available, including the Specialized Hotrock (from around £130) and the Ridgeback MX range (from around £120). British firm Frog also produce thoughtfully made kids’ bikes (£120 for a balance bike, £185+ for one with pedals, £245+ for gears). If a bike comes with stabilisers, remove them – they preclude the natural development of balance necessary to cycle independently. To help provide affordable, roadworthy bikes to Bristol’s children, Life Cycle UK runs regular Bike Swap events. Each event usually offers around 20 or 30 kids’ bikes which have been donated by the public and then made mechanically sound. The next bike swap is part of a Family Cycling Day at Windmill Hill City Farm on Saturday, September 28. “There are various options,” says Poppy. “Bring your old, outgrown bike along and we’ll do our best to swap it for a
larger one. If you just want to donate it to Life Cycle to be refurbished and passed on to a child who needs it then we’d be delighted with that too. If you don’t have a bike to bring along, you can come and buy one instead – all the kids’ bikes are £10. You don’t have to have a bike to swap, although it’s great if you do, because we need a supply of bikes to refurbish for the next bike swap!” In addition to the swapping, Life Cycle UK is laying on a Dr Bike surgery at the event, so if
your child’s bike is a bit under the weather you can come and get it tended to by an expert. There’s other fun too, including a Bike Rodeo, which is “basically lots of fun and games on bikes – cones and chalk courses, slow races, riding in ever-decreasing circles – it’s all light-hearted stuff but it really helps kids develop balance and bike control,” says Poppy. “We’ll also have try-outs of tagalongs and kids’ bike seats, so if there are parents of young children who are thinking of cycling with their kids but are unsure of what kit will work best for them, they can come along and try them out. We’ll also loan them out for a month or so you can really get an idea of what’s right for you.” The Family Cycling event is part of Windmill Hill City Farm’s Love Life day, so there will also be food and drink, workshops and live music. Once your kids have started out on two wheels, they can progress to official Bikeability
cycle training (which Life Cycle UK also provides) and gradually build up their road knowledge and skills in traffic. “We can train parents too,” says Poppy. “If they’re nervous of cycling with their children, we can provide training in simple skills like road position and communicating successfully with children that make the whole thing safer and more enjoyable – because it really should be enjoyable. Cycling is a really fun activity; most children love it. What’s better than a happy child?”
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