Hi all.

I'm relatively new to biking (as in, to the idea of actually doing it every day). We replaced our cars with bikes and have been biking everywhere. My husband bikes to work, I bike the kids in a trailer to school and the park.

My daughter is about to turn 6 and has outgrown both the trailer and her current 16" bike. I had a couple of questions about commuting with a small child.

The park is about 1.5 miles from our house. Is a 6 year old capable of biking that far, then playing, then coming back? Obviously I'm assuming that we'll have a backup plan until she builds up the endurance, but my question is, is a 6 year old capable of that kind of endurance?

My other question is, I was hoping to get her an actual decent kid's bike but we're on a Huffy budget right now. For the amount that we would be commuting with her (.5 miles to school (1 mile round trip) every day, 1-3 miles occasionally to the library or park) would a Huffy be okay and last 2-3 years until she has to upgrade to a 24" bike? Or should we really buckle down and try to get a better $300 bike from a real bike shop since we really need it to be a reliable source of transportation in place of a car?

(We will be purchasing a minivan soon to use for long distances and for backup in case of inclement weather, but we still plan on bike commuting whenever possible.)

Again, I'm new to all this and know very little about bikes and biking as far as technical terms go. My husband and I both have low-end Raleighs (both $400 bikes) and they serve us great for what we do. (I come from a family that never had anything better than used Huffys...my first ride on a Raleigh was like biking through clouds. )

Thanks so much!

Performance Girls Starling 20" 7-speed Kids Bike

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Performance Girls Starling 20" 7-speed Kids Bike[/h]Give your little darling wings to explore the wide world round her. Her heart will soar when she glides atop her lustrously colored bicycle with speckled prints stamped on the frame and saddle. She'll easily flutter through the neighborhood with 7 speeds and hardy brakes at her control. And since we know you are protective of your little girl, you can smile in confidence, knowing the bike is built with her safety and comfort in mind.Riding with your kids is a fun adventure

Link, here:
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...400338__400338

+1

This one looks pretty good to me!

* Each kid has different physical capabilities and potentials. If you question your kids cycling stamina, go for repeated rides around the block. Determine the total distance and observe your kid's level of activity, afterwards.

Of course it depends on the child, but in general yes, 1.5 miles each way is well within range physically. Terrain is also a factor, so if it's all uphill in either direction you'll have to make an adjustment. One approach would be to do local circles and see what her comfort range is before doing a 1.5mile out and back.

As to the bike, kids grow fast so there's good turnover in nice used bikes. Going that route, you could come in and get out for small dollars when she outgrows this bike, vs. taking a good sized hit on a new bike. Though it isn't common, some shops will work closely with you allowing you to trade up for smallish added dollars as your children grow.

BTW- congratulations on taking the plunge and moving to a carless life.

In general:

Most Mongoose and DK BMX bikes are usually great deals at the Xmart stores, for growing kids from struggling families, on shoe string budgets. As long as your kid is doing short commutes on flat terrain, the ride should be fairly trouble-free and enjoyable, since most BMX bikes are single speeds.

* Just make certain that the bike fits and that the assembly has been checked by a genuine bicycle mechanic.

Because children outgrow their first bicycles so fast it can be quite a challenge and expense to keep them fitted... we receive so many kids bikes as donations at our co-op and most are in wonderful shape.

We almost give them away after we make sure they are OK.

A 6 year old should be able to ride a fair distance and if they enjoy riding they will do it all day... my twin nieces were riding 10 miles round trip at that age and this involved some serious hill climbing too.

My daughters were doing 18 miles round trips by the time they were 7.

Same for me right now. Looking on craigslist, and will resell the smaller one thereon after getting the new. Way better prices and you can get a good deal on one. Examine pictures well, ask questions, like about tires, because worn tires mean ALOT of use and maybe bent rims, etc. BE PREPARED TO WALK AWAY. Even if you make a mistake you can get another and still pay less than new. JMHO...

Glad to see others ride with their kids.

Also check with your neighbors. I've had the same bike come into my clinic from three different families who passed it around the neighborhood.

One comment:

Assuming you aren't riding off-road, try to swap out knobby tires for slicks. This can make it much easier for your child (or, really anyone) to go faster and farther. Front suspension is another place where it can suck energy without providing much real gain.

For your original question: a mile and a half is well within most 6 year olds (depending on terrain). Another option is a trail-a-bike for longer rides. There are those here who use these to get their children to school (where you can either lock up the trail-a-bike at the school or just ride around with it laughing at the "hey, did you know your kid fell off?"comments).

Good luck and have fun!

Charles