Take for example these different scenarios that have happened recently:

1.       If you read my blog about Holland, you can see how a positive cycling culture can be a wonderful thing to support people who travel on bicycles.

2.      I had never let my daughter ride her bike on the road until we visited Crested Butte. They have this wonderful laid back attitude about bikes.  Everyone has bikes and is supportive of anybody at any skill level biking around town.  My daughter got her bell, basket and streamers at Big Al bikes, they treated her like she was the top mountain biking athlete and decked out her bike, so she could cruise in style.

3.      When I or friends travel on local bike paths with kids very strange things happen.  Men see children riding their two wheelers or practicing on their balance bikes and they slow down, encourage them and are truly amazed.  On the other hand, women stare right ahead and say things like “ On your left”  when it is very clear that the child in question is way too young to know their left from their right, let alone be fast enough to get out of the way of these speedy women.

4.      Sometimes, biking can get you too close to officers of the law. This summer when I was very pregnant, I was crossing at a busy intersection.  A Garfield County Sheriff officer cut me off while turning left.  If I had not seen him and I speeded up and he slowed down he would have hit me, my pregnant belly and the bike stroller carrying my daughter.  I complained to the sheriff office and to the town and nothing was done about this incident.  The officer on the spot did apologize and did say he did not see me, yet the Garfield Sherriff office felt like since there was no witness to take my side, nothing should be done.  I have biked in cities since I am 9 years old.  If one thing about me is clear is that I am very conscious of laws and follow them to the T. (this drives my father nuts, because I am very inflexible).   I know that I was doing what a cyclist should do and I know that the officer was not following the code of the road for drivers.  But, it seems like paperwork and reprimands are too much work over the safety of cyclists in Garfield County.

5.      In The New York Times: “In 2007, a city councilman was quoted in the Village Voice saying that pedicabs caused pollution by increasing congestion. Perhaps he’s right; perhaps pedicabs and cars cannot coexist in Manhattan. Maybe it’s not safe to have three wheels darting in and out of four-wheel traffic. Maybe the time has come to make a change. How about we get rid of the cars?”   Your should read the article Three Wheels Through the Park by Ariel Kaminer to find out more about Pedicabs in New York City and all the fuss they are rousing.  Pedicabs are three wheeled bicycles that people hire to be pedaled around town.

6.      Two steps behind me: The New York Times published two days after my balance bike article a slideshow featuring the different options:  Check out the article

So, with all these stories, make sure that your child is knowledgeable about the bike culture where they ride their bike and that they are able to make sound and safe decisions.

Enjoy the ride and be safe,

Heidi

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7.      No training wheels please:

Training wheels are a crutch that does not help your child develop balance.  Once your child is tired of using them you still need to teach your child how to bike and you still need to hold them on the bike, which is terrible for your back.  Of course, if your child does not want to use a balance bike  don’t force them..  It is about your child.

8.      Two wheeler:

You can buy a two wheeler that comes in 12 to 16 inch frame sizes.  The cheap models found at big box stores are fine.  You need to make sure your child can be straddling the seat and having both feet touching the floor (preferably flat, but my daughter is so small she only can touch with her toes).  They also need to be able to have their full foot touching the pedal while on the seat.  We measured our daughters inseam and then took a measuring tape to the store.  Bringing a toddler to pick out a bike can be a bad idea. They may fall in love with the wrong size bike.  Just make sure that you don’t bring them home with the training wheels on.  If your child sees them, he/she will want to keep them.  These bikes are very heavy.  Once your child becomes an accomplished biker you can move on to a more sophisticated, more expensive and lighter model.

9.      Good bike manners:

As soon as possible teach your child to stay on one side of the bike path without zigzagging. Also, teach them that when they get off their bike it should not be left on the middle of the road or path.  You should teach them to pull over when a car or faster cyclist goes by.

10.      Safety:

Teach your child basic safety tips.  Always have your child wear a helmet.  If you slack on a day they are just on the grass, they will think that helmets are not that important.  You should also model and wear a helmet.  Teach them about Stop signs, staying on the side of the road, crossing light signals, getting off the bike and walking across streets, being careful because drivers (especially in parked cars) can’t see them because they are so small.  Also, teach your child how to brake or fall off the bike.  We have a rule:  You can only bike when you don’t have anything in your hands.  No dragging toys, sticks or such.  Also, if you bike somewhere, you bike back. We don’t carry your bike back home.  This way they bike within their comfort zone.  Wear good, closed-toed shoes that don’t slip off easily.

11.      Embellishments:

Children love bells and whistles.  Don’t use special beautification items as rewards.  So much research indicates that using rewards for your children makes them accomplish activities to create a sense of self and get love from parents.  Children should be left to be who they want to be and to grow into their fullest potential without thinking that the only reason to do something is to be rewarded. Let your child set their own limits for their abilities and let them reach their own goals so they can be self-fulfilled rather than extrinsically motivated.  Coralie asked for a bell, a basket and some streamers.  We purchased them for her once she had complete control of the bike.  Adding anything to the bike can be a distraction and can be more hurtful when they fall.

Have fun,

Heidi

Part I of tips for teaching bike riding:  Tip 1 to 6

1.      Open Parent attitude:

Remember that you should keep an open mind.  It is not about your child being the youngest, best or fastest bike rider, but about your child having fun outdoors with you.  It is about your child’s goals and needs, not about you.

2.      Positive Child Attitude:

Your child has to be interested in learning and open to the experience.  If your child becomes cranky, scared, or bored, forget it and try another time.  Only go on bike rides or practice rides if your child agrees.  Do not bribe your child.

3.      The good and bad of peer Pressure:

Have your child start this process with likeminded friends and parents. It is incredible what children can accomplish when they see each other performing.  Try to avoid the child who is very scared, really not interested, or overly accomplished.  Some children get turned off and frustrated if their friends can really do something and they break down and don’t want to try anymore.

4.      Start with a Balance bike:

Balance bikes are bicycles with only two wheels, no brakes and no pedals.  The child uses his or her feet to get the bike moving.  For the first few times, your child may be very slow and not even use the seat.  Once they get the hang of it, they push off on the ground then glide while sitting on the bike and lifting their feet. They stop by dragging their feet on the ground.

5.      Terrain:

We started our daughter on a well paved bike path with rolling hills and soft shoulders.  She fell in a bush once and in a barbed wire fence another time while on her balance bike.  If consoled and taken care of quickly and you explain that it is a part of learning, your child will probably want to try again if you don’t make a big deal of the accident.  After our daughter mastered the paved bike path we tried a dirt bike trail with small bumps.  That way she could really work her balance bike and understand the subtleties of the terrain. Then she was ready for a two wheeler.  She still uses her balance bike on the mountain bike trails, but uses her other bike to go into town.

6.      Don’t fall into the trap: 

Other parents may laugh at you or criticize you for not using training wheels or for expecting too much from your child.  Remember it is not about expectations but about fun (Tip Number 1).  The desire to bike and to accomplish has to come from your child, not you.  Also, some parents may think your child should be doing more on the bike; ignore them.

 Heidi

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A two wheeler is a bike with two wheels, foot brakes and no training wheels.  Bring your child to a place where they can experiment with the bike and feel safe.  Do not hold your child on the bike. Remember they already know about balance because they have used the balance bike for a few months now.  If you start to hold them, they will lose the sensation and you will have to break your back holding them.

 Your child may not know how to start so you need to get them going buy supporting them under both armpits or on the small of their back.  With practice they will get it and you won’t have to do this very often.  Find a slight downhill for them so that peddling is effortless at first.

Also, your child will stop for the first while using their feet since they did that using the balance bike. Encourage practicing with pedal braking on a flat surface.  After a while they will only use the pedals and you can have them wear normal shoes again.

Once your child is comfortable peddling, and breaking you can have them go on longer outings with more difficult terrain.  The first time they encounter an uphill teach them about standing up to get more power or getting off and walking the bike up.  When they bike on gravel for the first time, explain that they need to power through it or they may skid or not be able to start again.

You need to teach every step of the way, each time they encounter a new ‘problem’.

Now you are ready to go on your first bike tour with your child.

Heidi

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Note: Before we start here is a little bit on tricycles.  Tricycles are great in of themselves.  They provide toddlers mobility and they learn steering and functioning of pedals.  They do not teach balancing or are not a natural progression towards learning to ride a two wheeler.  Because of the angle of the child’s leg on a tricycle it is hard for the child to get enough power to go up hills or through rough terrain.

This series of articles is useful for any child to learn how to ride a bicycle.  However, if your child is older than three or four, you will not find a balance bike that fits them. You would have to use a regular bike and take off the pedals.  There are disadvantages to this:  The pedals arm will be in the way.

I recommend starting your child on learning to ride a bike as soon as they have an interest.  By the age of three my daughter and her friends were zooming around a two wheelers without training wheels.

First start with a balance bike:

A balance bike is a bike that has two wheels, no peddles and no brakes.  Your child rides on it, while using their feet for locomotion and for breaking purposes.  There are many different models of balance bikes.  Select one that fits your child and your budget.  Make sure that your child is wearing shoes that you don’t mind getting wrecked.  Since they use their feet to stop, the soles and toe tips get worn out fast.

At first your child will straddle the bike and walk with it between their legs.  They will be very slow, but after a while they will realize that they can sit on the seat while running with their legs, picking up momentum and then gliding with lifted feet.  When they want to stop they will put their feet down.   A good place for them to get the feeling of this gliding, balancing act is a grassy downhill.

Have your child go on walks around your neighborhood with the bike, they will get familiar with the different skills needed on different terrain.  It is good to have your child understand balance on smooth surfaces, gravels, and bumps, uphill and down hills.  Make sure your child is ready and knows how to stop when going down a hill.

Once your child is gliding effortlessly on the balance bike, going uphill with a lot of leg power, going downhill and is able to stop, you are ready for a real two wheeler.

Heidi

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When I was 16 I traveled to Europe.  One of the countries I visited was Holland.  I spent most of my time in the countryside, but I also spent a few days in Amsterdam.

A recent New York Times article (September 20^th, 2009 by Beth Greenfield), “The Amsterdam of Playgrounds and Pancakes” explains that Amsterdam is a good country to visit with your children.

I believe that families would find Amsterdam’s cobbled streets, house boats and mellow atmosphere a great place to bring children who are old enough to  appreciate the different architectural and cultural landscape from back home.  For example, as the article mentions, the Anne Frank House  totally enchanted my teenage mind.  Days after, I found myself day dreaming about Anne’s life and had specific images to go with my thoughts.  The book had really contextualized a piece of history for me, but the house enabled me to see the concreteness of it all --a regular home, a regular child and the horrible things can happen within that context.  You may think, “oh, I don’t want that kind of realization formy child on vacation”, but I think that for me it was reassuring to see that the world still continued after such events.

There’s nothing really special about Dutch cuisine, but The Pannekoeks (pancake) is considered a local dish eaten any time of day.  When I visited, I ate three plates of poffertjes, a style of pancake that is small and served on a plate that looks like an egg poacher.  They are doused in butter and powdered sugar.  I liked them so much I ate three plates and got very, very sick.  I ate them in a small town that I visited after a long bike ride.  The restaurant was an open air structure that resembled a carousel.

This brings me to bicycles.   Holland is so flat and so wonderfully conducive to traveling by bicycle.  The bike paths are plentiful, the spaces wide and there are many places to park your bike.   I find that cycling is a great way to visit a place like Holland with children.  Children and teenagers have so much energy to spend and parents don’t always want to spend their vacation going to playgrounds.  Biking enables the child to follow along, while the parents look at the passing landscape.

I also went camping in the Netherlands.  It seems like many Dutch folks love to camp and the campgrounds have lush grass to set up your tent.  Unfortunately, I cannot give you specific information about my travels since I was young and did not think that 18 years later I would be sharing this information with anybody.

So if you are interested in visiting the Netherlands with your children, I recommend you read the NYT article for starters.

Heidi

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Prana, the company that is known for its stylish and cool climbing clothing, has come out with a few prenatal clothing items that have become essential to my wardrobe.  More and more women are continuing their active lifestyle while pregnant but hardly any companies offer outdoor wear for the expecting crowd. Both tops are made out of synthetic material.

The Luna maternity top:  Is a tank top style shirt that fits better towards the end of the pregnancy.  I was really quite huge and it was the only shirt that covered me up until the end. During the first two trimesters of pregnancy it looked a bit like a tent.  At first I was not sure that I liked the thick material it was made of, but after wearing it for a while it became my favorite top.  It has an integrated bra, which works very well. I ended up wearing my own bra as well because the one provided still showed a bit of nipple action.  I think that anyone that is looking for a shirt that could work well to run or do other outdoor sports would love this shirt. In winter, it could be worn with a warm layer and your belly would not be in the elements and you would have a good sport quality material to keep your sweat from making you cold.

The Luna Capris:  These pants fit amazingly well from week 1 to week 40.  They look good, are stylish and not too sporty, so I could dress them up a little. They are like yoga pants.  Again, these pants could work well in winter because of its very wide belly band that you could wear over your belly during sports where you want a bit of support and belly coverage. If not you can just fold it over and have a fashionable pair of pants.

Otter has always been a strong bike rider, he loves it and asks to ride all the time.  He wears his helmet to dinner and to the movies and forgets to take it off when he takes a nap.

When grandparents visit we always go on a bike ride – we’re lucky to live next to a rails to trails bike path and can travel all the way to aspen or, soon all the way to glenwood springs.  When summer comes and the trails around us open, we love to ride along the river, bringing a lunch and picnicking along the trail.  Peter pulls Wrenny in the bike trailer and I have Tucker Mac on the back of my bike; Otter rides his own bike.  Because Peter has an Extra-cycle, we can travel longer distances and put Otter in the bike trailer when he gets tired.  The  Extra-cycle can easily carry the kids bike.  We try and have a destination, like a park or spot next to the river and it always fun to push each other.  It takes lots of patience, just like anything with kids, we stop lots and have drink breaks and snacks and let little ones run around.  These are always some of our best memories and that is what childhood is all about.

Visit our website:  http://sweetstream.wordpress.com/

Now, the whole 51 mile long trail has been paved and I have traveled the length of it.  You can start at any point along the trail or from either end.   If you start by Hanging Lake and go to Aspen you will be going uphill the whole way.  RFTA, the  Roaring Fork Valley bus system, has stops starting in Glenwood Springs all the way to Aspen. and they have bike racks. Some taxi companies also provide shuttle services.

Enjoy exploring this amazing bike path. You don’t have to do the whole thing at once or even a return trip (use the bus or taxi).  The longest two sections I have done are:

Carbondale to Hanging Lake one way: 16 miles total.

Carbondale to Glenwood Springs (14 miles) doesn't offer a lot of beautiful views. You can often see the  highway, but you are riding downhill.  To continue on the path past Glenwood, you cross the river and go by the Hot Springs to find the trail. Hanging Lake is 2 miles further. MAP

Glenwood Springs to Hanging Lake is the nicest part of this ride.  You are biking by sheer rock cliffs and the Shoshone part of the Colorado River.  It is slightly up hill with two long up hill stretches.  When you get to Hanging Lake, there is a public restroom, picnic table and a beautiful HIKE

Carbondale to Aspen: 35 miles total

This section is the most picturesque throughout.  At equal intervals you will arrive in the town of Basalt (13 miles), then Woody Creek ( 13 miles) and then Aspen ( 9 miles).  In all these towns there are restaurants, public parks and bathrooms. From Woody Creek to Aspen you will be on a non-paved trail but it is very well maintained with crushed rock (almost sand). Aspen has a great recreation center and pool for you to relax in after wards.

When we do the trips we stop often.  Take dips in the river, eat at breakfast, lunch or dinner spots along the way or bring a picnic.  When biking with a child, make sure you make it an adventure for them too.

Doing outdoor activities with your kids isn't often about  serious or intense training.  Just make it into a family fun day.  With two adults to pull it's easier too.  Remember to always wear a helmet, even on a bike path, and your child should have one on too.

I should also mention that more than 14 miles from Glenwood to Carbondale (Katherine Store bridge) is maintained during winter months for snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

Here are links to other great activities in the area: Hiking

Heidi

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Every week before the holiday season is really underway, I will write a short piece about a product that may interest some of the folks on your shopping list.

This week’s featured product is a pair of fleece pants by The North Face.  These Glacier pants are very soft and can be worn alone for milder outdoor activities or they can be one of the layers that will keep your toddler warm during those very cold winter days.  My daughter is sensitive to textures and seems to find that these fleece pants are fine directly on her skin. She does not get irritated from them.  These pants come with a full life time guarantee.  The pants also look good, with their simple cut that doesn't add too much bulk to an outfit.  I believe these Glacier pants are available in adult versions as well.

To find out about more gear suggestions read my Shopping List Blog.

Remember to visit our home page to find out about our latest Giveaway. All you need to do is submit a story for your chance to win.

I tested out the 12 cm container which holds 3 cups of food.  The bowl was completely airtight.  I stored the soup I did not finish that I cooked on a backpacking stove inside my pack and I never got a messy leak.  I was on a whitewater canoe trip and this bowl came very handy.  I like to try to keep my gear to a minimum and this bowl does the trick.  Also, for thirteen bucks it really is economical as outdoor gear gets.  I was easy to wash and did not get too dirty when cooking on our little stove. 

I love gear that I can use outdoors and also at home ( spend less $ on consumer goods).  This container is great to store snacks for little trips around town.  It can easily carry yogurt.   My daughter likes to store her snack in the container and close the three little clasps.  When she is done I can through it in my bag with no mess even if it flips upside down  or I am riding my bike.

 They are available in four convenient sizes: 14 cm, 12 cm, 10 cm and 8 cm diameter. They are made of high grade stainless steel #304. Easy to clean, the bottom part can be washed in the dishwasher.

Another great reason to buy this container is that you will be purchasing less plastic and storing your food in a more healthy environment.   Outdoor travel is surrounded by plastic and I am making it a point to feature products that reduce our use of this toxic material.

To purchase this great product click on this link:  Life without plastic

Life without Plastic is a web-based company based out of Canada and run by a family.  They offer many other products that I would love to get my hands on.

Maybe these little bowls will become the Sigg version of food containers, can you imagine them in different colors and designs. Hey, maybe I should get royalty on that.  For now, you can take a marker and write on the container to identify the content or the user.  Useful, if you are traveling with a few little ones and you are digging through your pack for your picky toddlers bowl of snack and not your leftovers.

www.lifewithoutplastic.com

Heidi

Living in the Roaring fork valley is an absolute joy.  Here is a list of some of the activities we do together:

Bike:  We bike mostly everywhere we go from visiting friends to going to the pool.  We also go on bike rides on the amazing bike path, we go to Basalt, Glenwood Springs and in a few weeks we will attempt Aspen.

Hike:  We go on short 2-3 hour hikes.  Cora often walks a portion of the way stopping to look at Juniper Bushes, Sage, cactus, flowers, grass, and pine (the flora she can identify).

Walk:  Erik, Cora and I walk out our front door and wonder around following our own desire to see what is around. Cora stops often to look at pebbles or to climb on rocks.

Swim: We are so lucky to have a pool in our town. It is only open during the summer but we take great advantage of it. Cora loves the water.  We practice swimming in the big pool. She kicks, goes under water, picks up toys, jumps in and makes bubbles. After, that we go to the toddler pool and there she plays with friends and practices floating.

Park: A simple activity that makes all of us happy on a work filled day.  Cora gets to play, climb, and slide, while we don’t have to do much of the entertaining.

Fish hatchery:  We have a fish hatchery run by the Colorado State department of wildlife.  Here we love to go feed the fish and watch them flip around and splash us.

Rodeo: Every Thursday night the town of Carbondale has a rodeo.  To celebrate on of Coralie’s friends birthday we went to this event.  It is a lot of fun.  People park their trucks days before hand to save a prime viewing spot. People barbeque, talk with friends and watch the show. We had a great view of the behind the scene action as well as the major events. We could see the nervous rituals cowboys would do before mounting the bull or the movement of the animals in the back stage corals.  I preferred the barrel raising, Coralie loved to see the five year olds fall off during mutton riding. Erik liked the bull riding.

Picnic:  This year we are very short on money, so we pack a lunch for most of the activities we do.  It is fun to eat simple food outside.  Whenever we are hungry we just sit down in the shade and take our time enjoying each other’s company.  I like to eat in this way, you tend to eat less and enjoy the food more.  We also take longer to eat and relax.

Farm animals:  We visit the pigs, horses and chickens that live on the property were we live. Many farms are open for visitors.

Heidi

As featured  on the Sierra Club’s website at http://sierraclub.typepad.com/scrapbook/

It is great to get around on your own. Look at Felix go on his bike.  In spite of his cerebral palsy Felix can get around on his special bike.  Felix can also explore the outdoors on this bike.  As parents you always have to remember to take it easy and go with the flow of your children.