Well, today I took my son to his first group ride. We thought things would go well as it was supposed to be a beginners ride (10 miles @ 10mph). Considering we've done that in the past few weeks, I thought we could hang (BTW we were on MTB and everyone else on road bikes) but I was wrong!

Actually, it wasn't too bad. two blocks from the start, we had to cross 6 lane intersection (very busy at 6pm) but the light turned - everyone but us got through it. After the few minutes of waiting at the light, the entire group was gone. :( The leader did wait up, but after a few miles advised us to cut back short and then caught up to the group.

All in all it wasn't bad in the end. We averaged 7.5 miles @ 9.8mph. There were a few tough hills for him but he was a trooper! Despite being dropped, he's anxious to get back to it in a few more mondays. Here are a few pics, including the steepest hill we had to go up (not long, but definitely steep - granny geared it the whole way up.)

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd44/wright_family_album/groupride1a.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd44/wright_family_album/groupride1b.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd44/wright_family_album/groupride1c.jpg

Wow, congratulations to you and your son. I haven't even considered group rides for my little guy. Though his age is still counted in months (21 months). Even still I hadn't considered that when he was older we could do this. It is a great idea though and you should be commended for helping him along and he should be commended for trying as hard as he did and following it through.

Thanks Podolak.

It is nice knowing his first question after school isn't "can I play my video games" but rather "we're going to go riding tonight, right?" :thumb::thumb:
Even measured in months you could get yours out in a carrier or trailer.... might even set a record for youngest group rider. I wonder if they make jersey' that small? But I would say be careful because, like so many other's have found out, when the bug hits, it hits hard. My son is already trying to find a way to earn money for a full suspension MTB, a road bike and even a BMX bike. :eek:

I never considered using the trailer on a group ride. That is definitely a thought though. I am currently working on getting my wife hooked. She is doing three or four short trips with me a week and that is um...a vast improvement over the zero just a month ago.

That is a good improvement. I wonder if I had been able to get my wife to do biking (or anything for that matter) 10 years ago then perhaps she wouldnt be my ex wife now. ::thinking:: Nah, probably not. ;)

I'd say keep up the encouragement and get the trailer on the group ride. If nothing else, gives you access to more water bottles, right? Though not sure how easy they are to pull up hills.