Cycling Tips For The Whole Family

Cycling is one of those great activities that seems to have an almost endless list of advantages. There may be particular elements about it that you especially enjoy, including the fact that it allows you to exercise in a fun and relatively inexpensive manner.

Some people like the fact that they can race competitively, or take on more difficult landscapes, making use of their mountain bikes. For others, it's more about getting from one place to another. But I feel a little sorry for those who mainly thinking of bicycles as offering a means of transport.

There's so much more to cycling than simply using a bike for your daily commute. For me, I think one of the great pleasures associated with bicycles is the fact that they allow you to spend time with friends and family. There's nothing quite like a family bike ride.

Even if you live in an urban area, it's likely that you'll be able to set off from home and soon reach a pleasant setting. Personally, I love nothing more than getting out into the country. There's something special about riding a bike down a country lane, or maybe making use of a path that's been specifically designed for cyclists.

We often take lunch with us and stop along the way, finding a suitable meadow. Although country walks can also be nice, a bike ride allows you to cover more ground during the day. It gives you the opportunity to see more places as a result. Having said this, we do try and avoid riding too fast. The problem with racing along is that you end up missing out on so many things.

So what helps to make the perfect family outing? My top tips would include taking suitable clothing for all weathers. You don't want to be caught out in a sudden rain shower. It's always a good idea to wear plenty of layers, some of which can be removed if you're getting too hot riding.

Make sure that you have the appropriate safety equipment and try to plan routes that will appeal to your children. You might try and plan a route that takes in different types of scenery, or passes places of interest.

We tend to have a number of routes that we make use of. Sometimes the kids grow so fond of a particular route that they want to go back again and again!

There's nothing quite like spending quality time as a family. Consider a bike ride the next time you want to have a fun weekend outing.