Hi all,
I'm not a regular cyclist (last time about 5 miles 3 years ago!) so would love some advice. 16 year old son is training to do D of E on a bike and needs some practice (likes cycling round our village on a bike but has done little long distance). Plus DD (11) who probably cycles half a dozen times a year. Have rashly decided that what we need is Easter weeekend away with a cycling day thrown in.
Have been looking at Forest of Bowland area and seen Grizedale Forest and Gisburn Forest. Would also need bike hire for all three of us as tricky to store where we are staying (Burnley).
Both Grizedale and Gisburn seem well set up for this but I'm not sure which one would suit our mixed needs best. DC's would enjoy a bit of a mountain bike scramble (more round a park than a long trail I think...then I could have a rest while waiting for them). I would like a fairly easy but longish trail for us all to do together...e.g part disused railway or track as I am just not fit enough to keep up otherwise (50+ with office job 
). On that note, I've seen you can now hire electric mountain bikes...would that extra bit of power be better for me to keep up or are they more bother than they are worth (thinking extra weight).
Have also seen a country lane ride on the Western edges of FoB, guide says 27 miles and 1-2 hours. Like the idea of this but with just me and the DC's and no backup, I can see us getting lost or one of us falling off and no help for miles and likely still lost at sunset.
So happier if longer ride was connected back to the cycle forest rather than in separate area of countryside...would be easier for cycle hire too.
It needs to be a fun day so as not to put us all off doing it again so would really welcome any tips from people who know the area as to which place is best, good cycle hire places and any good stopping points for trails.
Sorry, this is not my first ever post but have NC for this as ex will know where I am going and might search then link to other posts.
Any advice much appreciated, thanks.
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Cycling with Teens....Grizedale, Gisburn or somewhere else
CanIKeepUp · 07/04/2017 08:56
Have a look at the Lancashire Cycleway. There are some lovely routes.
The Trough of Bowland is beautiful, but it's a hard ride (lots of hills!) if you're just starting.
The Bay Cycleway starts at Glasson Dock and goes all the way to Walney Island, through Silverdale, Arnside, Grange... again, the latter part of that ride is challenging for a beginner (big hills!), but the first part, through to Morecambe, would be a lovely starter ride. It's along mostly dedicated cycle/walking paths. You can take it further and ride to Arnside, but that's a long way for a first ride and you'll get very saddle sore.
You could start in Lancaster and take the ride as far a Silverdale/Arnside, then get the train back again though.
Gisburn is a mountain bike ride, as is Grisedale, so great for your son, but not ticking your box as much.
It's a beautiful part of the country, although I'm slightly biased, as I live and cycle there! 
Thank you so much, cyclists are so friendly, I thought if I posted this weekend, I'd get one or two replies by the time we go...13 is amazing! I know Sherwood Pines as it is in the training area for the D of E cycling. But I didn't know it connected out to tracks to Cresswell Crags and so on. I am definitely going to look at that for local trips.
For my level it sounds like Grizedale would be best and DC can always go round several times. I might treat myself to hire of electronic bike (just for long hills) as it only seems to be about £15 extra for the day. We don't have £ to burn, but I'm curious about electric one I spotted one at SP the other week and it would be a good test. Plus if I can keep up and not have to get off and walk up every hill, I will enjoy it more and we will all have a better day!
Thanks all, I will update in a week with how it went! 
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