier where you can watch boats, a park with a big lawn—every destination was somewhere appealing to her.

Don’t force it: If the child is tired or doesn’t want to continue, stop. Never let cycling become a source of pressure. There have been a few times when we were halfway through a ride and she said she was tired, so we parked the bikes, sat down somewhere to eat and chat, then turned back. Those memories are no worse than the ones where we finished the ride.

Be restrained with photos: The biggest urge for adults riding with kids is to keep taking photos of them. But taking too many photos interrupts her riding rhythm and fun. Just capture a few special moments.

Now, Two Years Later

After two years of parent-child riding, my child can now complete a 20-kilometer one-way route, and her passion for cycling has grown to the point where she asks to go on her own initiative—sometimes on weekends she’ll ask me first, “Can we go for a ride today?”

That question is the best reward of these past two years.

Cycling has taught her many things: perseverance, a sense of purpose, how to face difficulties when climbing hills, and the satisfaction of reaching the destination. These things are more real and more meaningful than any cram school class.

Related Reading

• Parent-Child Cycling: A Complete Guide to Getting Your Kids Started
• Riding with Kids: Gear and Route Recommendations for Family Cycling Trips
• Family Cycling Activities: A Guide to Safety Gear and Route Selection for Riding with Kids
• Parent-Child Cycling: Gear and Route Choices for Riding with Kids Ages 3–8