With a Lean Wallet, Which Is The Best Value?

Budgets are tight in these economic times and when shopping for a new bicycle for you or your child, it can be very tempting to buy the cheapest bike you can find. But is it really the best value to buy an inexpensive bike at a “Big Box” store?

Our friend Josh, who manages a bike store in our town, told us about a woman who brought in a bike she had just purchased two hours earlier at a Wal-Mart for $150 that was so damaged from her first ride that it would cost another $150 to fix. The bike, it turned out, had not been built correctly with the front derailleur put on backwards. So as she put the bike through the normal shifting, it caused a literal “chain reaction” that resulted in significant damage.

Alternatively, she could have purchased an entry-level Trek mountain bike for the $300 she ended up paying. It would have been lighter, with a higher quality frame, better welding, etc. and put together by someone who knows what they are doing.

If you have children, inevitably the happy day will come, when they will want to own and ride a bicycle. With kids, it can be very tempting to go to a place like Toys R Us and buy a sparkly pink $80 bike for our young daughter or a cool looking “mountain” bike with a fake front shock for our son. After all, they will just grow out of them, right? Well, you hope so. How about another true story?

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Teenagers may tune us out now and then, and two-year olds may willfully ignore our direct orders, but never doubt they are truly influenced by the things we do. Do you try to eat a healthy diet? It is truly having an impact on your children. Studies have shown that children’s food preferences are strongly linked with that of their parents, and more so with the mother than with the father.* Daughters are even more likely than sons to be influenced by the mother’s nutritional example. The mother’s habits and attitudes about food, dieting and self image have a huge impact on her daughter. This study may just be reaffirming what you already knew.

Kristin and Brynlee bond on their bicycles.

When you think about your childhood, your mother and food, what images come to mind? Do you believe it is true for you? In my case, my mother had made our nutrition and the family’s food choices a huge focus. She was into organic and natural foods and our school lunches differed wildly from our classmates making us feel very uncool. We ate sandwiches on homemade bread that was held together by the peanut butter, apples from our trees, and for a treat, a carob chip cookie. However to this day, I actually prefer eating healthy and whole foods, but long ago, I traded in the carob chips for good dark chocolate.

If you get on your bicycle and ride for exercise or to get from one place to another, that too, is having an influence on your children. A few years ago, The Wall Street Journal published the results of a study that showed that not only were a mother’s nutrition habits strongly influencing her daughter, but so were her exercise habits.** It is a true case of “daughter see, daughter do.” Evidently, exercise habits do get passed on in families. The importance of modeling good exercise habits is especially important for your daughters because compared with your sons, their exercise levels drop dramatically after age 9.

JoLynn and her three daughters are lookin' fine as they roll through the park together!

If you exercise independently, you are still serving as a role model, but exercising together is also very important. Bicycling is a great exercise to share with your daughter. It is something you can do together to share some precious one-on-one time. Cycling is excellent because it is an informal, less competitive activity where girls don’t have to feel self-conscious about their abilities. “Take Our Daughters to Work Day” has become a very popular way to teach our daughters about the value of a good career. I propose we start “Take Our Daughters (& Sons) on a Bicycle Ride Day” to pass on the values of a good, healthy life.

* Family Pattern Similarities and Differences Among Family Members by C. Kies and T.L.Dunlap in the  Journal of the American Dietetic Association
**Leading by Example:Research Explorers Moms’ Role in Girls’ Health and Nutrition by Tara Parker-Pope, Wall Street Journal, September 26, 2006

The hardest part of raising a child is teaching them to ride bicycles. A shaky child on a bicycle for the first time needs both support and freedom. The realization that this is what the child will always need, can hit hard.” –Sloan Wilson

"One of the greatest things about being a teenager is the sharing, the closeness, and the great times you have with your friends." - Unknown

 

When I was young, my sister and I were given an awful lot of freedom to go where we liked and play for hours as long as our mother had a rough idea of where we were. A generation ago, that was typical. In contrast, I was a different type of mother: my children’s lives were more structured with sports and extra-curricular activities. My kids spent a lot more time in the family car being driven to their various activities. They spent a lot less time off on their own with only a vague promise of being home before dinner.
I don’t believe I am in the minority here. We, as a generation of parents are also fearful about our children going various places, unmonitored, until they are much older. Can we tell the real difference between a real concern for their safety and unreasonable fear? Here’s a fact I was shocked to hear: the crime rate is about the same as it was in 1970, a generation ago. Children aren’t more likely to be abducted now than in 1970. BUT, we do have 24 hour news coverage and several different cable channels. The news channels are under much more pressure than they ever have been to fill that time, so abductions get much better media coverage than they ever did.

"We cannot tell the precise moment when a friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop there is at last a drop which makes it run over. So in a series of kindnesses there is at last one drop which makes the heart run over." - Cindy Kirk

So what are the true facts? Lenore Skenady, author of Free Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts from Worry, points out the the statistics that a child has a 1 in 1.5 million chance that they will be abducted and killed by a stranger. Compare that to the number one cause of death for children: as passengers in car accidents.
There are also occasions where our children are so used to being driven, they will ask for rides to the homes of friends who live less than ½ mile away. Are they lazy or just conditioned to expect cars to drive them everywhere? If the weather is fine, and safety and distance aren’t a concern—ask them: why not walk or ride your bicycle?
I had this epiphany one day when my eleven-year old daughter and her friend walked to a restaurant about 1/2 mile from their houses. The girls asked to be seated, ordered from the menu, paid their bill and tipped the waitress appropriately, and came home. This small little excursion was an eye opener for me. I needed to encourage more independence, let her have fun, and let her transport herself.
Self-confidence is gained when our children are given more autonomy. Pre-teens and young teens love a challenge, they love being together without constant supervision. If they have proven that they have the sufficient maturity, give them more independence and responsibility. If they have the road sense they need to get around by bicycle, they ought to be encouraged to use it to go more places.

Susie and Lauren spread their wings on their bicycles.

Lauren and Holly got in some fun Mom - Daughter time on the Co-Motion. They had fun trying it out and learning how to use it. You can check this bike out at Bingham Cyclery.

As a feature of Cycle & Style magazine, we periodically will review bicycles, accessories, or types of biking. In this case, one of our favorite local bike shops, Bingham Cyclery introduced us to the Co-Motion tandem. The owner of the store had mentioned how much fun he had riding it with his 6-year old son around the park. We thought we’d like to take it for a spin as well.

Sisters Susy & Julie put the tandem through its paces.

We had an opportunity to test the Co-Motion Periscope Torpedo tandem bicycle one Saturday afternoon. It was an especially fun bicycle to ride and it was very easy to get the hang of riding a tandem bicycle. We had two sets of mothers and daughters, and two pairs of sisters to try out the Periscope Tandem. The adjustments to fit the littlest girl  to our 5’10” girl were easily made in seconds. The tandem was much lighter than we expected. It was an enjoyable, sweet ride! I was impressed with this tandem’s ability to be an incredibly versatile family bicycle. The bikes are also adaptable in that bicycle trailers can easily be added on as could a trailer bike, sometimes known as tag-along bicycles.

Angie and little sister Lizzie got the hang of the tandem on their first try!

Most organized rides have a tandem classification and for those of you who are competitive, Co-Motion offers tandems that are ready for a race—some with a light aluminum frame and carbon forks to dampen road vibration as well as high-end componetry. If you want to enjoy true teamwork in your next fun ride or race then do it on a tandem!

Susy and Lauren thoroughly enjoyed riding the tandem.

Tandem cycling is a popular sport and pastime for the visually impaired who can be paired with a fully sighted rider and fully compete in all types of races from long road rides to track races, ride on off-road courses, and of course, enjoy rides with family and friends.

Co-Motion Cycles is located in Eugene, Oregon where they make high-end tandem bicycles as well as single bicycles. They build standard geometry bicycles and custom-made bicycles—most of them are made of cro-moly steel or aluminum. Co-Motion can make tandems to order: a bicycle for three (a triple) or four (a quad) can be seen in their website’s photos.

Thanks to Bingham Cyclery for the use of their Co-Motion Periscope Bicycle!

Julie and her 5 munchkin workout buddies

Here is a story that was submitted by one of our readers. She decided to do a triathlon after having her last of 5 kids. She overcame obstacles that would have stopped most of us. She borrowed a bike from her sister and her 8 year old’s swim goggles.

Julie found a local triathlon that she wanted to do and went for it 100%. She borrowed a bike and threw her kids in a stroller for her running and bike trailer for her bike rides.  She found a way around the obstacles and just did it. Her story is simple but still inspirational. She is like many American moms and may even inspire you.

Here is her story:

One month after giving birth to my last child I decided I wanted to get back in shape. I didn’t have a bike and I didn’t have a nanny to watch my infant and 3 year old. But I heard the voice of Forest Gump in my head “Run Julie, run” so I ran. I pushed my infant and 4-year old around in the stroller for my run workouts.

I slowly started to add biking to my workouts. I borrowed a mountain bike and attached the stroller to it. Wow! It was painful for the first few rides but slowly it got easier.
I was fortunate in that my Mom has a swimming pool in her yard. She watched the kids while I swam mini laps in the pool wearing my 8-year old’s goggles.

It took 3 months and lots of determination but I felt I was finally ready for my first triathlon.

The day of the race I was pretty nervous but excited.  I worried that it was going to be too cold once I got out of the water but as I transitioned to the bike that fear quickly faded.

First triathlon- getting to the finish

The running course turned out to be up a hill for half and down hill for the other half. I found consultation that it wasn’t straight up the whole time, it wound its way up the hill through a series of switch backs. Eventually I got to the top and turned around to go down the same way I had come. I take pride that I ran the whole thing without walking. It may have been the pace of an old man but I still ran the whole thing.

Finally, as I rounded the last corner I could hear the crowd and see my kids cheering me on. I had a hard time not breaking into tears as I crossed the finish line exactly 2 hours and 13 minutes after I had started.

I would like to say “Thank you” to My husband for his support while training and at the race. I also want to say Thank you to Mande for letting me use her FAST road bike as well as my mom and dad for coming and watching. I couldn’t have done any of it if it wasn’t for the invitation and encouragement from  Jen and Becca. After the pain subsided, I realized that I was hooked. I’ll be back next year and I may even do more races between now and then. If you are thinking about doing a tri, jump in!. GOOD LUCK and START TRAINING. I overcame obstacles and you can too!

Here are My Times-

1. Swim: 00:14:48.697
2. S2B Trans: 00:03:50.213
3. Bike: 01:04:15.310
4. B2R Trans: 00:01:44.28
5. Run: 00:48:34.120

Total Time: 02:13:12.578

PS. My it looks like weight loss and adrenaline rushes can inspire people. My chubby hubby and all of our siblings are going to do it too. We may even have the three older boys do the kids race. I can’t wait.

Julie and the bicycle that reacquainted her with “a little black dress”.

We must be the change we wish to see in the world.

Monhandas K. Gandhi

 

Students biking to school

Today is the first Wednesday of October, also known as:  Bike & Walk to School Day! If you have school children, encourage them to walk or bike to their school. If they are young, walk or bike with them. It’s an easy way to push for a more livable, walkable and bike-able neighborhood and community. Schools around the country (and the world) are participating in this event which raises awareness of pedestrian and biking issues that affect the most vulnerable of our communities: our children. Some schools make it an especially fun and appealing event for the children to participate in! And some schools underscore the point by extending it throughout the year.

• Parents and parent associations can do a lot! Make it fun! Put up fun, encouraging signs or balloons along the way. Have a mini-event at the school—whatever you think will help get the students excited!

• Invite local community leaders to walk or bike with the children. There is nothing like underscoring the point of having a walkable community, by having your local politicians literally “walk the walk.”

• Want to keep it going? Encourage your school to do something year round—some have a special walk or bike to school day once a month. Our local school has designated every Wednesday as a “Walk-to-School-Wednesday.” (Catchy, isn’t it?)

• If the school administration gets behind the program, it can really succeed. Several schools in Boulder, Colorado had 90% participation on their “Walk & Roll” days. One elementary school’s principal challenged his students to arrive every day at school without a car. At the beginning of each month, he tried a new form of car-free transportation: a foot-powered scooter, a skateboard, and a unicycle. The students really enjoyed the challenge and made it their own. Last year, for International Walk to School Day 2008, they had zero cars in the parking lot!

• Keep it safe—and fun! Put together a “walking bus” or “biking bus” so the children can go in a larger adult-chaperoned group to school.

• Enlist the neighborhood’s cooperation by handing out information door to door and encouraging them in a positive way to drive especially careful during school hours.

• Safe Routes to School is a national program meant to aid communities to get the necessary sidewalks and bike lanes to make walking and biking to schools safe and appealing.  Their website is very helpful in for getting your community working on making the streets safer for children and more livable for everyone!

An example of what one school is doing for National Walk to School Day.

For more information, see these great websites: www.walktoschool.org and www.saferoutesinfo.org

Share with us! What did the schools in your neighborhood do for International Walk (or Bike) to School Day?

“My bike takes me places that school never could.”
Anonymous

Kids love to ride bikes to school with friends

Next Wednesday, October 7^th is International Walk or Bike to School Day. Yes, you read that right: “International.” It is a day that is observed in 42 countries. I am of two minds: what a great concept and yet, seriously, things have come to such a state that a day like this is needed to promote walking and biking to school in all those countries?!

Sadly, too few children who live within easy walking or biking distance of their schools actually walk or bike there very often. Instead, we parents are driving them to and from school. We all know the result: the kids are less fit, the environment is needlessly polluted, and local officials are never given the heavy pressure to improve things if the routes to school aren’t safe enough for children who are walking and biking.

The truth about driving your children to school is that we are making the problem worse with the traffic congestion around the schools.

• Almost 50% of children that are hit near schools are hit by other parents driving to or from the school *
• About 1/3 of children who are injured are hurt when getting out of a car and an additional 1/5 of those are hurt when they come out into the street from behind a parked car. **
• 70% of schools have traffic that spills over onto adjacent streets because campus capacity is exceeded or parents use through streets to pick up or drop off students. *

*New York Transportation Insider

**Canadian Institute of Child Health

These are just a few of the problems and issues related to the unnecessary use of cars for short distance transportation. What are the solutions? This is the first of a three-part series about school children walking and biking to their schools.

Kids enjoy biking to and from school

We’d Love Your Feedback:

Too often we throw solutions at problems we don’t fully understand. Why are we as parents driving our children to school?

If your children are walking and biking to school almost every day, what have you done to encourage it?

What are the schools in your area doing right or doing wrong?

Stick to the stuff you know

If you wanna be cool

Follow one simple rule

Don’t mess with the flow, no no

Stick to the status quo

—from the song “Stick to the Status Quo” from High School Musical

In the Disney movie High School Musical, the main characters learn to break out of set roles, resist peer pressure, try out new talents and hobbies, and end up inspiring others. Great story line!

One sad fact in the USA is that young teen girls stop riding bicycles, even if they enjoyed them as children. Even with teen boys’ low ridership levels, the boys outnumber the girls on bicycle-riding. In Scotland, the percentage of girls ages 9-16 who ride their bikes to school is only 2%. Scotland is now implementing a program to increase those rates. Here in the States, I haven’t been able to find out the exact numbers, but mere observation will tell you it is way too low.

Can we break through the status quo? Can we get cycling to become trendy and cool for high school girls? Why not try it?! With a little help from some teen girls I know well, here are some tips:

high school girls biking

1. Make sure their bicycle isn’t too small for them. Girls grow fast and a bicycle that fit one year may be too small the next.
2. Get them a bike they will actually ride without having to have special clothing. Cruiser bikes are very popular with girls at this age, but find something that your teen girl likes.
3. Find them helmets they will actually wear. Youth are far more likely to have some type of bike accident than adults and they should be as safe as possible. Nutcase helmets are more popular among this age group than the regular road helmets.
4. Ah, the trend setters! Celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and Jennifer Aniston have been photographed on their bicycles and you can easily find such photos of favorite actresses, singers and models on their bicycles. Your teen girl may care more about this than you do.
5. Show them where the safest bike routes and residential street routes they can take on their bicycle. It will be different than the best way by car.
6. Have a few Take-Your-Daughter-On-A-Bicycle-Ride days. Go someplace fun together: the local Farmer’s Market, a park or bike trail, or out to a café or bakery for tasty treat. Make it a positive experience. If you can, have their friends come along on their bikes, too!
7. This one is from me: encourage them to ride more by not giving them a car ride every time they think they need one. If it is close enough and safe enough that they can ride there on a day with pleasant weather, they really should be persuaded to do so.
8. Encourage your children’s school to promote safe riding and to provide safe places for them to lock up their bicycles. Safe Routes to School is a national program that tries to improve safety and encourage more children to safely walk and bicycle to school. If the program hasn’t been implemented in your school, you may want to enlighten your community leaders.