One of the outcomes from the pandemic has been a growing interest in biking, and many small towns in the North State continue to get an economic boost as visiting bikers discover new trails to ride.
Taking up cycling can bring your family a boost as well, and Chico cyclist Katie Carpenter wants to help get your family safely rolling. Bikes were Katie’s only form of transportation for more than five years — including her frequent commute from Chico to Butte College — and she is currently operations coordinator for Performance Bikes in Chico.
The Redding Composite Mountain Bike team was eager to build more trails with the Redding Trail Alliance. Photo by Hilari Freeman
NSP: Quality bikes are expensive. How can a family afford to get started in biking?
Katie: Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are the perfect place to find quality, used bikes. Kids grow quickly so it is a good idea to get them started on a used bike. Down the road you can see what style of biking they come to enjoy and then help them invest in a specialty bike suited to their interests. My equipment motto for myself has been,“I’ll advance my biking technology when I have earned it.” I started cycling on a used, bare-bones bike and only advanced when I had gained the skills compatible for an upgrade.
NSP: Where can parents take their kids to ride?
Katie: Safety should be your priority when choosing where to ride. Bike lanes or paths separate from the roads are your best choice. In Chico, for beginners, there is a bicycle learning path near Capers Acres. As kids learn how to ride their bikes they can progress to longer trails in Bidwell Park and learn how to share the paths and roads with more people and the occasional vehicle. The Midway Bike Path in Chico is a wonderful place to ride with your family.
NSP: How do you help children who want to mountain bike but have parents who don’t mountain bike and don’t know how to teach them?
Katie: Used BMX bikes are an affordable choice to help kids gain the beginning skills necessary for mountain biking. Many towns have pump tracks that are free and available for kids to practice skills and develop the muscle-memory necessary when on more technical trails. Pump tracks are continuous loops with bumps and banked turns where kids can learn the skill of “pumping,” not just using pedaling to get them around the turns and over the bumps. Your kids will have a blast dropping their seat and gaining skills and endurance before hitting other trails.
NSP: How does cycling benefit families?
Katie: Families moving together create a great bond and can almost immediately turn a hard day into a great one. Teaching your children this mode of active transportation can be helpful physically, emotionally and financially for years to come. Families might also bond by advocating for more bike-friendly communities and paths or volunteering with a local trail alliance to help build and maintain trails. Biking is awesome!
NSP: Are there organizations that can help families get more involved in cycling?
Katie: I can only scratch the surface because our area has so many wonderful biking resources. Chico Corsa is a volunteer led club that advances the sport of cycling with all ages through mellow group rides as well as races. Chico VELO spreads the joy of biking through education, advocacy and rides. Their website lists some of our area’s top rides. Chico VELO’s Childflower is a 12 mile ride perfect for younger or beginning cyclists. For kids who are more interested in mountain biking, a great option is to join either Chico’s North State Composite Team or the Redding Composite Team. These mountain bike teams (6th-12th grade) help teach kids safety and skills and help build their endurance. Biking with their peers is great for fueling their biking passion. Another idea is to keep a watch out for “shop rides”— local bike shops enjoy planning local rides for our communities.
The North State Composite Mountain Bike team finished strong in the recent Lemurian Classic in Redding
Katie’s recommended resources:
Shasta Gravity Adventures offers beginning skills clinics to help your family build confidence on the trails
Posted in: Out & About
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