All in the Family
One of the great things about biking is that it can be an activity for the whole family. Certainly, you can ride with your significant other; but you can also make your kids a part of this experience without a great deal of trouble. It's (almost) never too early to get your kids excited about biking, and this page will help you integrate children of just about any age into your cycling adventures.
For the Toddler
Bike Trailer You can take the smallest toddler with you in a bike trailer, although pediatricians recommend waiting until at least six months, perhaps as long as a year, when neck muscles are developed enough to hold the head with
helmet up securely. Trailers are stable and not difficult to pull, but you will feel a slight difference in handling (particularly turning). Plus, if you fall, the trailer won't tip over.
Many companies make good bike trailers, with prices ranging from $100 to $600. The lower end will buy a trailer which will hold two toddlers with an approximate 100 pound capacity. The higher end will get a lighter, stronger model with suspension which may convert to a stroller or come with other bells and whistles. A trailer should be good for kids up to about 5 years old, depending on size, of course. They don't have to pedal, but they can enjoy the scenery or take a nap. They can have their own toys and snacks. It's a 
bit passive, though, and they may become bored in the back if the ride is too long. A good trailer can also be used as an effective cargo hauler.
Bike Seat A child's bike seat is a good option for toddlers over age one. Most seats attach to a rear rack and will accommodate a child up to about 40 pounds. The seats have high backs to support your child's head and shoulders and a harness to keep him aboard when you hit rough road. Speaking of which, the seat, if it's rear-mounted, will be directly over the rear axle, so he will feel the bumps more than you do. You can provide an extra pillow on the seat or deflate your rear tire slightly to soften the ride.
The extra weight of a child aboard will affect your riding balance quite a bit, and remember that when the bike falls, the seat falls with it. Seats come it an amazing variety of configurations, including front-mounted and 
rear-mounted. The prices and features vary widely, as well. It helps to have a kickstand on your bike, to make loading easier.
Push Bike A simple push bike without pedals or chain will get your toddler excited about biking and let him begin to develop balance and turning skills as he pushes along with his feet. This is appropriate for kids from 2 to 5 years old, depending on his physical development. It will also stimulate his sense of independence in preparation for his own real bike. A scooter is another alternative which allows your child to learn balance and two-wheeled turning.
For the Tweener
Between the toddler stage and the independent riding stage, your child will need some help. Not only will you have to provide the right equipment for his level of physical development, you may have to actively teach him how to ride. It's true, some kids pick up a bike and take right off as though they were born with the skill, but others are not so lucky or so inclined.
Training Wheel Bike For your child's first bike, you may want training wheels, although many children happily skip this step. These can ease his transition into full upright pedaling and give him confidence in his riding ability.
Training wheels are usually purchased separately as a kit and installed on the bike of your choice. There are many kinds of training wheels and alternative stabilizers on the market. Bikes suitable for training wheels are usually single speed with coaster brakes (at this age, kids' hands are not strong enough for hand brakes), but you can find many styles.
Because training wheels tend to keep the bike totally upright, the dynamics of balance and turning do not reflect real riding dynamics, where tilting the bike and leaning into the turn is required. it's good to get past the training wheels as quickly as possible so he can get adjusted to the feel of a "real" bike.
Many kids' bikes come with fat, knobby tires, the kind found on mountain bikes. These tires make the bike harder to pedal than smooth tires, so you may want to find a bike with smoother tires or ask for
smoother replacement tires when you purchase the bike. After all, it's not likely your child will be doing a lot of dirt riding at this stage.
faux Tandem You can attach an extension to the seat post or rear rack of your adult bike to make it function like a tandem. The drive chain isn't connected, though, so your child won't have to pedal in rhythm with whomever is "driving." This allows him to pedal and feel independent while you remain in control. It's appropriate for kids approximately 4 to 7 years old, and will help him build confidence and ease into a full bike of his own. A full tandem bike may also be something to consider - you can purchase a kit which will allow you to modify it so a child can pedal with you. There are many variations on this theme, including a "tow bar," 
which will attach to a regular small bike and tow it behind.
Teaching Your Child to Ride If your child isn't a natural, you may have to do some teaching. See the Resources section below for links to sites which will give you some ideas on this. There are many approaches to this science, and there is a raging argument about whether training wheels are actually a good learning mechanism. Since my expertise in this approaches zero, I leave you to your own conclusions.
On His Own
First Real Kid's Bike When you're ready for the first real kid's bike, don't make the mistake of 
choosing a bike he can "grow into." He wouldn't be comfortable on the bike or be able to use it effectively for a couple of years - enough time for him to lose interest.
A kid's bike is measured by its wheel size (usually 16", 20" or 24"), not by its frame size. A key step in making sure the bike fits correctly is for the child to stand over the top tube. He should just be able to stand with both feet flat on the ground. You'll also need 
to adjust the bike seat and bars to fit properly, which a local bike shop can do, or you can find out how to make basic adjustments at the bottom of the Finding A Bike page.
If you're looking for a cheap bike which will last just long enough for him to grow into a full size bike, the big box stores will have what you want. If you want a better quality bike, stay away from the big box stores and buy a brand name bike from your local bike shop; or buy from a retailer like REI or Performance Bike, 
whose store brands are high quality. You'll have less trouble with the bike and find better quality advice and service, as well.
The variety of styles available is truly astounding. You'll find traditional-looking bikes and outlandish ones. You'll find mini-mountain bikes and mini-road bikes. You can find a list of on-line bicycle retailers and bicycle manufacturers on these pages. Just 
search for kids' bikes on these sites and you'll see for yourself.
The truth is, the bike you buy will probably be more a factor of what your child wants - or what he sees all the older kids riding. And, if you want to keep him enthusiastic about riding with the family and building his riding skills, don't fight it too hard!
Preparing for the Ride
Once your child has learned to ride with adults and has the right cycling equipment, you're ready for the adventure! If you're starting out with short or day rides, you may want to check out the other pages in the Recreational Riding section for more general tips. And when you start riding overnight, whether camping out or staying at Grandma's house, you might want to peruse the Touring section. Both sections will give you lots of ideas on making your trip more enjoyable.
Plan Ahead Plan your route ahead of time. Get your child involved in the planning. Let him see the maps and make route suggestions. You'll want to go out of your way to find a route with less traffic. Make sure the trip will be manageable for your child. Start with short trips and gradually lengthen them, 
even to an overnight stay, perhaps camping. Make sure you take enough food and water or have a plan to stop and eat or buy food. Get an early start and leave time for unexpected delays - you won't want to be returning in the dark.
Invite Friends It's always more fun for kids if there are other kids along, particularly their playmates. This does add an extra layer of responsibility, however. You'll have to make sure the other kids are physically and psychologically up to the trip. Will they like the food you've prepared? Are their bikes in good shape for a trip? Will they be a discipline problem?
Take it Easy Remember, a kid is just a kid. Although they seem to spend enormous energy around the house, a long bike trip can be tiring on inexperienced legs. They will need some time off the bike to walk or run around and exercise different muscles. Go slow and take lots of breaks for snacks, water and sightseeing. Understand that a 10 mile trip may take 5 hours.
Make it Fun Plan activities and sightseeing opportunities along the way. Take games to play along the 
way, or a frisbee, or a football. Make the destination fun, like a playground or a friend's house. If you can find an ice cream store along the route, you'll be a hero! From the start of planning to the final run back up the driveway at home, stay excited about the ride yourself and make the trip interesting for your child.
Be Patient Don't let a bad first experience turn you completely off the idea. Sometimes kids need exposure to a new idea several times to adjust and realize it can be fun. Keep trying, reframing the experience in different terms. In time, it will happen - kids and bikes are just a natural for each other.
Safety
Since biking is done in the street and on the road, where cars and trucks rule, safety is paramount. Riding on the sidewalk, which seems intuitively safer, actually generates more collisions with pedestrians and cars coming out of driveways, and creates a very dangerous situation should you move quickly from the sidewalk to the street. Aside from that, cycling on the sidewalk is illegal in most communities.
Riding Technique The riding style currently in favor is called "vehicular cycling," which means you treat your bicycle like a car and follow all the same rules. This makes sense, because your safety is in your predictability to the drivers. There is a detailed discussion of bicycle safety here. However, since this puts the cyclist elbow to elbow with autos, this system requires a very alert and savvy rider with good 
adult judgment. This riding style is definitely not appropriate for children riding alone. If you use vehicular cycling as a family (and I think it's the best option), make sure your child knows not to use this technique when riding alone. Depending on age, riding on the sidewalk or staying glued to the curb is wiser and safer.
Helmets Get your kids into helmets from the very first moment, "Just like Mommy and Daddy." This means from the very first child's seat. If they get used to wearing them early, there will be less resistance down the road when they discover that some of their friends don't wear them.
Flags Bright colored flags help keep kids visible on the road, and they are particularly helpful for trailers, which ride low to the ground and are less visible to drivers.
First Aid Kit Kids are always falling and getting scratched up. It's no different on bikes. Take a simple first aid kit, including bandages, antiseptic, tape and gauze. More, if your kids tend to be clumsy.
Tool Kit If you're going to be riding far, be sure you take a tool kit and know how to fix simple problems like flat tires. Here's a suggestion for a riding tool kit.
Equipment Of course, it's better if you catch problems before you hit the road. Check the bikes for braking and shifting. Check the tires and inflate them appropriately just before you leave.
Dress safely Your best defense against cars is visibility. Wear bright colors (particularly shirts). You'll find a discussion on riding wear at the bottom of the Accessories page. You may want to take rain gear if there is iffy weather in the forecast. Check with your local weather station.
