Kids on Wheels - An Introduction to Bike-Hiking

Continuing with my Kids on Wheels series, I wanted to write about a great multi-sport activity that you can do as a family this summer.

We've been doing a LOT of Bike-Hiking with my son's balance bike this spring and it's fast becoming a favourite family activity.  There's less whining on the trail, less frustration, less boredom, and much less overall complaining.

Bike-Hiking to Troll Falls, Kananaskis Village

 A typical hike will always have moments like this:

Mom, I'm tired...
I'm thirsty...
I'm hungry...
I want to go back...
Mom, I'm...(insert any complaint here)...
But...

My response - Here, get on your bike.

Most problems solved!  And I don't mean to imply that if my son is hot, tired, thirsty, hungry or what have you, that I just give him his bike and tell him to suck it up.  Definitely not!  He's allowed to stop, rest, have snacks, take a breather, and grab some water.  But, he's happier when he has his bike.
If we are doing a steep hill and he's whining that it's too steep, just pushing his bike makes him happier.  Being able to touch his bike puts a smile on his face because he knows he'll  be riding it soon.

Classic Bike-Hiking Terrain

The bike helps my son forget about the things I can't always control such as how hot it is, the fact that maybe we ran out of water a mile back, or the distance still remaining to get back to the car.   As soon as he starts riding, he gets in a zone and he doesn't think  about some of the things he'd think to complain about if he were just hiking.

Not an exciting trail - unless you're on a bike!  Then it's awesome!

And I know I'm not alone!! I've been told by other parents that their children will also hike further, go faster, and remain happier - if they bring their child's bike along on their hike.

The challenge is that you can't really do bike-hiking with training wheels.  You either need a balance bike (also known as a run bike) or else a pedal bike - and a child who can ride over roots, on dirt trails, down the occasional steep hill, and up a short steep hill on said pedal bike.

It would be hard to do this trail with training wheels

Bike-hiking is essentially the same thing as child friendly mountain biking.  We choose easy hiking trails - and bring our son's bike.  Some trails would permit us as adults to bring our bikes along as well, but other trails are definitely not suitable for us.  We've taken the Strider balance bike on trails with very clear "no biking" signs and we've taken it on trails I would not dare attempt on my bike (after all, I'm not carrying my heavy steel framed bike with the going gets tough).  We've also done trails that are just too busy for adults on bikes.  My son doesn't ever get going too fast off pavement so it's never a big concern for him however. 

In essence, bike-hiking is simply hiking.  But your child brings his bike and has the option of riding or walking.  When he isn't riding - yep, you guessed it - you have to be prepared to carry or push the bike.

Cruising down a sweet hill on the Troll Falls Trail - awesome for the whole family on bikes

The Practical Stuff:

One - The children should always get to choose when they want to ride - and when they want to hike

We choose easy hiking trails and allow our son to choose when he wants to hike or ride his bike.  When he isn't riding his bike he will either push it or we'll carry it for him.  I don't mind carrying a small balance bike if it means we are all outside together - and happy.  There's no shame in my child choosing to hike a section of the trail if he finds it too steep or scary.  And, if you choose a light-weight balance bike such as the Strider brand, they weigh next to nothing so it's not much of a burden to carry them.

The advantage of hiking with a light-weight balance bike - even my child can carry it

Two - Look for one-way hiking trails where you can bike back on paved paths or roads.

This allows for a nice blend of mountain biking and road biking.  Hikes that start from closed campgrounds early season are awesome for this because you can bike the paved campground roads to your trailhead for the mountain biking - hiking portion. Closed highways early season are also great for accessing nearby hiking trails. We biked the closed roads through the Bow Valley Provincial Park campground this spring to access the Many Springs hiking trail and it was a great trip.  Read the story here.  We also biked the closed highway past Elbow Falls in the Elbow Valley this spring in conjunction with a hike on the Beaver Flats Interpretive Trail. This was another great early season classic that we will repeat next year.

For more trail suggestions in the Canadian Rockies, see my list at the end of this story.

Biking the closed highway en route to the Beaver Flats Trail, Elbow Valley

Three - Bring a Chariot with you for younger kids

When younger children get tired of riding their bike, they can easily take a rest for a while if you've brought a Chariot with you.  Bonus, you can also use the Chariot to carry your child's bike when he or she isn't riding it.

How many balance bikes can your Chariot carry?  This one has 3.

Last summer while camping we used our Chariot a lot on paved paths and we would bike as a family to a nearby trailhead.  We'd leave the bikes at the trailhead and proceed on foot to enjoy a nice little hike.  Then we'd get back on our bikes and return to our campground.  It was a favourite camping activity and worked well with a younger child who wasn't riding his own bike yet.

Biking in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park to the Marl Lake Trailhead

Four - Follow the tips already listed in my last story on making bike riding FUN

As I mentioned in my last story, choose a destination to ride to such as a pretty waterfall, river with a sandy beach, or interesting little hike.  Stop often to play, explore nature, and to just allow the kids to be kids!  And, as always, the more friends the better!

Biking to a beach is every kid's dream - Paddy's Flat Interpretive Trail

Five - Start small and simple - and work your way up

You don't need to start off with a technical single track trail that will leave your child with a broken arm.  Start small.  Choose easy flat trails with few roots and rocks that you've already hiked before and know well.  We chose the Fenland Trail in Banff this year as our first trail because we've hiked it a zillion times before and I knew it to be perfectly flat and well maintained.  If you end up on a difficult trail don't be afraid to admit that you are in over your head and be prepared to carry your child's bike.  (Here is when it's nice to have your child on a balance bike rather than a heavy steel framed pedal bike.)

The Fenland Trail, Banff

Special Safety Concerns

It is my honest opinion that all children on bikes should wear long pants.  It may not be an issue for you - and that's ok, but it is my general rule for my son.  I've seen him fall down way too many times and pants can go a long way in protecting the skin from bad gashes and scrapes.  I also enforce that my son wear bike gloves when doing anything more complex than riding to the playground.  Again, if he falls down, I want some protection between him and the ground.  Knee pads would not be a bad idea as well but it's something I've never looked into.  As far as shirts, I'd love it if my son could wear a long sleeved shirt when biking but I'm realistic in the fact that it does get tricky in summer when it's hot outside.  Tank tops should be avoided however.  In general - the more padding and protection, the better.

Helmet, bike gloves and long pants

Helmets of course should be mandatory any time your child gets on a bike - even if just going to the playground. 

If you are biking further than a few blocks from home, a first aid kit would not be a bad idea to carry with you as well.  At the very least I always carry band-aids and wipes with me.

Easy riding on the Beaver Flats Trail in Kananaskis 

Biking in Canmore