She’s cycled more than 22,000 miles across the Americas. No big deal. Cyclist and mom, Nancy Sathre-Vogel has been on numerous bike trips with her husband and twin boys. She offers some tips for preparing and planning a bike trip with the family.
1. Start biking with your children early
If you want to do a big bike trip — one day, one week, or even three years a la the Vogel family — begin early. While you don’t need to train for the trip per se, starting when the kids are younger will help them and you make cycling more routine and easier.
2. Don’t be afraid of the bike or the journey
“The physical aspect of biking is actually not that hard,” Nancy says. With some practice, patience and determination, most people can bike 10-30 miles every day. But being fearless also means getting off the beaten path and exploring the area you are riding through, whether it is stopping and talking to the locals or taking the road less traveled.
3. Don’t underestimate your kids’ cycling abilities
Talk to your kids to see what they want to and can do, Nancy tells parents. They are often capable of doing more than you think, physically and mentally.
4. Focus on the daily trips
Especially if you are doing a big trip; take it one day at a time. Don’t concentrate on ‘we’re going to ride 17,000 miles’ — think how you can do 30 miles a day.
5. Get the best bicycle equipment you can afford
Quality bikes and gear will last longer and are less prone to breakage. Often, cheaper equipment will cost more in repair expenses than if you were to invest in something better in the first place.
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