Exercise, Fresh Air and The Easy Way to Bike With Kids
With no shortage of fun things to do in Ontario, biking is at the top of the pack of family activities. So, who wants to go for a bike ride?
Family biking is a popular pastime in the province in Ontario. With city trails and rural trails of all skill levels, exploring Ontario by bike is a fun (and healthy!) way to spend time as a family.
Parents who go cycling with kids can tell you that including your children in this activity is a great way to keep them active and entertained. Generally families use mountain bikes, as street cycling is more dangerous and difficult.
The first tip in family cycling is of course, safety. Safety equipment for children’s biking range from training wheels, to productive padding and helmets. Without these items, you shouldn’t go on a family bike trip. It is the law to wear a helmet when biking in Ontario.
The second tip in tips for biking with kids is to have the proper equipment that properly fits your child. A child should not ride a large adult bike. If your child is too small to bike there are rear mounted seats, front mounted seats or pull along carriers. These items are great if your children have an age gap. Some might be big enough to bike, some might not.
Even if you don’t have bicycles, you can still enjoy biking as a family. Many resorts in Ontario have bikes guests can use on trails near them.
Hidden Gem Family Cycle Getaway Packages in Ontario
Check out these Ontario getaway packages that offer bicycle tours or activities. From Muskoka to Ottawa, you’ll find a vacation package here to suit your bike loving family. These cycling trips can take you on woodland trails, waterfront trails and even city trails and have you back in a comfy hotel room or back at the hotel pool leaving parents less stressed and able to enjoy the activity too.
CYCLING GETAWAY PACKAGESFamily Bike Tours in Ontario
Have you heard of Humdinger Bicycle Tours? Humdinger offers premium, single- and multi-day supported, guided, and self-guided bicycle tours in southern Ontario, specializing in Georgian Bay, Muskoka, Haliburton, Bruce, Grey and Simcoe. They also offer family friendly cycle tours! Humdinger will provide the support to make it fun for kids and parents alike.
Check out this 3 day, 2 night fully support family bike tour in the Thornbury region of Ontario!
Duration: 3 days/2 nights
Distance: Long or short – it’s up to your family!
Skill/Fitness Level: Kids & adults of all ages
Trip Departure: Thornbury
Visit the Humdinger website for pricing. Ontario Staycation Tax Credit: Documentation for claiming the tax credit will be provided. Conditions apply.
View Trip DetailsHumdinger, who are Ontario cycling experts, also wrote a very helpful ‘Kids Love Cycling Trips Too!’ blog.
Here are helpful tips from that blog:
“What ages work for family cycling trips?
Keep in mind that every kid and family is different, and these are general guidelines only. That said, with lots of food, water, and breaks, and with very clear and concrete safety instructions, kids in the 6 to 10 age range should be able to cycle for a couple of hours each day. Kids 11 or older will generally have better stamina, and should have a better understanding safety issues and rules of the road.
Very young children, 6 and under, may need to use a bike trailer to go on a day or multi-day cycling trip and should be familiar with these before. A very helpful tool for kids 4 to 8 years old is the TowWhee bungee, remarkably easy to use, it will give a good boost when needed and can truly save the day.
For any age, following the kid’s pace is ideal. If you are on a bike trail, riding side-by-side and chatting is often a great strategy. This allows kids to focus on the fun and social aspects of riding rather than on the physical challenge.
As individual energy ebbs and flows, kids may alternate being slower or faster than their siblings or friends. Asking one to slow down or the other to catch up may be demotivating – we suggest letting each kid go at their own pace as much as possible.
Cycling safety
A couple of excellent safe cycling resources are available through the Ontario government: a general guide to safe cycling and a young cyclist’s guide. Both are well worth reviewing. Some of the key takeaways are to ensure equipment is sized properly and is in good working order, and ensure all cyclists in the group know the rules of the road, including hand signals for stopping and turning. In Ontario, bicycles are considered vehicles, and must obey traffic laws of the Highway Traffic Act.
In some situations having one adult at the front of the group and one riding last as a “sweeper” is recommended. Proper-fitting helmets are, of course, a must. Cycling gloves give the kids a good grip, and protect their hands in case of a fall. They also make the kids feel like legit cyclists!”
Already, these are two fantastic tips. You can read more tips and the full blog, here.
Bicycling adventures are a great way to enjoy the province of Ontario as both an activity and as transportation. We wish you great weather and fun family times! Be sure to tag #ToDoOntario on your travels.