Recreational & Family - 37+10+2seats=father/son bonding
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Our youngest (son) and I took our new tandem out for a 16 mile spin today. We rode into town to check out the new "Skate Park" the city built. Then did a loop over the river to the west side of the town, south to the next bridge and back home. Was a great Father/son experience. :D
His name is *****, and he is already planning our next trip to the Horseshoe Falls Overlook. That will be about 25 miles. He is really stoked. (pun intended!) :rolleyes:
What a great investment the tandem was!
Bikedud
04-12-04, 01:09 PM
I know the feeling. I have done a few cross state tours with my son and daughter on the tandem when they were 8,9, and 10 years old. It was more work for me but definitly worth it. They are both teenagers now and they still talk about the experience. Now I'm waiting for my 3 year old to grow enough to be my stoker.
Hi Bikedud,
Thanks for sharing your story. We are planning to take a mini-tour probably in May. ***** is really ecited about doing it. I'd love to do a cross state tour, but Montana is some 500 miles wide and over 300 north to south. I'm not sure even the most die-hard 10 year old is ready for that kind of saddle time. :)
We are planning to ride from here to Helena, MT. That is some 90 miles distant. Should be a nice trip for us both.
A few weeks ago my son asked me to hook up the tag-along so we could cruise around the neighborhood. I had to tell him that 45 degrees was still just a bit cold for a 5 year old. Maybe this Sunday, though! A nice trip on the local rail-to-trail.
Rob
Bikedud
04-14-04, 12:12 PM
Hi Bikedud,
Thanks for sharing your story. We are planning to take a mini-tour probably in May. ***** is really ecited about doing it. I'd love to do a cross state tour, but Montana is some 500 miles wide and over 300 north to south. I'm not sure even the most die-hard 10 year old is ready for that kind of saddle time. :)
We are planning to ride from here to Helena, MT. That is some 90 miles distant. Should be a nice trip for us both.
I think you'd be surprised at what a 10 y.o. is capable of. The cross state ride I was referring to is BRAG (bicycle ride across Georgia) it's 7 days and averages about 400 miles for the week. I found that the key is to let them have time off of the bike to be kids so we spent plenty of time at rest stops and did a little sight seeing etc. They would be dead tired when we arrived in camp but after a little rest they would be totally rejuvinated and play or swim all evening. Their ability to recouperate was amazing.
My Nine YO and I take our mtn tandem out quite often. Last weekend we rode tower mountain. It was 10 miles each way on the road and about 10 (with 2000 vert. ft.) offroad. When we got home he sat for a bit, then was out on the trampoline - then riding his BMX later.