Reading stories can benefit our kids in so many ways and there are millions of books out there but what about bike books for kids? I am not talking about a book that teaches you step by step how to ride or pull your bike apart but books that tell stories that will capture a kids imagination. We know about the educational benefits of books but they also offer so much on an emotional level. They allow our kids to visualise themselves in the story and to relate to what is happening in the book. Books help share values and explain why those values are important. They introduce and acclimitise kids to new experiences. They also help initiate new ideas or concepts and provide inspiration.
Looks like sharing bike books for kids is a great, relaxed way to introduce and expose them to biking experiences – like riding a bike for the first time or going on a biking adventure. They get to see the fun, the friendships made and what can be achieved on a bike. They are discreetly exposed to many great values embedded in biking like determination, resilience and perserverence.
Here is a selection of some fantastic bike books for kids or grandkids. They make great Christmas and birthday presents. I am sure YOU will also enjoy the stories and sharing them with the special people in your life.
Toddlers
Duck on a Bike – David Shannon
One day down on the farm, Duck spies a red bicycle and gets a wild idea ‘I bet I could ride a bike!’. At first it wasn’t easy, he was slow and he wobbled but it was fun. In no time at all he was biking around the farmyard passing by his farmyard friends (cow, sheep, dog, cat, horse, chicken, cow, pig and mouse) who all greet duck politely however they all have private thoughts about Ducks zany idea. Then a herd of kids rides down the road in a blur of dust; they park their bikes and head indoors. A wordless page shows the wonderful moment when the animals all gather with identical wide-eyed looks and sly smiles – you can see what they’re thinking. Sure enough Duck has inspired his farmyard friends and they all find a bike to ride. We then get to see the joy and fun the animals are having as they zip around the farm on their borrowed bikes.
Pre-school/Juniors
Monsieur Albert Rides to Glory – Peter Smith – Illustrations Bob Graham.
A poetic story that captures the spirit of Paris and France as Monsieur Albert, in his later years, decides to take part in the Grand Cycle Race (a take on the Tour De France). He will be racing against Francois, the champion of France – could he possibly win? A story that shows you can do anything at any age and you are never too old to have a dream or the courage to pursue it. A comical outcome might just help the underdog come through in the end.
For kids a little older
(8 – 13yrs if reading on their own or 6yrs plus if they love adventure and being read to)
The Boy Who Biked the World – Alastair Humphreys – Illustrated by Tom Morgan-Jones.
A three part book series:
Book 1: On the Road to Africa
Book 2: Riding The Americas
Book 3: Riding Home Through Asia
Tom is a school boy with a dream, a dream to be an explorer and discover all the countries of the world. Tom tells his classmates of his dream only to be laughed at. So Tom decides to prove them wrong and follow his dream. Tom cycles around the world. You get to follow Tom through his amazing adventures (we used maps to help follow his journey), his challenges and all his discoveries and rewards. A book that encourages you to follow your dream and unleashes the explorer and the adventurer in you.
We plan to introduce you to bike books for kids on a regular bases so let us know what your favourite biking books are so we can share them with others!! Remember to also check out all the fantastic real life bike stories in our inspiring riding section that includes kids…
[themeone_section type=”full-width” bgcolor=”#fafafa” txtcolor=”dark” decotop=”” decobot=””]
Thanks for reading. Used together our stories and resources support you to achieve and develop as a rider.
goRide is a shared journey, so we would like you to assist in guiding it along the way. Contact goRide. Your thoughts, comments or feedback are welcome. Thank you for being a part of the goRide way.
When we make the effort and take the time to go for a ride on the bike we want it to be a fun and enjoyable experience. To have a ‘great day’ on the bike there are simple things to think about, plan and do.
Make riding to the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary- a ‘great day’ on the bike.
The pump track. Hockey Place Playground
The ride is approximately 4.4 km in length one way. The ride is flat initially then becomes undulating. However the ride is predominantly uphill on the way there and downhill on the way back. There are accessible places within this ride that you may chose to start or finish at. How much time do you have and how far should you go, what distance are the riders capable of? Answer these questions then work out your start and end point – is it doable?
A lot of this ride is on the road -though a reasonably quiet road. Basic biking skills are required and some road and traffic awareness. You can do an optional detour off the road for a couple of small sections and add in a bit of trail riding along a rolling single track and over a grassy meadow. The biking surface is predominately on the road so is tarseal and the optional trail riding is gravel and grass is it doable?
Remember the weather on the day will effect your ride. Could the riders cope with a head wind/ rain etc is it doable?
It doesn’t matter what ride you are doing or where you are going you want to feel comfortable. Check out the goRide guide How to have a “great day” on the bike for general information on how to make sure you are comfortable on the bike. If you expect the kids to ride distances or on multiple days consider their comfort on the seat – Padded Bike Underwear – offers protection & padded comfort.
The distance of the ride means you will need to carry water. There are no commercial places to purchase food on the way so you will need to carry your own. You start and finish close to Nelson city so there is plenty of food options then.
It doesn’t matter what ride you are doing or where you are going you want to feel safe. Check out the goRide guide How to have a “great day” on the bike for general information on how to make sure you are safe on the bike.
You – Am I safe to Ride? A checklist to complete that ensures you are safe to goRide.
Bike – goRide pre-ride bike safety check – is it safe? A checklist to complete pre-ride so that you know your bike is in working order.
If you have worked through the points above then you will be more likely to enjoy and have fun on your ride. There is so much fun to be had on a bike – the pace you go, being close and connected with nature, your ease to detour from the trail…. I wonder what is around this corner, and your ability to stop and get off your bike means you get to discover all sorts of things along the way. Sometimes you will know about and plan to enjoy things and then there are those wonderful surprise discoveries.
Some things you could plan discover on your bike ride to the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary
Do a track walk at The Waimarama Sanctuary and learn about nature at the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary information centre . See the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary website for further information.
What’s there – Waimarama Sanctuary – Bike rack, information centre, toilets, walking tracks, picnic table and bird life, nature learning and discovery.
Stop at Hockey Place playground. (Note: The playground is not visible from the road and is 3.5km one way from the start)
What’s there – Hockey Place playground – small pump track, modern playground equipment, small flying fox, great big picnic tables sun protected by a shade sail.
The flying fox
Playground fun. Hockey Place playground
A couple of short sections of single track riding
Picnic tables under shade sail. Hockey Place playground.
1 – starts on the left (on your way to the sanctuary) just before the bridge where the road becomes 2 way again. Head down the gravel trail across a grassy meadow to the right of riding for disabled and the Waimarama Community gardens. (see map)
2- starts at Hockey street playground just past the flying fox. Follow the gravel path onto a grassy slope and connect up with a side street back to Brook St. ( see map)
Make a day of it and take a picnic lunch or dinner to enjoy at the Sanctuary or Hockey Place playground.
Does the ride ‘fit’ with what you want to achieve? Up to 8.8km (4.4 km each way) of cycling on a quiet road (predominantly uphill on your way there and downhill on the way back) t0 a nature sanctuary. (Note the road gets quieter the closer you get to the sanctuary) A diverse day involving biking, walking in the sanctuary, nature learning and discovery as well as possible picnic and playground fun. There are other accessible start and stop points if you want to reduce this distance. Also you get all those good things you get from a bike ride, sunshine, fresh air, feeling healthier, feelings of achievement – you did it? You never know what else you might discover.
If you don’t have your own bike or are a visitor to Nelson – you can still enjoy this ride. You can hire a bike from Trail Journeys at MD Outdoors just near the information centre. Note: Trail Journeys are in multiple locations throughout the Nelson region so although they don’t have specific accessories to support family riding (like bike seats for kids) in Nelson if you plan ahead and let them know you need that equipment and they will get it there for you.
[wpgmza id=”2″]
Did you ride to the The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary? Did you have a ‘great day’ on the bike?
What went well, what could you work on for next time? It’s all about taking steps and small gains… oh the places you’ll go, the things you will see.
Look out for the series A ‘great day’ on the bike” for some ideas of where you might choose to ride your bike, things to discover along the way, and riding snack options. We would love to here about your ‘great days’ on the bike.
Thanks for reading. Used together our stories and resources support you to achieve and develop as a rider.
goRide is a shared journey, so we would like you to assist in guiding it along the way. Contact goRide. Your thoughts, comments or feedback are welcome. Thank you for being a part of the goRide way.
When we make the effort and take the time to go for a ride with kids, we want it to be an enjoyable experience. To have a ‘great day’ on the bike with kids there are simple things to think about, plan and do. In this story I am going to introduce you to riding with kids along the Atawhai Shared Pathway, Nelson, South isaland New Zealand.
Supporting you and your family to SMILE when you ride.
This trail is located next to state highway and can make a neat family riding with fun activities and playgrounds along the way.
Where is it?
The start and finish is located in central Nelson city.
The ride – is it doable for you?
Biking Distance? The ride is approximately 8km in length one way. There are many accessible places within this ride that you may chose to start or finish. How much time do you have, how far should you go and what are your riders capable of? Answer these questions then work out your start and end point
Biking Surface? The surface is a sealed wide path
Biking Skills required? This is NOT a technical ride. It is located next to a busy road. Frequently with no barrier between road and the bike path. Therefore traffic awareness for crossing roads and being aware of cars pulling in and out of driveways is important. Note: there is up to three busy road crossings two on Trafalgar Street and one on Atawhai Drive. (we chose to walk our bikes across these busy crossings.) A section of the pathway is adjacent to the busy Atawhai Drive
Level of biking fitness? Allow 2 hours to complete this ride with kids. It is a relatively flat path with a couple of small up hills
Can you ride with Kids Attached? This is a ride that you can enjoy with kids attached.
Kids riding their own bike. The Towhee Tow Rope could be the asset you need to get some younger kids riding on their own bike on this ride
Kids Attached or Towed – This trail is wide and off road making all kids attached or towed options suitable for this ride. Full range of Kids Bike Seats Attached or Towed
Riding next to road no barrier.
Safety
It is best to take a bike locks with you to keep the bikes safe if you enjoy some other activities along the way.
Enjoy the experience and have fun
If you have worked through the points above then you will be more likely to enjoy and have fun on your ride. There is so much fun to be had when out exploring on a bike
Some things that you could plan to discover on the Atawhai Shared Pathway.
Maitai River- Places to sit and read . Fitness activities.
Read stories about NZ trails, tracks & parks. Find out what other families & riders are doing. Be inspired! Is this ride an option for you or your family?
A collection of stories that will help you learn about bike gear. goRide supporting you to get the right bike gear solution for the type of riding you do or want to do.
Stories in Types of Riding support you to learn about riding a bike in different environments. So you can successfully choose to ride more place, more often.
Support and inspire other riders and families to ride
Share your riding outings, adventures and experiences on our quick and easy question and answer forms. Join us in helping others ride bikes. All entries receive a free shipping coupon and go into our seasonal prize draw.
They did it! – riding the West Coast Wilderness Trail. Two families bike touring with kids (4 adults and 3 kids) over 3 days and 2 nights!
Reading stories about cycling adventures helps to connect you to other women who ride and makes you think about what you and/or your family could achieve. It’s that story of another family or women having completed a bike adventure that makes you wonder if you or your family can. A story that made you believe you can. Its that little piece of advice, or that must do, or must stay, that helps with the planning and preparation and helps make your adventure successful and special.
Scroll through the photos in the slider of the bike trip – check out the amazing scenery and wonderfully graded trail.
Kids highlights:
The kids enjoyed the ride though they suffered from the common complaint of the days being quite long on the bike and sore cycling legs. The second day of 37km uphill was the hardest, but the 11 year old found it manageable. The climb was not that noticeable as it seemed gradual. There was never any need to get off and walk the bike. Riding the switchbacks from Cowboy Paradise down to Arahura river was cool, and the swing bridges.
Cowboy Paradise not only offers accommodation, a saloon but some true cowboy activities like the cowboy action shooting range which the kids thought was awesome fun. You got to use a real pistol and shoot at some targets. The ride did get the thumbs up from the kids and they would recommend it to their friends and other families. They didn’t think they would do it again mainly because there are a lot more adventures to be had on other bike trails.
Adults highlights:
The trip well exceeded their expectations. It was a great family trip with lots of diversity and history – coastal riding, alpine outlook with snow capped mountains, rivers, beautiful reservoirs, lakes and some west coast quirkiness like the second nights accommodation at Cowboy Paradise. The trail was well graded and the surface made for pleasant riding and a great fit for families bike touring.
Having the The West Coast Wilderness riders handbook enabled the trail and environment we were riding through to come alive. The trail notes give you an understanding of the history and the stories of the land (the whenua) and the people (tangata whenua)
Day One Highlights – Whether you are starting or finishing your journey in Greymouth make sure you start at the Greymouth Railway Station. “It was great to get the perspective of Greymouth from the top of the stopbank, see the Greymouth bar, and the activity of the river.” The Greymouth seaside Top 10 Holiday Park is about 7km along the trail and it would be easy and a shame to miss out this section.
It was quite invigorating crossing the Taramakau bridge the only remaining combined road and rail bridge left in NZ. You need to make sure you keep your tyres out of the grooves of the rail track. The guide book suggests riding in the middle of the tracks and dismounting your bike to ride over the rail tracks to get to the middle – especially in the wet. If you are not feeling confident then simply walk over the bridge.
Day Two Highlights – There is a worthwhile side trip to LondonDerry, this huge rock, the guide books claim potentially the largest in the world! The resevoirs, forest and following the water races was magical.
Day Three Highlights – the gentle switchbacks is a thrill descending from Cowboy Paradise. Also enjoying the large recreational Lake Kaniere.
Here are some other factors that made this bike adventure a success;
Waiting for a good weather window – We delayed the start of our adventure by 2 days due to weather conditions. If the trip had started on the day planned we would have been faced with an early introduction to very wintery conditions – cold, wet, sleet. Instead we were blessed with the calm after the storm. The great days allowed us to enjoy the scenery, topped off with the mountains capped in snow. “To miss the amazing scenes of the mountains and lakes because I now know how amazing they are, would have been disappointing.” Having the flexibility to begin the ride in a good weather window (which for many is not always possible) made the trip so much more enjoyable.
The trail is really well signposted so you always know where you are.
Well I know that these stories have inspired myself and my family to start thinking about how and when we will goRide The West Coast Wilderness Trail. I hope it will get you thinking, planning and riding.
Thanks for reading. Used together our stories and resources support you to achieve and develop as a rider.
goRide is a shared journey, so we would like you to assist in guiding it along the way. Contact goRide. Your thoughts, comments or feedback are welcome. Thank you for being a part of the goRide way.
Want to maximise your riding experience with the kids, engage them in the outdoors and give them a sense of exploration and adventure? Yes! Well get a bike handlebar bag for your child.
All that from a handlebar bag you say? Yep. Simple, useful and fun – just what we like.
Whether its a balance bike or a bike that you want them to enjoy this is one of the simplest ways to create a wider enjoyment and give them a sense of being a part of their environment. They will want to go more places, more often on their bike.
What the humble handlebar bag provides;
a place to keep a drink bottle
a place to keep a snack
somewhere for a jersey or light jacket
an all important seat for their favourite toy
a means of carrying home all sorts of treasures
So what have we immediately created here?
This is an opportunity for you to give them some responsibility, tasks to focus on and a way for them to be involved in the “get ready” part of your bike journey. They can fill their water bottle and place it in their handlebar bag. They can choose a snack, find a jacket…
This is also an opportunity for them to plan an adventure, ask them where they would like to go for morning tea today? These are such simple ideas but it changes the whole experience for your child – instead of dragging them out on a bike ride where you have made all the decisions – this allows them to be active in decision making and engaged in whats going on.
You have given them knowledge that there will be a drink stop – quite possibly a picnic. Who has a child that is motivated by food? “We will ride to your favourite seat on the water front and have a snack”. This can provide a simple incentive to get there especially if they have helped pack and create that snack.
The presence of a favourite toy can not be under estimated for some children if they have any anxiety around riding their bike or exploring new things. Some children just refuse to go anywhere without their bunny, teddy, doll, spiderman. The presence of their toy can really ease fear and give moral support. A good example is learning to ride a bike. Nowadays its usually a transition from a balance bike to a bike. Some kids are totally motivated to join the pedalling world – others not so much. Introduce a handlebar bag or move the one you have and make it clear that ‘bunny’ really wants to go for a ride on the bike today. The handlebar position of these bags provides awesome opportunities for interaction with their favourite toy because they can see it and potentially talk to it.
What kid doesn’t like to collect things? How many times have you wondered what’s making that noise in the washing machine only to remember you where convinced to carry the “best” or most “beautiful” stone home from the river yesterday. Treasure hunts, leaf collecting, stones, shells, bits of whatever and the handlebar bag provides the perfect solution to carrying them home.
A handlebar bag so simple yet so effective, a great way to add layers to the simple task of going for a ride with your child. Let us know your favourite places to ride to and what kind of treasures you have found…
[themeone_section type=”full-width” bgcolor=”#fafafa” txtcolor=”dark” decotop=”” decobot=””]
Thanks for reading. Used together our stories, resources & products support you to achieve and develop as a rider.
goRide is a shared journey, so we would like you to assist in guiding it along the way. Contact goRide. Your thoughts, comments or feedback are welcome. Thank you for being a part of the goRide way.
Have you been on a mountain bike course? I love that mountain bike coaches are popping up all over the country, helping all levels of riders gain more skills. Here in Nelson we have the brilliant Wheel Woman Workshops run by Emma Bawtree. My first course with Emma was about 4 years ago and it delivered on all fronts for me. So quite simply if you haven’t been yet now is the time to tap into the knowledge that is right there for the taking. For those of us who have been before – I’ll see you out there because you’re never too good to learn something more. Enjoy reading all about Wheel Woman.
goRide Group/Organisation Profile
Get to know who is actively involved in the female riding community through our group and organisation profiles. Support those who are supporting you. Remember we are all on a riding journey regardless of whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider so be open to learning from others, discover what others are doing and be curious about whether you could too.
How long has your organisation been around and what was the drive for its beginning?
Wheel Woman is celebrating its 5th birthday. The drive is helping women gain confidence. I could see all these women struggling with something that I find easy so I knew I could help.
Can you remember your first day of “work” and describe it for us?
The first Wheel Woman course was run for a friend who got 6 women together. She really drove that beginning as she was confident with road cycling but struggled with the technical aspects of off road riding. She really wanted to be shown some skills so we put together a 2 hour course for her and her friends which flowed really well. I remember being surprised at how much I enjoy it and how natural it was for me – I didn’t stress or get nervy and its just carried on that way from that day.
How many people are involved? How big is your group/business?
It’s just me but I get a lot of local support from the Triathlon and Multisport club, Mountain Bike Club and Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park.
What is the group/business trying to achieve at the moment?
Firstly, taking a break for winter. Then in September I am doing a relaunch with more defined courses and a new website. I’ve recently attended a National Mountain Bike Coaching Course and the direction was clear – less information and more time riding during a course. The outcome of that for Wheel Woman is to add another course into what I offer so that the technical information is more spread out. I get great feedback from everyone that comes to a course so this is more about fine tuning what I offer, hoping to cover something for everyone. Of course there is private coaching sessions as well if that works better for someone. It all depends on time, money and energy… what they want to achieve.
What is the thing you like the most about what you do?
Seeing girls absolutely stoked as they ride bits of track they never thought they would.
What is your greatest success to date? What do you hope it to be in the future?
Past: Giving so many women added confidence, knowledge and skill – so they can keep up with their husbands!
Future: Wheel Woman is beginning Youth Coaching in term 4 of this year. For 10 to 15 year olds as an after school mountain biking programme. I’m really excited about doing this and where it might lead.
What do you find the hardest about what you do and why?
Working weekends is hard at times but with that said it does mean my weekdays can be more flexible.
Describe how your group/business feels about riding and what riding can do for people.
Gaining confidence in your riding skills has a big impact on other aspects of your life and just generally gives you more confidence. It’s interesting that men often don’t understand what I teach. They think you should be able to just get on a bike and ride but there is a lot more to technical riding than that – if you want to do it well and make improvements. Some of my beginners gain way more than just riding skills, its quite empowering and something I never expected when I started this. They become stronger and more confident and suddenly have an “I CAN” attitude.
Biking also gives women easy access to fitness and the outdoors. With confidence and knowledge you realise that you can just go off and do it. It gives a real mental break to your day whether you are a Mum who goes riding by herself or with her children, it’s a great release.
What is your vision for riding in NZ in 2025?
The national cycleways funding is exciting and it will be great to watch this develop. It would be great if New Zealand could become more of a Holland in our attitude to bikes as a form of transport. I’d love to see growth in all forms of cycling as a sport, so greater participation and better access for families wanting to ride.
Anything else you would like to add?
Gaining a little bit of confidence and belief in your abilities leads to better participation in riding. Wheel Women does a great job in bridging the gap between women who ride bikes in a spin class to women who safely go out and about to ride… if they feel safe it seems achieveable.
Feeling like you want to gain some confidence on your bike? Check out Wheel Woman at www.wheelwoman.co.nz
[themeone_section type=”full-width” bgcolor=”#fafafa” txtcolor=”dark” decotop=”” decobot=””]
Thanks for reading.Used together our stories and resources support you to achieve and develop as a rider.
goRide is a shared journey, so we would like you to assist in guiding it along the way. Contact goRide. Your thoughts, comments or feedback are welcome. Thank you for being a part of the goRide way.
emotional level. They allow our kids to visualise themselves in the story and to relate to what is happening in the book. Books help share values and explain why those values are important. They introduce and acclimitise kids to new experiences. They also help initiate new ideas or concepts and provide inspiration.
One day down on the farm, Duck spies a red bicycle and gets a wild idea ‘I bet I could ride a bike!’. At first it wasn’t easy, he was slow and he wobbled but it was fun. In no time at all he was biking around the farmyard passing by his farmyard friends (cow, sheep, dog, cat, horse, chicken, cow, pig and mouse) who all greet duck politely however they all have private thoughts about Ducks zany idea. Then a herd of kids rides down the road in a blur of dust; they park their bikes and head indoors. A wordless page shows the wonderful moment when the animals all gather with identical wide-eyed looks and sly smiles – you can see what they’re thinking. Sure enough Duck has inspired his farmyard friends and they all find a bike to ride. We then get to see the joy and fun the animals are having as they zip around the farm on their borrowed bikes.
It doesn’t matter what ride you are doing or where you are going you want to feel comfortable. Check out the goRide guide 
