Need bike-help for son - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

08-24-2004, 11:57 AM

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.

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

08-24-2004, 12:38 PM

W.L. Sartore wrote:
> 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.

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.

> 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.

> 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

08-24-2004, 12:38 PM

W.L. Sartore wrote:
> 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.

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.

> 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.

> 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

08-24-2004, 12:38 PM

W.L. Sartore wrote:
> 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.

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.

> 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.

> 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

08-24-2004, 12:38 PM

W.L. Sartore wrote:
> 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.

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.

> 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.

> 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

08-24-2004, 07:01 PM

On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 14:57:00 -0500, "W.L. Sartore"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>
>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.

08-24-2004, 07:01 PM

On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 14:57:00 -0500, "W.L. Sartore"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>
>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.

08-24-2004, 07:01 PM

On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 14:57:00 -0500, "W.L. Sartore"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>
>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.

08-24-2004, 07:01 PM

On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 14:57:00 -0500, "W.L. Sartore"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>
>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.

08-24-2004, 07:11 PM

"W.L. Sartore" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote

> 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