How to bring up a life-long shredder – everything worth knowing about motivation, route planning, equipment and technique

Nothing beats the joy of getting outside with your child, confident in the knowledge that their passion for riding matches yours, right? For mountain bikers, moving through the natural landscape and embarking on adventures creates memories you'll share forever: from your little one’s very first ride to that picnic in the sun with dramatic mountain scenery, or even the massive grin that spread across their face when they first left you in a cloud of dust.

Keep reading to discover our tried-and-tested ways to ignite your child’s passion and find out everything else worth knowing about taking your child on a mountain bike adventure.

Why is mountain biking so good for your child?

Children have an innate sense of curiosity. They thrive on time spent in the fresh air when the focus is firmly on fun. Mountain biking satisfies their natural urge to play. It's a form of active play that gets them outside and moving their bodies in the fresh air. As an added bonus, it also builds up their motor skills and intellectual aptitude, including reaction time, coordination, balance, agility, endurance, creativity and concentration.

Mountain biking also helps to relieve school-related or social stress. Cutting through the fresh air on two wheels does not just have a liberating effect on the mind, it also releases lots of feel-good endorphins.

But your child also learns how to gauge their ability, sound out their limits and weigh up the risk of what they’re about to do. It’s entirely likely that your child may fall to the ground once or twice during this process. Here’s where it's important to make sure you provide them with the relevant equipment to prevent serious injuries. Talking through situations that crop up is also sensible. Could the crash have been avoided? If so, how? Encouraging kids to push their limits in a safe environment (i.e. protective gear and appropriate terrain) translates into self-awareness and actually renders them less at risk of harm. Through their experiences, they will gain the ability to assess a situation based on an understanding of their level and the risks involved – a skill that transfers to life outside of riding too.

With each achievement on the bike (however minor), your child’s self-confidence gets a boost. It should rightly be a source of pride when they can identify what they have achieved on two wheels. Of course, words of praise from you as their parent or guardian will never go amiss. ;)

And lastly, joint mountain bike adventures strengthen parent-child bonds like little else and bring the family closer together.

When is your child ready to mountain bike?

It’s hard to pinpoint the specific age at which a child might be ready for mountain biking. This depends on their motivation to take up the sport, their motor skills and their size. Some five- and even four-year-olds are already fired up to hit the trails. But they're at such an age when it’s even more important to take a gentle approach. In fact, it isn't until a child reaches the age of six that their tendons and muscles are sufficiently developed for the strain of such physical exertion. Until this age, it’s best to keep a safe distance from any major climbs, descents or rough terrain. Try to stick to mellow gravel tracks, access roads and smooth flow trails. Pumptracks are another decent option, but make sure your child is up to speed with pumptrack etiquette before doing laps. As a general rule, mountain bike endeavours can begin as soon as your child is sufficiently enthusiastic and is big enough to ride a bike with 20-inch wheels.

How to stoke their passion for mountain biking?

Mountain biking should be fun. Like, really, really fun. The sort of fun that really demands a suitable mountain bike that weighs as little as possible. A huge, heavy bike would drastically kill the mood. The weight of a good kids-specific mountain bike should certainly be in single figures, maybe creeping into double figures if you add a suspension fork. A low weight translates into a lot of fun and will let your little one have a go at jumping every now and again.

For the bike mad amongst us, the priority needs to be ensuring that your offspring's first encounters with mountain biking are truly enjoyable, which may mean making some sacrifices when it comes to your own ambitions, because from now on…

… the journey is the destination!

You won’t get very far, very fast. Mountainous endurance rides at this stage are probably not the way to embed mountain biking in your child’s heart. From now on, joint rides may look a little different and take on a vibe that's more akin to visiting an adventure play park, with countless opportunities to explore and play. To keep kids interested along the route, the idea of paddling in a stream, taking a dip in the lake, skimming stones, settling down in the shade for a picnic, exploring mysterious caves or doing a spot of climbing will add extra excitement and variety. Maybe it'll even be the season for chestnuts or mushrooms if you time it right. Whatever route you pick, make sure it is nicely varied and always keep their skill level in mind. Plan short rides to begin with and allow enough time to account for any impromptu stops so that the ride can remain nice and relaxed – regardless of any unplanned distractions.

What sort of routes are suitable for your child?

You’re most qualified to assess your child’s fitness. Sure, their general level of endurance and power is relevant, but so too is how they feel on the day. What are their energy levels like? On certain days, they'll tire at the slightest thing, while on others it seems like they'll never get tired (despite your best efforts to wear them out).

If there’s one thing that’s clear, it is that we often underestimate their capacity. Their physiology actually puts them in the ranks of out-and-out endurance athletes. Children use their fat stores for energy, and their count of mitochondria (the powerhouses of our cells) in their muscles outnumbers those of us adults. So if your child is having a blast on a well-chosen route that captures their attention, it won't be out of the ordinary for said child of six or seven years to tick off 20 to 30 km without even noticing the distance.

Nonetheless, doing such a distance in one fell swoop would be unwise: short, frequent breaks are better than one or two long ones. Despite a child’s aptitude for endurance, they’re prone to bursts of energy, preferring to go full-gas for short periods. As a result, blood sugar levels drop and energy levels will need topping up. Once you notice a 'diamond' of paleness appearing around their mouth and nose, then it's high time for a snack stop. This is a clear sign of fatigue.

Even on the shortest rides, the importance of having plenty of food and drink shouldn't be underestimated. If the tank starts to empty, a cereal bar, sliced fruit or a sandwich will work wonders.

The right bike ...

The most important factor when picking a new bike is that you select a correctly sized, lightweight kids-specific mountain bike. Lightweight frames keep the total weight down, as does shunning suspension for the meantime. For young or particularly light children, the benefits of suspension will be nominal as their bodyweight simply won’t have the desired effect on the technology. Extra cushioning comes from lightweight, wide tyres. Depending on the rider’s weight and the ground conditions, these can be ridden with less air pressure for even more comfort. What’s more, bumpy terrain can be smoothed out with the right technique – us humans have arms and legs that work as natural suspension. ;)

Once your child tips the scales between 25 and 30 kg, it might be time to consider a suspension fork. However, it needs to be a child-specific model, which means suitably lightweight, responsive under minimal load and adjustable to both the rider’s weight and the terrain.

Rear suspension – also known as rear travel, or the rear shock – found on full-suspension bikes or fullies adds more weight to bikes, but unless your child is pinning on a number for downhill races or regularly tackling tough trails, the drawbacks of these additional grams and kilos outweigh the potential fun-boosting benefits at this stage.

To find out how to select the correct size for your child and discover the arguments against buying a bike that’s too big for them, check out this article.

Alongside frame size and weight, a bike’s geometry and ergonomics are also key elements to consider. The bike should not just be a smaller version of an adult’s bike, but needs scaled-down, child-specific dimensions including size-appropriate stand-over height (distance from top tube to ground), seating position, wheelbase and steering angle.

A low top tube means that your child will be able to react quickly in tricky situations by getting off the bike safely without crashing. If the top tube is too high, there’s a risk that your child won’t manage to get their leg up and over the bike in a hurry.

For added stability, a low riding position keeps their centre of gravity where it should be, while a long wheelbase (distance between the front and rear wheel axles) means a smoother ride. Teamed together, these stability-boosting factors will increase your child’s confidence, resulting in more fun.

… child-specific components ...

When it comes to components, the saddle, brakes, grips, brake levers, cranks, stem, shifters and gear ratio need to be categorically designed for children, i.e. tuned to suit a child’s anatomy and physiology.

In concrete terms, child-specific components include brake levers that a child’s small hands can comfortably reach and the option to adjust said reach.

Brakes need to work effectively without requiring too much effort from your child. There’s the risk they’ll get tired on long descents otherwise. Disc brakes eradicate this issue and are therefore a sensible choice for kids mountain bikes.

The grips need to be slim enough for your child to maintain a good grip on them and minimise the risk of their hands slipping off the bars if caught unawares.

On the topic of gears, the best option is a 1x single front chainring set-up with seven to nine gears, covering a wide ratio and equipping for most scenarios. A 2x drivetrain set-up with more gears would be unwarranted at this age and may overwhelm your child.

Clipless pedals – where your shoes are fixed onto the pedal with cleats – are also an unnecessary feature on kids mountain bikes. In the event that your child needs to dismount quickly, flat pedals (also known as platform pedals) will prove much easier. For mountain biking, these sorts of pedals are usually lined with grippy pins to ensure that the soles of the rider's shoes remain firmly on the pedals.

… and a cool design!

It goes without saying that your kid’s bike naturally has to have some style and appeal to their best taste! A pivotal step in the whole process of learning to love mountain biking is therefore to involve them right from the outset in picking out their new bike.

The right equipment

Defining a list of essential protective gear for your child depends on where they’ll be riding and how technical it’s going to be. However, there’s really nothing more important than a correctly fitting helmet.

No two children have the same head, so it’s a matter of try before you buy. Besides simply fitting your child well, key features for a good kids helmet include removable padding, an adjustable fit dial, extended protection on the rear of the head, good ventilation and a low weight. It’s a further bonus if your child is able to fasten and unfasten the helmet by his or herself. And of course, style matters! In order for them to wear it voluntarily, it will need to meet their style criteria so it’s a good idea to involve them in the selection.

Often overlooked, but equally as fundamental: well-fitting (non-wonky!) kids riding glasses. Dust, grit or insects can get into your child’s eyes while riding, affecting their vision and distracting them. By reflex, your child might then unwittingly remove a hand from the bars to wipe their affected eye.

Mountain bikers also need to protect their hands, as they’re likely to be the first body part to come into contact with the ground in the event of a crash. A decent pair of long-finger cycling gloves will not only provide protection from abrasion, thorns and splinters, but also improve their grip on the bars.

Specific protectors, also known as soft body armour, have been developed to protect knees, shins and elbows from injuries. Comfort is key here: They need to be lightweight, easy to pull on and off, totally unrestrictive and wholly unlikely to slip while riding. If these boxes are not ticked and your child is unhappy with the fit and comfort of the protectors, it won’t take long before they refuse to put them on without an argument.

For kids that are already demonstrating ripper potential at the bike park, investing in a neck protector (or a neck brace) as well as a back protector and potentially even crash pants to be worn alongside a comfortable full-face helmet is also a wise move. These will protect their spine, chin, lips, teeth and nose.

Technique for kids

Armed with the right bike and equipment, it’s almost time to roll. But it’s worth mastering some key off-road skills before heading away from the tarmac. For the best results, don't forget to focus on the fun factor above all else. We have compiled a few simple, fun exercises for you and your kid to practice together. Find a large, flat, traffic-free area to have a go.

• The Attack Position: the Gorilla. The ability to ride out of the saddle is key when riding off-road. The attack position includes level pedals, one foot in front of the other, weight spread evenly, heels pointing downwards so that the pedals are slightly tilted, and eyes fixed straight ahead. Encourage your child to practice adopting this position. They can pretend to be a gorilla as they follow your commands: turn left, turn right, stand taller, bob down. This way they’ll be able to determine which foot feels more comfortable in which position.
• The Downhill Position: the Seal. Even this downhill riding stance can be practised with a giggle. Demonstrate the seal position on your own bike first and then ask your child to do the same. This involves shifting your body weight as far back over the bike as possible and stretching out your arms to the bars. The steeper the descent, the further back your bottom needs to be. Play around a little in this position and give your child the chance to discover just how much space for movement they have while on the bike.
• Slow bicycle race: A good sense of balance is vital for mountain biking. A playful way to fine-tune this skill involves staging a slow bicycle race. Who can cover a set distance in the slowest time possible? The last one over the line wins! You can make it a little tougher by picking a gentle slope – here’s where balance meets braking skills. [Note: speaking of braking, mountain bikers rely on one or two fingers to do the deed, thereby retaining a good grip on the bars at all times.]
• It’s pick-up time: A fun and dynamic way to train your kid’s agility and coordination skills, with the objective of picking up various objects while riding. Begin easy and gradually increase the difficulty. Why not start by placing a large plastic bottle on top of an upside-down bucket and ask your child to pick it up and put it down again further along the route, or even drop it into a waiting bucket? Make it harder by removing the upside-down bucket and then gradually decreasing the size of the bottle until it eventually whittles down to the size of a tennis ball or another suitable object.
• Riding slalom: To practice off-road cornering skills, use some chalk or cones to outline a slalom course on slightly sloping ground. The objective: Ride the course in the attack position, taking care not to cross any of the lines or knock over any of the cones. Remind your child of the importance of looking ahead in exactly the direction that they want to take. In short, your head will lead the bike and your body in whichever direction it is pointing.

Signing up for a private skills workshop for the whole family with a qualified mountain bike coach is a great team activity whether you’re building up to more challenging rides or simply want to brush up on everyone’s technique. It’s an opportunity to learn invaluable safety-related aspects and have a go at some useful exercises. After a group workshop like this, you can be confident that everyone possesses the relevant skills for a successful group ride. And as a bonus? It's fair to say that a family skills session also doubles as a great opportunity to bond.

And now it's definitely time to get out and ride!