Recreational & Family - Getting son interested!

I picked up a hybrid bike for my Son and hoping that he'll join me on rides. He is a typical teen but would rather sit in the house. Eventually I would like to ride longer distances and I think he would make a good riding partner. What can I do/say to get him motivated?

I picked up a hybrid bike for my Son and hoping that he'll join me on rides. He is a typical teen but would rather sit in the house. Eventually I would like to ride longer distances and I think he would make a good riding partner. What can I do/say to get him motivated?

Not to be a pessimist or anything, but there's probably little you can do. :notamused:

It's been my experience that unless someone can see *something* in a hobby or sport on their own, they probably can't be converted. They might try it - but usually won't stick to it.

Or you could have him watch Breaking Away. :thumb:

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTA1NTE0NDU4MTFeQTJeQWpwZ15BbWU3MDEwODEzNTE@._V1._SY317_CR3,0,214,317_.jpg

I loved that movie as a teen (but then again, I was already hooked on cycling when it came out ).

I did a mountain bike race earlier this summer. they had a "kids race" at the event. i entered my young teen son (13) in the race not expecting much, but he had a good time. it was an easy race, only 1.5 miles, but more importantly, he LOVED being around all the cyclists and the cycling culture. the next day i had to go out and buy him a jersey and cycling shorts..

Not to be a pessimist or anything, but there's probably little you can do. :notamused:

It's been my experience that unless someone can see *something* in a hobby or sport on their own, they probably can't be converted. They might try it - but usually won't stick to it.

I tend to agree. Neither of my own kids took to cycling. It's just not their thing. Ditto my wife. It's not her thing either. I exposed them to it. But that's where I've decided my job ends.

My son likes to run. I wish he'd get out and run more often, but at least he'll enter an occasional event. If he ever "goes deep" into something active, it'll probably be running.

I did a mountain bike race earlier this summer. they had a "kids race" at the event. i entered my young teen son (13) in the race not expecting much, but he had a good time. it was an easy race, only 1.5 miles, but more importantly, he LOVED being around all the cyclists and the cycling culture. the next day i had to go out and buy him a jersey and cycling shorts..

:thumb:

From your post, it sounds like he's not refusing to ride, it's just not an activity he'd choose on his own at this point. You could try making the bike ride a means to get to a place or activity he really likes, such as a friend's house, a movie, ice cream, etc. and see if the riding experience gets picked up on his radar as something enjoyable.

I did a mountain bike race earlier this summer. they had a "kids race" at the event. i entered my young teen son (13) in the race not expecting much, but he had a good time. it was an easy race, only 1.5 miles, but more importantly, he LOVED being around all the cyclists and the cycling culture. the next day i had to go out and buy him a jersey and cycling shorts..

This actually seems like it has the best chance of succeeding. By seeing many others engaged and loving the sport, it might pique his interest enough to at least give it a real try.

I'm 19 and just picked up cycling in the past year. I had barely ridden after I was 13 because I had a bmx bike that was way too small. I feel that if I knew how much faster road bikes were than I would've rode a bike more through high school than I had driven. But also, a big factor was that I have friends who ride every where so it made me want to be included.

Get him on a decent bike and show him how much freedom it offers and how fast you can cover ground and I bet he figures out he likes it.

My son has been on road bikes since he was 11 and he's about to turn 13 this fall and he loves riding.

If I had a son in his older teens I'd take him out on the beach bike path that runs through Santa Monica and Venice. Great scenery.

In general tie it in to something he likes. Here in Los Angeles there is a lot at the beach, but parking must be $10 by now, and if it is some event one may well still be walking a mile or getting there hours early. On a bike free parknig (1/2 - 1 mile inland but a straght shot on a bikelane) and it is easy to get to a beach volleyball tournament and then on to a nice place to eat. doing both might be all but impossible except by bike.

I'd bet I can find some nice places offroad, both for cycling as a teen would like it and also for where it goes.