Charity bike ride with a 5yo

[Zapx]

Has anyone got a 5yo who’s really good at cycling? I’m trying to work out if a 5yo would be able to cycle 23 miles. He’s 4 right now and does 11 miles fairly often without issue really although is a bit tired by the end I guess. Because it’s a charity thing I need to sign up in advance. Obviously don’t want to put him through something he’d hate but I reckon my 7yo could do it and he would want to come. Don’t think it’s timed. Any thoughts?

That seems a very long way for a 5 year old.

@zeebrayes I suppose it is, hmm! If only I could predict the weather as well!

Get a ‘follow me’ attachment for your bike so you can tow him on his bike safely if he is tired?

Are you sure the organisers will allow it? For their own insurance purposes they often have strict age limits even if it’s for charity.

@YourSassyPandapretty sure yep, the RAFA ones are 14+ but this one seems to be all ages.

@LittleNote55 that’s a good idea, thank you.

He is genuinely good at bike riding despite being 4, seems to really enjoy it. I’m trying to encourage him in it and I think he’d love being part of a real “event”. Just hard to know what his endurance will be like in a few months time.

Wow, I thought my 5 year old was doing well handling 10 mile bike rides! What’s the route like? If it is 23 miles with lots of hills it’d be a definite no. If it was largely on the flat and he’s already confidently doing 10+ miles then maybe risk it? 😬

My son is 7 and probably one of the best riders in his primary school. He can comfortably ride about 30km with a short break. At 5 I’m not sure. I’d be more worried about riding in a large group and accidentally getting knocked by another riders wheels.

My ds did his first charity ride at 7, and I think before that he wouldn’t have been able to deal with an open road event safely, it’s different to going out as a family as you don’t choose the route and there are more impatient drivers with more people on the road

Ds did 16 miles just before he turned 4. We did have lunch in the middle though and on the way back were basically throwing raisins into his mouth to keep him going.

If he can do 11 miles regularly then I would think he could do it.

If you do it you will need to think about food though. They go best if they are fed a LOT.

Perhaps have a plan for what you will do if he really can’t manage it. (Our plan was that me and the kids would sit down and have a rest whilst Dh rode back at full speed and got the car. But we didn’t need it in the end.)

Has he got the road sense to concentrate for 23 miles.
What’s the terrain like? 23 miles of canal towpath is a different scenario entirely to 23 miles of Pennine hills.
5 is very young. I’d double check the lower age limit.
DS did a lightly undulating 25 mile charity ride with me when he was 8.

I would get a follow me or take a trailer on your bike so you can chuck him and his bike in as required. We used to do this with our youngest ds as the big ones wanted to go further and we couldn't predict when the youngest would have enough. It was often something small that would mean he couldn't be persuaded to keep going- a wobble or cold hands!

My dc have always ridden further and longer than most kids their age and there is no way I would have committed them to this.