Ridazz w/kids!
Thread started by
thegodofthor at 09.29.09 - 9:38 am
So, here is another biking first for me.
I get great joy of doing new things on a bike; I like to know where the limits actually are on a bike. I've done centuries, big hill after hill. These accompishments are great but my favorite has been loading the kid onto the bike seat, hooking up the trailer, getting the wife on her bike and doing a families whole weeks groceries via bike, but today was different.
Today the alarm went off at 630am (only a 1/2 hour earlier then normal), I got my little 19 month old girl Kayla dressed and took her downstairs quickly and put some food and milk in front of her. While she was eating, I got my bike gear on and we were quickly out the door to daycare.
I think she was a bit confused to being put on the bike when she was still slightly tired and so early. I loaded her into her co-pilot bike seat, strapped her in, and got her bumblebee yellow helmet onto her. I turned on the blinky lights (2 on the back, big one on the front) got my gloves and helmet on me and out we were, off to daycare.
The ride to daycare is a quick shot down Vanowen just off of Corbin when in a car. For Safety took the scenic route across the side street Hart (has lights at all the major streets except one). We passed by schools, dog walkers (with a "doggie" sounding from behind me), we passed by some cops and we passed by some street workers. These things were of great fascination to my little girl, cause from the backseat of a car, you just don't see them.
As I ride, I talk to Kayla; I tell her when there is a bump, (and she repeats "BUMP"). When we are turning I hand signal and tell her left or right, (and she repeats left, or right), and when we are stopping or slowing I announce it and she repeats its. It is cute. I will even point out to her the crosswalk countdown and count it to her and she watches the numbers count away.
So we had a nice little ride, its only 3.75 miles to daycare and for Kayla that is a short ride. She often goes for an 18-mile ride with me on weekend afternoons on the Orangeline Path or around Balboa Park. So I rode right up to the front of daycare and the nice daycare lady came out to help get Kayla. I took and unhooked the little one. She then realized the bike ride was over and started to cry.
She started to cry out "More, bike dada, more bike dada!" reaching her arms up to me, it broke my heart.
As a cyclist I truly understand exactly where she was coming from, I would have rather rode around in this perfect overcast weather on my bike all morning with her, then go to work. Sadly somebody needs to pay for chain lube. Cause its not free.
I was happy that the ride was just so easy and fun. The route was awesome, and clear. I have to say, people give you lots of room when they see a child seat. All in all, if somebody would have told me 3 years ago that I would be dropping my child off at daycare by bike and riding to work 20 miles over Sepulveda, I would have called them crazy. Here I am taking my baby to daycare on a bike and I loved it.
reply
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
aksendz09.29.09 - 9:51 am
reply
Awesome- any time you can do something you love with the people you love its great- my wife and I are starting to take the kids on rides now that there getting to the age and it's a blast.
ghostcat7709.29.09 - 9:56 am
reply
*MELT*
awww! way to and redeem this website... just when I was beginning to give up on it completely.
Such a sweet story!!!
canadienne09.29.09 - 10:33 am
reply
I enjoyed your story very much.
Weedwax09.29.09 - 10:35 am
reply
there is absolutely nothing cuter than dads with their daughters. and I don't even like kids. this is too fucking cute.
la duderina09.29.09 - 10:37 am
reply
its such a great feeling to take my little girl on bike rides, she was 16 months when i strapped her little pink helmet on. she can handle up to 20m miles before she starts to want to take a break. anolther really cool thing is that i can point things out to her as we ride along, its really turned into "Daddy and me time". i think she s ready for a MTB ride now, she seems to like bumpy dirt roads, its to the point where she starts tellig me to go on the dirt. i have actually been thinking about have a daytime MR Parents and Kid ride.
Adrian_The_BEAST09.29.09 - 11:14 am
reply
I should spend more time with my dad.
I enjoyed your story.
imachynna09.29.09 - 11:25 am
reply
bump bump bump
:) this story made my morning
cutter21009.29.09 - 11:45 am
reply
I <3 <3 <3 this story. Yay. Thanks for making my day better with it!
sinaphile09.29.09 - 11:51 am
reply
cool...
Ive thought about trying to navigate the LA streets as safe as possible with the lil monster terror squad. I used to travel around with a Chariot Trailer (they're dope--had suspension and all)...
I never used the child seats, since if you crash, so does the kiddo, so Ive always used the trailer. Just from experience doing this... i highly encourage the trailer...it has more visibility and takes more space, so cars tend to be even more careful... (try to indicate there is a child aboard, and some plants).
Once they get bigger, it gets trickier...
trail-a-bike?
trail gator (or something like that)?
I used to love pulling the monster along, but damn...L.A. drivers blow... I was always so worried about getting hit, even though, as you note--drivers "tend" to give more space (but not always)... I couldnt deal with the feeling, especially since i had people taking shit all the time ("why would you do that?", "that is too dangerous", "oh my... I would never..with all the cars")... its really a difficult decision to make... not many will side with you if anything happens, except maybe some cyclist.
Good post; I understand your enthusiasm. I just wish more of LA was friendly enough to encourage family riding... Be careful... Ive had close calls... and I would encourage using a trailer and just locking it up at the day care and then attaching it when you pick up.
Anyhow, i hope you continue to ride with your kid
peace
md209.29.09 - 12:13 pm
reply
I have to say, I own both a trailer and a co-pilot, I've found they are good for different rides. This route is a co-pilot type route.
And I think the dangers of riding with kids differ between areas of Los Angeles. I have to say sometimes living in the SFV isn't as great as it was when I lived in Hollywood, but one feature the Valley has is lots of small residential streets that nobody uses besides locals. I've found this very helpful in planning routes. As long as your willing to take the time to stop at stop signs and light and such it really works out just fine. The sad part about the valley is that for 2 months of the year its 95 degrees plus for most of the daylight hours.
I personally think I live in a perfect cycling area if your willing to find the right routes. I don't know how I would do it without google maps though.
Either way, I appreciate your concern and if you see a guy with a kid wearing a ultra visible orange shirts in the Lake Balboa area, it's me.
thegodofthor responding to a
comment by md2
09.29.09 - 1:09 pm
reply
great story. i have a trailer , and my little guy(just turned 2) barely gives me enough time to set up the thing b4 he's jumping in it and waiting to go!
"BIKING??!" HE ASKS REPEATEDLY!
he loves watching birds, dogs, water,etc. He usually will fall fast asleep for the first half of a ride but then springs up and is back in the action. it really is a great learning tool.
RIDAZZ W/ KIDS RIDE PERHAPS??!!!
Jeff Yess09.29.09 - 1:29 pm
reply
bought my girl's parents this cool ass mother of a thing... for their dogs...
im gonna steal it once I get a dog (which is never)
md2 responding to a
comment by Jeff Yess
09.29.09 - 1:33 pm
reply
Humm,,, I have 2 yappy dogs that would fit in there, Poor wife might be dragging one of those soon.
thegodofthor responding to a
comment by md2
09.29.09 - 1:44 pm
reply
doggyride.... pretty inexpensive, but really nice units...
go for it... two small dogs can fit in the mini...
there is even a sunroof...
md2 responding to a
comment by thegodofthor
09.29.09 - 1:47 pm
reply
I used to know a 2 year old that raced bmx. I didn't personally think that was too smart on the part of the parents, but the kid was remarkable nonetheless.
la duderina09.29.09 - 1:57 pm
reply
kids riding BMX is pretty darn safe... 2 yrs old is pretty impressive to have the training wheels off...
my mucus machine, loves the BMX track... but thats harder to commit to than a lot of sports....
md2 responding to a
comment by la duderina
09.29.09 - 2:06 pm
reply
I didn't say it was dangerous. But as per my own experience, I would wait until my child was bigger. A child that age is in the 5 and under class...so racing kids that could be much bigger than them. Also, they have to wear these helmets that make it so they can barely hold their head up straight. In addition, one bad crash and the kid could get spooked so bad then you spent all this money on this tiny equipment and they don't use it anymore. Or, the most likely to happen, the kid just gets sick of it and never rides bikes again...I saw this happen to almost every kid that started early..they wound up getting into football, baseball, soccer whatever just because they were burned out on bikes.
Not to mention if the kid sticks with it, it's going to grow out of its bike and gear every year practically costing you more money.
not smart.
la duderina responding to a
comment by md2
09.29.09 - 2:13 pm
reply
i agree...
but that really depends on the kid... you know, their reaction to pain and such... all kids vary...
i tend to think, given the child had great parents, the kid obviously had a great reaction to falling and such, hence riding at 2yrs old.
But as usual some parents are overly eager and driven by their own failed lives... to push their kids to greatness...
kids are really resilient... much better than teens and adults... the drama from falls tends to not last
md2 responding to a
comment by la duderina
09.29.09 - 2:23 pm
reply
II didn't say they would get spooked, I said they could.
la duderina responding to a
comment by md2
09.29.09 - 2:26 pm
reply
Oh and I saw that very kid crash and go batshit crazy afterwards. that kid didn't race long.
la duderina09.29.09 - 2:27 pm
reply
about changing sports...
thats fine... i think the important thing is too try to open the kids options to all sports, not just want them into bikes... basically which ever will pay off $$$$$$ better in the end, and secure my retirement
getting burned out is natural... but i get your point.... it has to be something the kid WANTS to do, not what the parent WANTS to see their kid doing.
If the kid loves it, then i think the parent should just let the kid be free to explore even if they burn out... and balance the extent to which the kids participates...
md2 responding to a
comment by la duderina
09.29.09 - 2:27 pm
reply
dude,
I know... geez....
they could also turn into midnight ridazz...
i was just saying its very dependent on the parents and child, and there really isnt a standard... if there were raising children would be so much easier....
they're all mutants,... keep the pills on hand/and on schedule, or the legs closed... youve been warned
md2 responding to a
comment by la duderina
09.29.09 - 2:30 pm
reply
this is my biking partner for the most part nowadays.shes done the kids cyclocross race the last 2 years when it comes through glendale .last year i promised her that this year i would race it also,and she doesnt let me forget it,so im gonna have to do it if only to keep that promise.
mandingo09.29.09 - 10:20 pm
reply
Honestly, this is the best thread on Midnight Ridazz thus far. And probably will be.
I'm only 17 and nowhere near having a child, but having raised 3 children [with my sisters and mom] I can definitely feel the enthusiasm and joy of hearing a child, let alone, your child saying, "more bike dada".
That just makes me all mushy inside, really. I thank you for sharing this with the community. You are an awesome dad.
The most well deserved +1.
-The Sauce.
Alfredo responding to a
comment by la duderina
10.1.09 - 3:57 am
reply
So, lets try and do a parents kids, and ridazz that like kids ride?
Anyone have the gumption to try and get this rolling? I'll surly help.
thegodofthor responding to a
comment by Adrian_The_BEAST
10.1.09 - 9:14 am
reply
I can't plan this right now, I have way too much on my plate.
But I will support 100% in any way I can.
Alfredo responding to a
comment by thegodofthor
10.1.09 - 4:56 pm
reply
BUMP!
this story totally made me tear up!
Gizzard10.1.09 - 5:13 pm
reply
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm went from solid to liquid reading that ! !
cutest rider of the week to your daughter
meow10.1.09 - 8:53 pm
reply
-->
Ridazz Roulette!
conquering the barriers!!