When my husband and I first met, mountain biking and road riding was our thing. First off, we met at a mountain bike race and the rest was history. We spent weekends on the trails, road-tripped to find the best roads, and had a blast pushing our limits on two wheels. Then we had kids. And suddenly, biking became… complicated.
But here’s the thing—we weren’t going to let a few kids (okay, three) stop us from riding. We just had to figure out a way to make it work. But to be transparent, our saddle time has drastically been cut, mine more than my husbands.
Side note, when I worked for Strava I wrote an article about Running with Children, definitely check it out if you are interested.
The Gear That Keeps Us Rolling
First off, if you’re planning to bike with little kids, you need the right gear. We’ve tried it all—bike seats, trailers, tow ropes, balance bikes, pedal bikes, and everything in between. Right now, our setup includes:
- A tow rope – because no matter how much they love riding, at some point, they will get tired, and you will be hauling them up a hill. I’ve actually used the tow rope more for running with them while they bike with me and for our morning walks to help them down the steep hills.
- A double trailer – great for when the youngest decides he’s done with life outside the snack container. I’m a fan of Thule, I’ll have to write a post diving in on everything Thule later.
- Mac-Ride or Shot Gun – we actually have both. We prefer the Mac ride because the seat has a scoop on the back that is easier for the littlest riders to sit on and not slide back as much. And the frame profile fits our e-bikes better too.
- Balance bikes – because starting young makes a huge difference. Our middle kiddo started riding at 18 months, she literally threw her leg over and went down the driveway. She hasn’t stopped moving since.
- Pedal bikes – our girls are getting stronger, and I swear, watching them climb a hill on their own is one of my proudest mom moments. No surprise, the kids all have Specialized.
The Struggle Is Real (But Worth It)
Let’s be honest—biking with kids isn’t a smooth, uninterrupted ride through the forest. It’s stopping to adjust helmets a million times. It’s packing a ridiculous number of snacks (because a hungry child on a bike is a meltdown waiting to happen). It’s mentally preparing for at least one moment where someone refuses to pedal.
But then there are the good moments—the wind in their hair, the pure joy when they actually make it down the hill and the elephant lovey managed to stay in the handlebar bag, and the way they proudly tell people, “We rode SO far today!” And that makes every snack break, every uphill struggle, and every chaotic moment totally worth it.
Why We Keep Doing It
Biking is more than just exercise for us. It’s family adventure time. It’s teaching our kids resilience, balance, and the thrill of movement. It’s getting outside, breathing fresh air, and reminding ourselves that we’re still the same people who fell in love over bike rides—just with a few more tiny riders in tow.
What’s your favorite way to get outside and adventure as a family? Any must-have biking gear or tips you swear by? Drop them in the comments!
Run Teach Bike 