BikerPat

Ok this may be a weird request but surely someone on BF knows of some options. I am trying to get my kid into biking as well and while he is doing good, I will often outpace him. There are a couple of busy streets that we have to go on for a bit before we can get to the less populated areas. I am a lot of times just slowing down and waiting on him, but thought there might be ear pieces or something we could use to keep in communications even if i get a bit in front of him for some reason.

Thanks a ton!

Pat

MegaTom

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MajorMantra

Ride behind your kid and direct him? That way he is less vulnerable from the rear and you won't leave him behind by accident.

aggro_jo

ride WITH your kid.

tagaproject6

How old is your kid?

ls0725

BikerPat

Yeah i do that sometimes. He is 14 so is pretty capable of doing it. I am just thinking in the case of wanting to do a little faster pace at which he can't hit yet. I am sure he will pass my old butt up soon so was just wanting to see if options were out there. I will check the sporting goods places out I guess.

MegaTom

I take back my previous advice. A 14 year-old shouldn't be left to ride on his own on a busy road. That's just stupid. If you want to "do a little faster pace", do a faster one that he can keep up with or ride on your own.

ptle

Ride behind in him, or in front at a pace that he can keep up with.

Or, tell him which way to go and meet up once you get to the less populated areas.

Or get a two way radio.

BikerPat

I don't just leave him. That would be stupid on my case. I usually just hang with him and we ride around. I just thought if we had a big hill or something or a straightaway where I could put some speed in, he could still talk to me. Anyway...I will check out the sports place. Thanks all!

DScott

Some walkie-talkies have wired earpiece/microphones, which might work. However, since they are push-to-talk, I would be concerned about them being a distraction, especially if you use them at the worst and busiest part of the ride.

Resign yourself to riding behind him on those parts of the ride, let him set the pace, and do your harder rides either in the slower and safer sections, or on your own. You are very lucky he wants to ride at all, I'd do everything possible to nurture and encourage that. These should be HIS rides, not yours.

SlimAgainSoon

A 14-year-old can't be left alone on a busy road?

When I was 14, we rode everywhere ... on our own.

Of course, that was, well ... many years ago!

Clearly, a different era of parental involvement has taken hold since then.

MegaTom

Same here. However when I was 14, and that wasn't really all that long ago (I'm 30 now), there were no cellphones or text messaging; and with even more sprawl, a "busy" road has taken on a whole new meaning. It's bad enough that as adults we sometimes have trouble predicting what some of these dolts in autos will do... but a 14 year old kid is also a pretty unpredictable thing in and of itself, and has little or no experience when it comes to coexisting with others on the roadway.

Of course our definitions of busy and/or dangerous are quite subjective and will vary based on locality.

Phantoj

https://billnmaggi.tandemrides.com/20...nt_interphone/

donrhummy

You want him to get into biking? Don't keep riding away from him. Do your fast rides without him. Ride at his pace, have good conversation and fun and he's a lot more likely to enjoy it. Keep riding ahead of him and he's going to hate it soon.

sevenhills

If u are both wanting to get serious, join a club. You will both be a different fitness levels, so long term, u will not be cycling together.
And at 14, if they are old enough to cross the road, then with practice they should be ok, on the right road. But some roads are not good for adults, never mind children.

BikerPat

Yeah the more I think of it, the more I should be in this mindset. Heck I am lucky he even wants to be in the same house as me at 14

Maybe all I needed was a bit of readjusting to see it in the correct light.

Thanks!

Pat

umd

wut

MegaTom

See my following comment. I'm not sure about SoCal as I've never had the pleasure of riding there, but the "busy" roads in this town are off-lmits until my child is old enough to drive on them without supervision (Which I think is 17 now). Call it overbearing, over-protective or whatever you will, but children by and large are squirrely, unpredictable, and have questionable judgement. Florida drivers, especially the old ones, are also squirrely, unpredictable and have questionable judgement. The two do not mix well, especially when the drivers get so pissed off that you're riding on "their" road.

umd

The way you describe it I don't think I would ever want to ride in Florida either. But if your 14 year old is squirrely and unpredictable, I'd say that's how you raised it (sorry don't know if he or she). I know plenty of juniors around that age who are responsible and do just fine riding on their own, even on *gasp* busy roads.

Homebrew01

This, and the other variations posted earlier.

lovestoride

ill say that florida roads are definitely not the most fun to ride (think of ever road being a 3 lane highway). but its not terrible, because there generally is a bike lane/ big shoulder on every single road. i've ridden on all types of roads from highways to local streets with no traffic, all you need is to be not an idiot.