Recreational & Family - You know you are biking with kids when...

You have a potty in your pannier.

Your kids signal the lane changes and turns in the grocery store.

Your toddler wants to lock up the shopping cart you are unloading so "no bady take it"

How about you? Any stories?

You have no need for bike bells, bear bells, or "on your left" because of the high pitched squealing and laughing which is clearly audible for hundreds of feet any direction from your bike... this is especially true offroad and/or when moving faster than 15 mph.

You never forget to go anywhere because your kids have the route memorized, along with all of the stops you are going to make, and won't stop reminding you... out loud. "and then we're going to the grocery store and then we're going to the hardware store, and then we're eating lunch because we need to go to Taco Bell, Dad... and then we're going home on the bumpy road because I need to lay down and take a rest." ... yup.

Isn't it fun? There are some days I really want to be out by myself, but I definitely treasure the rides with the kids.

Your kids don't sing "Wheels on the Bus" but have approximately 26 homemade verses of "Wheels on the Bike"

Your speedometer is based on how loud the kidlet is screaming. Slow = Screaming "Faster!" Medium = Singing "Wheels on the bike" Fast = Screaming "Yay!" Really fast = you can't hear her, she's fallen asleep.

Your Pannier Potty matches your bike's paint job

197092197093...when you want your kids riding the same brand as you have the last 25 years! In this case, the iconic blue Monark team in Sweden!

You know you are biking with kids when you can't knock the smile off your face.

When you have to stop at every park/playground you pass by whether want to or not.

You have a potty in your pannier.

Your kids signal the lane changes and turns in the grocery store.

Your toddler wants to lock up the shopping cart you are unloading so "no bady take it"

How about you? Any stories?

You just rode two miles, but your legs hurt more than when you do 20 miles without a trailer.

You have a bag of crushed crackers in your jersey pocket.

You go "weeeeeeee" when you ride down hills.

Where did you get the panier potty, our camp potty won't fit

When my youngest (now 13) was around 2, I worked nights and had tons of time in the day to go riding with him in tow. My favorite memory is the day I was hauling (~22mph) down a MUP hill and a spoke popped on my front wheel, throwing the wheel crooked, and me onto the ground. The saving grace was the heavy trailer that kept me from going over the handlebars. After I got up, it was silent and I moved quickly to my son in the trailer. He looks at me, sees I'm okay, and yells,"let's do that again daddy!". The two of us laughed for the next two miles while I pushed the "train" home. He still laughs like that when he flies down hills.

When you carry a turtle home in your pocket because it won't fit in the seat bag.

You just rode two miles, but your legs hurt more than when you do 20 miles without a trailer.

You have a bag of crushed crackers in your jersey pocket.

You go "weeeeeeee" when you ride down hills.

I still go wheeeeeee! when I go down hills... by myself.

When part of your endurance training is when your little girl wants to sing songs going uphill because she's bored and you have to join in. Followed by wheeeeeeeee and faster papa on the downhill.

When wet wipes are an integral part of your post-ride cleanup.

On the few solo rides you get, you're amazed at how quick you are and how small the hills are, it takes you until well after the ride to realize that it's because you were carrying 40lbs less.

The net weight on your bike stays the same thru your kids growth spurt.

I don't have kids but 'm loving this thread! Keep 'em coming!

Where did you get the panier potty, our camp potty won't fit
http://www.novanatural.com/baby-toddler/body-care/chamber-pot
or
http://www.potette.com/

We haven't ever had a poopy emergency while biking and I suspect the toddler pee isn't really any worse than dog pee.

When you bonk, look for a remedy and find a fruit rollup and a very debatable cheese stick. You're grateful for both.

You finally manage to sort thru your saddlebag and find: A shovel, spiderman, a multitool, a box of raisins of unknown providence, your tire repair kit, headphones that were supposed to be upstairs and a large quantity of playground sand. You're still not sure what happened to the screwdriver.

when trying to drag my 300+ mass up the hill with the 5 year old in tow I said something about not liking hills, to which the boy answers. "It ok daddy, you worked hard. now you get in the back and I pedal home"
Fricken love this kid!

When it's 4:30 am and you wake to a tiny face (with crazy bad morning breathe) two inches from your face saying "bike NOW Mum-mum!" and then get hit with a Paul Frank pirate monkey helmet. After all, the sun is up, why shouldn't we bike?

When the best complement your toddler knows is "pretty bike Mum-mum!"

When stalling for bedtime, your toddler suggests night-night kisses for Victoria, Clare, and Ernie and she's talking about the three bikes in the garage. (mine, oldest daughter's and hubby's)

Oh I like #21!

When your daughter would rather go to the bike shop than the toystore.

I really like #21 as well. I am working on getting my family biking.
Oh I like #21!

200119When the little says "go dad, go - race mum & big sis!". And to my knowledge, we always win. too bad he´s soon too big to hang around behind me. (pic 1,5 year old, he´s bigger today).

200120 When the youngest daughter want to be in kids "race". A chip of the old block?

You know you are biking with a kid when the only demand made is "I want to lead." Our almost-ten yr. old leads our little family peloton with only the occasional shout over the shoulder of "you guys still back there?" as we pedal down the bike path. The breath of personal freedom that cycling gives at this age is an important step to freedoms-yet-to-come.

When off the bike for vacation for a week, after three days, your daughter has to stop and fondle every bike she sees and says, "dat's my bicycle.". We were visiting portland or so this required stopping every 2.35 seconds.

When you're hanging out for half an hour outside the grocery store because the kid decided to take a nap in the trailer.

When you're hanging out for half an hour outside the grocery store because the kid decided to take a nap in the trailer.
I did that this week! Having a kindle in your purse helps.

200120 When the youngest daughter want to be in kids "race". A chip of the old block?

If there is, may I respectfully suggest you change it immediately before it causes chain wear and you finish up having to replace the whole drive chain?

If there is, may I respectfully suggest you change it immediately before it causes chain wear and you finish up having to replace the whole drive chain?

??

I don't think they got the joke.

Yeah I have four kids, oldest is 6, so I have quite the little bike train that I ride with. But you know you might be biking with kids if you can name at a glance, the maker and model number of every trail a bike, bike trailer, and front mounted seat that you see. Plus all the possible configurations and the pros/cons of such. You have modified a bike/rack so that you can accommodate panniers (to hold diapers/wipes, potty seat, snacks and the favorite stuffed bear) and a back kids seat. Your bike also has a front mounted seat.

You have spent more money getting kids seats/trail a bikes, than you actually have invested in your own bike. You have driven 5 hours out of your way, while on vacation, to go to a bike store because they have "all the kids bike products."

The few times that you bike on your own, you realize you are kinda bored because there is no one there to listen to you point out all the flowers, trees, and animals that you pass

I wasn't sure if it was a joke or a missed regional idiom.

Joyfulmama - which kid transport option is your favourite for preschoolers?

You know you are biking with kids when you hijack your own thread trying to figure out the best way to bike with kidlet.

Do teenagers count?

When you are trying to pedal faster to catch up and know it's pointless.

Your fridge needs restocked after you come home.

You cringe everytime your kids go through intersections (not the lighted ones) at top speed even though you've told them over and over to slow down. They think they are invincible.

Your kids want you to buy a dog to take with them. Or put the cat in a basket for a ride.

When you realize you are actually having family time and everyone is having fun.

If there is, may I respectfully suggest you change it immediately before it causes chain wear and you finish up having to replace the whole drive chain?
I got it. Should be a pleasure and yet another comment in this thread.

You know you are biking with kids when you see this

201657
in your rear-view mirror. Complete with "tiger" and "princess pink kitty sweet sharon." My son like short names for things, my daughter like loooong names for things plus backplot and history stories.

This morning's ride had the song "you are my sunshine" as sung by the chaos twins.

Dr. Joe

Apologies. Habitually combining wordplay with a warped sense of humo(u)r can lead to confusion - but it is nice when someone gets it

Depends on the age/ability of the child. I have put my kids on a compact sized trail a bike from 3 year old and they do fine with that as long as I am not biking at nap time and not going further than 12 miles without a play break. My kids are all on the short side of average, so a regular sized trail a bike doesn't work until they are at least 5 and then it is a stretch.

A rear mounted bike seat is a good option, but I highly recommend spending the money to get one that reclines. My kids always, always, always fall asleep in the back/front seats. It is a real pain to have a kid sleeping and their head falling forward while you are 8 miles from home, in the hot sun and all you are trying to do is just get home so you can lay them down in the air conditioning.

My kids hate trailers. Every single time I have used a trailer they have screamed and cried..or worse fought with their siblings. I cannot begin to express how little fun it is to be biking with a screaming fighting pair of toddlers/preschoolers behind you. They have a way of "rocking" the trailer and that can make it feel like your bike is going to come apart. (My kids get along other places, must not in a bike trailer)

Anyway, I went through several different configurations before I found what works for us. Don't be afraid to try things and just know that if it doesn't work you can sell it on Craigslist or Ebay and recoup some of the cost.

You got it!

When you are taking a bike home from picking up a kids bike seat attachment. The nice gentleman goes to help you carry it out of the store and a tiny voice pipes up, "Hey! Hey! Hey! That's MINE bike!"

When you cobble your own trailer together with galvanized electrical conduit and a jogging stroller so your son can go with you. I mean, we were in RENO, NEVADA of all places, we had to RIDE! My son took the multiple rollovers very well, snug and secure in his five point harness...

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CUWhCOWs7SI/TRgG6DBUHHI/AAAAAAAAPNY/O0fCOCpdpQU/s400/IMGP9700.JPG

More pictures here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/travis.slagle/RenoBiking#

This morning's ride had the song "you are my sunshine" as sung by the chaos twins.


"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" sung at the top of her/our lungs.

Aww, these are wonderful! I ride with a nine-year-old, on her own bike. Here's how I know:

I have to brake going uphill so I don't run her over.
I know the location of every bike rack within a four-block radius of the good ice-cream shop.
I spent more buying her a rhinestone-encrusted bike bell than I did on my front basket.
Drivers EITHER yell out the window "Get that kid on the sidewalk!" OR give us a 500-foot clearance when they swing out to pass.
Our bikes are a mother and daughter horse and have names, backstories, and elaborate ongoing adventures.

When you gauge your toddler's energy level when leaving the park with the question,"do you want to go home or zoom zoom bike.". You know she's beat if the answer is home.

If she never uses her toolbox for pretend carpentry, but always for "imma fix my bike.". Her favorite toy is the bike pump.

If you bought a big dummy rather than a minivan.

If all cars are mamas and all bikes are papas since mom is the one who drives.

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" sung at the top of her/our lungs.

Last week was the alphabet for us. This week is shouting hi at everything, especially squirrels.

... another cyclist pulls up beside you and hands you a very small sandal.

When you are actually strapping the toddler in to a car seat instead of a baby bike seat and she wonders where the foot straps are

With uncharacteristically no help from the kiddo on the Piccolo/tag-a-long on a thirty mile ride, she exclaims at the big hill at the end, "I knew you were going to be tired, Daddy, so I saved all my energy for this hill!"

When at 55 you buy a new bike because your 35 year-old daughter reminds you how much fun the two of you used to have riding bikes together, and tells Mom "If you get another bike we can do a girl trip on our bikes." Then you are so glad that you did ride with your kids, 'coz they're still your kids even when they're grown!