Recreational & Family - Mini Randonee

Saturday I planned to take the kids along the North branch trail from the Chicago Botanic Garden to Superdawg (20 mi one way) so I was planning on taking most of the day and make an outing of it. Turns out the wife made plans for the older kids to get their hair cut at 2:00.

So I decided to make it a "mini randonee" to see how they'd react to riding under a time limit. We left the CBG at 10:00 and I told them the Superdawg "control" closes at 12 noon. With the 7 y.o. leading the way on her little Gitane we made it there at 11:45

We had a fairly quick lunch and left Superdawg at 12:10 and made it back to the Botanic Garden "control" at exactly 1:30pm.

The best part is they were ready for more!

13 y.o was on the Ryan Vanguard
11 y.o. was on his vintage 24" Peugeot
9 y.o. was on her Sunset Lowracer
7 y.o. was on her 500A Gitane

40 mi+ in 3 1/2 hours with lunch, not too bad :D

The 5 and 3 y.o. were in the trailer on the back of my P-38 (I got my workout)
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Wow, that's impressive! I really would not have thought a 7 year old would be up for that, or a 9 year old, for that matter. I need to look up a 500A Gitane, but I'm guessing it's not the usually type of crappy kids bike.

My oldest is 6, and we have yet to break the 10 mile round trip mark, and while I'll remain optimistic, I don't think she likes cycling enough as an activity of it's own (as opposed to transportation) to undertake a journey of that length by next year, but we'll see.

A nice story, Del, thanks.

I need to look up a 500A Gitane, but I'm guessing it's not the usually type of crappy kids bike.



Thanks Chaadster, It's called a Gitane Midget Racer, from 1975 or so. 500A is the tire size (about 20")
Here's her bike:
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t144/yachtie/August2012019.jpg

Hmm, interesting, thanks. She's quite tall then? It's hard to gauge scale, but it seems like a 7yr old would not be able to straddle that. Mine's not short herself, but even her 20" wheeled old school style banana seat, ape hanger bar bike is a bit too tall for her now. They probably shoot up every year, though, eh? :)

Hmm, interesting, thanks. She's quite tall then? It's hard to gauge scale, but it seems like a 7yr old would not be able to straddle that. Mine's not short herself, but even her 20" wheeled old school style banana seat, ape hanger bar bike is a bit too tall for her now. They probably shoot up every year, though, eh? :)

She can just clear the top tube standing,but has to hop up to get to the seat. It's really small. IIRC the seat tube is 18".

Awesome ride. I thought my 7 year old was doing good when he made 5 miles on Saturday. Way to go to all of you but especially the youngest.

Well, based on this we'll try the 50 mile loop of the North Shore Century on the 23rd. Should be fun , the kids are excited.