“I’m bored!” Even though it is technically the beginning of summer vacation, it feels like we’ve exhausted all prospects of fun. The kids’ favorite bike route is getting old, and it’s too hot to go for a long ride. I, too, am glued to the screen much more than I should be. How can we get the kids out on the bikes having fun and not complaining the whole time?
BIKE GAMES not only offer something different than an out and back ride, they also help kids and adults hone their bike handling skills. Plus, it really is more fun if parents take part in the activity, too. Kids love laughing with (and at) their parents!
Bike Limbo – With a true limbo set-up or using a pool noodle as the bar, have the kids ride underneath, lowering the bar/noodle a bit on each pass. Music, of course, is a fun addition.
Balance Beam – if you have a driveway or large concrete area, draw paths of varying thicknesses. You can make them straight and curvy or zig zag. The object is to ride within the lines and not put a foot down.
Penny Drop – Set up buckets/cans/etc. on a course of your choice. Along the way, kids must drop 1 penny in each receptacle without putting a foot down. Fastest time wins, and each penny successfully dropped takes 1 second off the total time. You can also use a laundry basket and balls for this activity to make it a bit easier.
Obstacle Course – Combine all of the above along with weaving through cones, going over ramps—really your imagination is the limit. You can time the course for speed, but navigating the course as slowly as possible is also fun.
Footdown – Usually played on a large, flat area, Footdown is a group game where the objective is…you guessed it…NOT to put your foot down. Players ride around until there is only one rider left. As riders are eliminated, the ride area becomes smaller. Rules vary, some games include physical contact so, as always, make sure helmets stay on.
BIKE WASH – Just too, too hot? Ok, specifically for the little ones, this is way out of my wheelhouse, but a bike wash looks like an amazing project for a hot, steamy day. Connect some PVC pipe to a hose, punch a few holes and hang a few sponges and streamers, and you’ve got a ride-through water feature guaranteed to keep your kids happy and cool. Grab your cool beverage and watch them play from the comfort of a chaise lounge and a shade tree.
If you want to go on a true ride, though, think of some different ways to spice it up.
A scavenger hunt can be a fun way to put on some miles with a ton of breaks. Whether you collect nature items (only where it is allowed) like a double acorn, a heart-shaped rock, an insect gall, or take photographs of plants or even letters on signs in a more urban setting, collecting breaks up the ride and really engages the observation skills.
You can even take it one step further and incorporate the virtual world with Pokémon Go, collecting creatures that you find on your ride.
Geocaching can be another fun activity where you can bike to each treasure. Use orienteering skills and riddle-solving to find hidden stashes. Plan your bike route to include several caches along the way. Sometimes these even include little prizes you can keep!
One of our favorite things to do as a family instead of a long mountain bike ride is to set up a shuttle and focus on one super-fun part of the trail. While it is good to climb and work toward that sweet downhill feature, sometimes you just need maximum fun all afternoon long. I usually drop my two guys off at the top and meet them at the bottom, then drive them up again. This can work on sections of our local trails like Dirt Candy.
As always, we can help set up your entire family with the perfect bikes—from striders and rip rocks all the way to mountain bikes and ebikes.
Don’t let the kids talk you out of a ride because it’s going to be too boring. These are the kind of activities your kids will cherish and remember for years to come. A little planning and family togetherness will lead to a great day on the bike!
