35 miles bike ride, no training

[LeroyJenkins]

I've just seen on a Facebook local page where someone's child is doing a 35 mile bike ride for charity *town to town

With next to no training as we've been to busy having fun

now call me a killjoy but why would you do that??? Surely you would build up to 35 miles even as an adult...!
Yes it's a great chase, but come on...

"next to no training as we've been to busy having fun"

Bet they do 'next to no revision' for their perfect SATS and 'next to no practice' for music exams distinctions too....

Will they be able to go at their own pace or will they be expected to keep up with a group?

If it's the latter they may struggle a bit.

DS8 has done 2x 35km rides this week without training, and probably could have gone further. Give him another couple of years and I reckon he will be able to do 35 miles once he is on a slightly bigger bike.

DS12 has done about 25 miles mountain biking through forest tracks (much harder than cycling town to town) and has been able to do that kind of distance for probably two years.

DS did a charity ride last month aged 10, it was about 24 miles and he found it easy (and like his mother, he's no athlete). I don't think this is a big deal. We recoil at the slightest physical activity these days, it's not good.

Too busy having fun? Would that be watching telly or out doing activities? If the latter, that builds up natural fitness and suggests they are likely an active family so specific training would not be necessary. Whereas if you are taking an obese 10yr old that has never done a jot of exercise in their life, then maybe a little build up may be required.

I'd worry about the physical condition of a ten year old who couldn't cycle 35 miles tbh! It's not that far at all.

35 mile ride would mess me up, b/c I have dodgy knees.
My 10yo would whinge a lot. Not my idea of fun.

Another kid will probably be fine. Just a long experience.

I did London to Brighton (56 miles) in my 20s with no training. Had a sore arse and comedy sunburn but I made it and was surprisingly okay afterwards. Was not particularly fit and it was bloody hilly.