Conference noted::bicycle

2624.0. "Bike ride with kids" by NQOPS::THIBODEAU () Mon Aug 02 1993 19:14

    Since someone mentioned it in the kids bike seat note I thought I would do 
    a short write up on my ride yesterday even though I was not the one with
    all the kids that he mentioned. 
    
    I took 4 kids ages 6,7,9 and 9 on a bike ride, non of these kids are
    used to riding on the road. Two of them are mine and I live on a pretty
    busy street, I'm just starting to let the 9 year old go around a 2
    block loop near the house. Anyway I live in Nashua and wanted to bring
    them to Mine Falls which is a park with quite a bit of area to ride on
    Carriage type roads as well as single track. I usually take my kids
    there in the truck be since I had them and 2 friends we had to ride.
    The only tough part of the ride was to get them through about a 1/4 mile 
    section of mainstreet. On the main roads I decided to ride in front, to 
    provide them with an example of where to ride and how to cross the street.
    When we needed to cross a street we rode if we were with the traffic and 
    walked if we were against the traffic(crossing the traffic). I felt like a
    mother hen (or father rooster) with the little chicks trailing behind.
    I had my 9 year old dauphter take up the rear because I have been doing
    a bit of riding with her lately and she is getting pretty good with the
    judgement stuff. 
    
    Once in Mine Falls I let her lead and I stayed in the back to keep an
    eye on the pack. We did a total of 6.6 miles which was the longest ride
    for 3 of the 4 kids. I had a real good time and was quite impressed at
    how the kids followed instructions and stayed in line while on the busy
    streets, we also got quite a few looks from people in cars, they
    probably thought I was crazy. 
    
    I think they all felt like they did something great. I told them the
    next trip we would see how many playgrounds we could visit in one ride,
    I figure we could hit any where from 7 to 10 parks in 10 miles.
    
    Have a nice day
    
    Alan