According to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022), cycling has several health and social benefits for children. Get a kid on two wheels at a young age and they'll see better cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as improved balance, strength, and eye-hand coordination, that will last a lifetime. Cycling also teaches kids to interact with other people and make new friendships, and allows for greater mobility, enabling them to become more independent and active. It's a great way to get a child away from the tyranny of the screen and into the wild outdoors, where all the experiences are real.
To set your child up for success, you must first choose the right bike. A bike that's uncomfortable, too heavy, or not the right size has a better chance of collecting dust in the garage than kicking it up on the trail. Thankfully, the days of one-size-fits-all BMX-style bikes are all but over. Companies like woom, Trailcraft, Cleary, and others are committed to building bicycles that are optimized for children.
"In order to create the best riding experience for kids, it is crucial to offer a bike that is specifically built for them and their needs, and not just a shrunken version of an adult bike," says Mathias Ihlehfeld, CEO of woom. The mainline manufacturers, too, are taking their cues from their specialist competition, making their products better than ever for the kids who ride them.
What's great about the new generation of children's bicycles? To begin with, overall weights are way down and that really matters. While most of us adults have reluctantly accepted that shaving a pound or two off our bikes won't guarantee us a spot on the podium, children can and do benefit tremendously from a similar savings. So don't be afraid to spend extra for a lighter bike.
Denne historien er fra Issue 05, 2022-utgaven av Bicycling US.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 05, 2022-utgaven av Bicycling US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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ONE MAN'S OBSESSIVE CRUSADE TO Take Down Zwift Cheats
Indoor cycling and virtual racing are booming, and so are the ranks of digital dopers abusing the platforms.
WHAT I LEARNED WHEN LOST IT ON A MOUNTAIN BIKE
A lifelong roadie tries singletrack for the first time. It did not go as planned.
THE UNLIKELY HERO WHO RECOVERED OVER 200 STOLEN BIKES IN ONE AMERICAN CITY
It was a sunny day in the summer of 2022. There were some things I had to move into the house, so I left the garage door open. I was gone less than 15 minutes.
YOU CAN BE MORE THAN JUST A CYCLIST
I'VE ALWAYS HAD A LOVE FOR SPORTS, starting with the usual team ones such as football and baseball. But that faded in favor of more individual pursuits. Watching my dad roll down the driveway to go for a ride, I wanted to do the same. The bike was my first taste of freedom, a freedom to do it my way.
THE RIGHT SADDLE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
UP UNTIL RECENTLY, I WAS, AT BEST, A TWICEa-month cyclist.
HOW TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE RIDER YOU USED TO BE
CYCLISTS OF ALL LEVELS GO THROUGH various phases or eras over the years they spend in the saddle. For the vast majority of riders (myself included), these things happen privately, without fanfare.
BIKES MAKE THE WORLD A MORE INCLUSIVE PLACE
LIFE'S A BEAUTIFUL PUZZLE THAT COMES in all sorts of shapes, colors, and sizes.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD CYCLING SCENE, ANYWAY?
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF INVOLVING myself in a few populous and dramatically different cycling communities.
CHOOSE GEAR THAT INSPIRES YOU TO HAVE FUN E
EVEN THOUGH I TEST LOADS OF CYCLING gear for a living, sometimes I get locked in on particular items and find it difficult to enjoy competing products, even if those products have obvious advantages.
WHY YOU DESERVE A CUSTOM BIKE
Custom. The word evokes passionate opinions about what constitutes a custom-made bike and who gets to ride one. There's this idea that they're wildly expensive pieces of functional art meant only for the fittest, fastest riders.
