What age to start taking the kids on trips?

[Silverthief]

Just curious as to what age does everyone think is good to start taking the kids on bike trips. My son is turning 11 in a couple of months, and I'd like to start thinking about taking him on some 2-3 day camping trips on the Sprint.

Not necessarily going to take him at age 11, the over-protective mother is a definite factor.
:)

[whoa]

Would a 16 yr old even want to?

But then I'm risk averse. I sold my Harley and Cessna when we had children, and didn't start riding again till my son was of age. So, my vote is probably outside your bell curve. :-(

[Photojojo]

My son at 10 has been on some pretty long rides. He could do more and wants to go camping. We probably will this summer.

[Photojojo]

When they turn 16 there on their own bike. I'll just not give them any money or maps so I'll be sure they stay with me. :lol2:

[The Big Spank Daddy]

I would say 16 and up. The reason being that in my case my son got pretty worn out after just an hour of so of riding. It was not until he was in high school did his bike riding stamina pick up.

Maybe a short trip, 100 miles or soo would be cool.

[mhutch]

I chimed in with do it now. Of course, I am childless and I give drumsets to other peoples kids for christmas :drums: :twisted:. Really though, I have some great memories of camping when I was much younger than that. Not on a bike though. The bike bit should be left up to him and your impression of how whiney he can get after 1, 2, 3, hours on the back.

[Tourmeister]

Start with short trips, not the epic journeys ;-) See how they do. If they get into it, do some longer trips.

oh yeah, I voted for the young age bracket.

[Jack Giesecke]

We took Gretchen to Arkansas at about age one year. Momma held her in the sidecar. Looking back on it, maybe a car seat in the chair would have been better, install some seat belts. But, we made it fine. I'd never have attempted that on a solo. They need to be old enough to hang on and reach the pegs comfortably.

[wczimmerman]

I voted 8-12 for the longer trips (like pie run distances or more). We take our girls for short rides (6 and 4 years old), the longest being from Temple to CS for the end of year pie run bash (80 miles). They love it and they know you ONLY ride with all the gear on no matter how hot it is.

[perterra]

I'm thinking 30 years old is a good time.

[Gilk51]

We take our girls for short rides (6 and 4 years old), the longest being from Temple to CS for the end of year pie run bash (80 miles). They love it and they know you ONLY ride with all the gear on no matter how hot it is.
I followed them to and from College Station - about an hour and 15-20 minutes each way. Their girls were excellent.

Larry (jetblue) brought his 14 yr old daughter out to one of the Edom pie runs & she seemed to have a great time. They have an FJR, though (division of La-Z-boy I think :roll: )...

One of the Tyler guys (I think it's Mark) has had his son ride with him from there to EuroSports in Ft. Worth - I think he was about the same age as Larry's daughter.

May not be for everyone's kids, but some of the combinations do work out...

[bobcat]

I just took my 12-year old nephew for his second ride this past Sunday, approximately 100-mile round trip to Marble Falls. He FELL ASLEEP twice. :eek: I felt his helmet bobbing off my back, I shook his leg to wake him up. About 10 minutes later, his helmet bumped mine a few times, shook his leg again. Once in Marble Falls I loaded him up with caffeine, and he was fine on the way home...

[Tourmeister]

:tab It is common for passengers, kids in particular, to asleep on the back of bikes. I guess it gets boring and with the constant droning noises it just knocks them out :shrug: If I were carrying a relatively young kid on the bike, I would be extra attentive to the signs you mentioned Claire. Maybe stop, get them walking around for a bit, put some caffeine in them, etc,... Pay especially close attention to them if you have just gotten back on the bike after a meal ;-)

[Squeaky]

I guess it gets boring and with the constant droning noises it just knocks them out :shrug:

...or maybe they're just tired because they didn't get much sleep and there's less adrenaline running through them than if they were piloting their own bike! ;-)

[Gilk51]

...or maybe they're just tired because they didn't get much sleep and there's less adrenaline running through them than if they were piloting their own bike! ;-)
should have been followed with "ask me how I know this..." :doh:

[Squeaky]

should have been followed with "ask me how I know this..." :doh:

Uh, yeah, you see, this little birdie told me... :zen:

[Tourmeister]

I would have thought hanging on to a bike hauling along a twisty road in the dark piloted by a guy you just met that morning would keep the nerves on edge... hehe. Must have been an "on" day for me ;-)

[FJR Bandit]

I took my baby girl on her first 100+ mile trip on her 11th birthday only because the mama hen said she had to wait for the backrest and her birthday.