IN TOP GEAR

by Richard Goslan

Try to imagine your childhood without your bike. If you were anything like me as a nipper, it’s impossible. Once the stabilizers were off, that was it – me and my pals went everywhere on our bikes. Everywhere. And it felt even better with a football card brushing against the spokes.
I remember on my 10th birthday getting one of those little mileometers which fixed to your front wheel. After that, it became something of an obsession to see how far I could ride at one go, and my primary school diaries were full of stories about cycling for up to 20 miles around the south side of Glasgow.
By Primary 7, I was joining some older friends for a day trip to Ayr, when we’d cycle down the A77, leave the bikes with a friend’s aunt’s house, and then go swimming. Time for a quick bite before heading home again, for a round trip of about 60 miles. Aged 11.
It didn’t seem unusual at the time, but looking back it’s hard to see how our parents could have given us the freedom to cycle on busy roads for such long distances.
We didn’t think anything of it, and my adventures at an early age fostered an enduring love of cycling which I hope I can pass on to my own kids.
If I think I was doing well as a boy on my bike, my adventures pale in comparison with Scottish round-the-world record breaking cyclist, Mark Beaumont.
At the age of 11, inspired by reading a story about a local man who had cycled from John O’Groats to Land’s End, Mark announced that he wanted to do the same.
To his parents’ credit, they neither laughed, nor told him a flat-out no – they suggested that he try to do something just a little shorter first, to see how he got on.
“When I took my idea about cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End to my mum and dad, they had a better idea of what 1000 miles was than I did, and they said I should maybe try something else first – but they never said no, and that’s the great thing about my mum and dad. So the next summer I did the route across Scotland with a friend and the support of our parents first,” says Mark.
“It was successful and I really enjoyed doing it – I got my name in the papers and met the Princess Royal – and when you’re aged 12, these things were really a highlight of my life and I definitely caught the bug.”
He certainly did – and at the age of just 15, Mark realised his earlier ambition and went on to complete the John O’Groats to Land’s End run.
“Doing that was the first time I’d really pushed myself, I was going solo and was doing some big mileages, so I starting to get quite competitive with myself in terms of targets,” he says.
And Mark has continued to push himself, with an astonishing cycle around the world which he finished in February, completing 18,296 miles in 194 days and 17 hours. The BBC documentary which followed his progress gave some insight into just how gruelling his challenge was. But while he’s the one who did all the pedalling, he’s quick to give credit where it’s due for his success.
“Parental support was the key,” says Mark. “Even at the age of 25, I couldn’t have got round the world without my mum, we’re still an absolute team and I’ve needed that support from day one.
“The logistical support when I was going round the world was incredible, and there’s really no one who could have done that job any better than my parents – it’s a situation where you need someone you can absolutely rely on at that level, so it’s been an amazing partnership that we’ve built up over the years.”
Unfortunately, Mark is more of an exception than a typical example nowadays of someone who was introduced to cycling at an early age and went on to have adventures of his own once he was old enough. A recent survey found that the number of children between the ages of 11 and 19 who use their bikes at least twice a week has fallen by a quarter in the past decade.
Frank Furedi, a professor of Sociology at the University of Kent and author of Paranoid Parenting and Culture of Fear, says that cycling had suffered because it is perceived as making children vulnerable. "In the past, cycling was seen as a positive thing, as a healthy mode of transport for getting from home to school or just getting about,” he says.
"Somewhere around the mid-Eighties, it became seen increasingly by parents as an activity which has a potential for risk. This is because it is seen as a solitary pursuit that leaves children open to road accidents and paedophiles.
"In fact, it is a very healthy activity, as it helps children to learn about the world and encourages them to work out their strengths and weaknesses."
Mark Beaumont agrees that our kids are too coddled by paranoid parents.
“I’ve got a big issue with the cotton wool culture,” he says. “I think that yes there are more risks with population growth and more traffic on the roads these days, but there’s no point in hiding from it. It’s the world we live in, so it’s important to get out there and get active.
“There are plenty of quiet parts of the countryside, especially here in Scotland. It’s just incredible what’s right here on our doorstep, so there’s really no excuse not to get involved.”
Mark is currently working with a variety of schools which followed his progress on his round-the-world epic, meeting the children and helping to encourage them to get on their bikes. From his own experience, he believes it’s the perfect activity for families to do together.
“The best thing to do is to go out there with them – start at an early age, because once they’re 11, 12 or teenagers, it’s a lot more difficult to do,” he says.
“But if you start early and start together, then it’s a wonderful family activity to get into. It’s not just a skill for the future, it’s also a wonderful family time.
“Just make sure your kids know from an early age that they know they’ve got your support, that you are there to do these things with them. They’re learning a skill which means they can go off and have adventures themselves when they grow up.”
Okay, it might not lead to pedalling their way around the world, as it did for Mark. But to bring up healthy, confident and adventurous kids, there’s no better way than by getting on your bike.

NEED TO KNOW

For anyone serious about getting into cycling, it’s worthwhile joining the Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC).
The CTC has been working with cyclists for 130 years, and today has around 60,000 members encompassing all ages and types of cyclists, with elected representation at national and local level backed by a professional staff.
The CTC has just published a new guide to Family Cycling, which is available (£9.99 + free postage). Inside its 196 full-colour pages you’ll find everything you need to know about cycling with children. The guide looks at how to teach your child to ride, what to look for when you buy a bike for yourself or your child, how to choose child-seats and trailers, and the best places to cycle with your family. To order a copy call 01795 414824.
For more information about the CTC, visit www.ctc.org.uk

For cycling maps in central Scotland, visit  http://edinburghpaths.info/spokesmaps.htm.
The Edinburgh-based cycling organization Spokes published maps for Glasgow, Edinburgh, West Lothian, Midlothian and East Lothian.

Sustrans co-ordinates the National Cycle Network, and their website is packed with useful information on off-road routes and advice on how to get back on your bike. Visit www.sustrans.org.uk

For a selection of routes to ride in Scotland, visit www.routes2ride.org.uk/scotland/, and you can search for family-friendly rides all over the country.

ON YOUR BIKE!

Need any more incentive to pump up the tyres and oil the chain?
Here’s our top 10
1.    Teachers say that kids who cycle (or walk) to school tend to more alert and ready to learn than those who take the car.
2.    Save money by cutting down on short car journeys that could just as easily be done by bike. Keep your car mileage and your petrol usage down.
3.    Start your kids on a lifetime of enjoying physical activities. Your starting them off in the right direction.
4.    Cycle to work, and feel the health benefits, the reduction in stress levels, and find that you take fewer sick days.
5.    Feel connected to the outdoors. You know it’s all too easy to go from house to car to office, and have little time outdoors at any point in the day. Even if the weather isn’t the best, it’s still good to get outside.
6.    Save the world. Only walking is a more environmentally-friendly activity.
7.    Feel smug as you scoot past the frustrated drivers queuing up at traffic lights or road works. Cycling is the fastest way to get around busy towns, and the most satisfying.
8.    Feel yourself getting fitter and stronger. After your first few cycle runs, you’ll quickly notice how much fitter you feel – and that’s when you can start to go out for longer runs in the countryside at the weekend.
9.    See your town and country through fresh eyes. There’s nothing like travelling at the speed of a bike to appreciate what’s around you, and cycling will also allow you to go where cars won’t.
10.    Soak up the compliments, as people tell you how great you look. Only from regular outdoor exercise such as cycling will you get a bit of colour in your face and lose the pounds.

TOP TIPS FOR BUYING A KID'S BIKE

Buy the bicycle in a cycle shop. Don't buy your kid's bike in a supermarket.  A cycle shop will have a high quality bike, make the adjustments necessary and give you tips on maintenance. 

Make sure it fits! DO NOT buy a kids bike that is too large so it will last longer.  If the bike doesn't fit properly your child will not have full control over it and this can be dangerous. If you choose a bike that fits now,  this will normally accommodate up to 3 years of growth. 

Choose the right type of bike - If you are planning to cycle the off-road paths such as in parks and in the countryside, a mountain bike style would be best.

Make sure the bike is lightweight.

Make sure the bike has reflectors and lights. If it doesn't, have them fitted before you leave the shop.

Make sure the saddle height is correct - your child should be able to fully extend their leg when the foot is on the lower pedal. Preferably your child should be able to step off the pedals and put both feet flat on the ground in an emergency.

Make sure the saddle and handle bar grips are comfortable. If required most cycle shops will allow you to change them.

Check that the brakes on the bike are well adjusted and work properly before purchase.

Make sure the components, chain, sprockets, derailleur and other critical parts are metal.

Young kids need about 6 gears whereas teenagers are likely to use 21 (you can get up to 27 gears on a bike).

A 3-6 year olds bike will normally cost around £60-70 these days but expect to pay between £100-200 for a good child's bike with growing room for up to 3 years.  If you have several kids,  you may want to pay a little more for one that will last a bit longer.  

.