If you want to let your young teen ride on their own through traffic you must think through the risks and make sure they can manage. For them to be safe, comfortable & confident you want them to be prepared.
Tip One – Be Visible
In busy traffic environments your child and their bike will need to be seen. Most of their riding will be during the day so concentrate on ways to catch the attention of drivers. If they use their bike often enough they will at some stage find themselves riding in poor light, poor weather conditions or at dusk/dawn/night. These are all situations where lights & visibility aids are a must.
There are two things to think about to make yourself more visible on the road; Lights/Reflectors & Clothing.
Lights/Reflectors – We recommend an easy to carry, easy to attach front & rear light set that are low to moderate strength. This type of light is used to be seen or attract attention so drivers are aware of your position on the road. Rear lights are important in low light situations. Ideally “stacked” with one high and one low – attached to a backpack and on the seat post. It can be a great idea to have a rear reflector permanently attached to your young riders school bag. This means it will always be with them. Give them any kind of easy to carry & use reflectors that can be attached to the back of their bike or clothing. See our range… Youth Be Visible
Outer Layers/Helmet – Unfortunately most school uniforms are dull colours, this can make the be bright message tricky especially if they are not allowed to wear anything else. If possible add a lightweight bright, reflective jacket or vest over their clothing. If this is not possible make sure they have a bright helmet. Visit our Youth Be Visible Product Page
Tip Two – Tools & Punctures
Usually we recommend carrying tools, however, for young teens, most of their riding is the commute to school so they are already carrying enough things and anything left on their bike is likely to get stolen. We are also aware of the ability for children in this age group to lose things. What are the options then? Well, firstly, we recommend self seal tubes. This type of tube is more expensive than a normal tube but it will save them from dreaded punctures. A self sealing tube can instantly repair small tears and holes, keeping them on time and riding.
It is a good idea to start teaching them about their bike and ways to keep it working. Having tyres that are well pumped up is a good way to minimise the risk of puncturing. So get them into a good routine of checking and pumping their tyres at home with a Floor Pump.
If you want them to succeed you need to have some at home tools that will help them. Ideally all gathered together in the one place;Â a floor pump, chain lube/cloth, spare tubes/tyre levers/tyre patches, Allen key or multi-tool.
Self sealing tubes will help with managing flat tyres.
Tip Three – Wear a Good Bike Helmet
Wear a helmet that has been designed for the type of town riding you are about to do. There are a huge range of helmets out there so you will be able to find one that is a good fit. We recommend full head coverage, lightweight and bright colours or graphics. Additional features like rear vent lights are also great. Choose the protection that will give you confidence and the knowledge that you have the correct gear to ride safely on the roads & bike paths you choose.
Check out our story SHOP Kids/Youth Bike Helmet  and our Bike Helmet Stories & Support Page
The ideal helmet for Road Riding should be bright & provide you with good head coverage.
Tip Four – Use a Bike Lock
If leaving a bike unattended in any type of urban area, you want to know that it will be there when you return. Most schools will have special areas, some that are locked during the day to restrict access. Choosing the right bike lock depends on a number of things… what the risk level is, what type of structures you have to lock your bike to and how long you are leaving it for. Get a better understanding of your Bike Lock options by reading the Bike Lock Buying Guide and make sure you know how to use a lock correctly. The Best Way to Lock a Bike
For kids/youth we recommend combination locks. These types of locks are easy to carry and you don’t have to worry about them losing keys. See Combination Lock and choose the coil thickness you think matches the risk level.
Helmets can be a bit of an issue when they are left with a bike at school or with a bag when your child is at a sports practice/after school activities. We really like the reusable Security Ties to keep their helmet safely attached to something when they need to leave it. Again if you choose the combination option, you won’t need to worry about them losing the key. See Security Tie – Combination
Tip Five – Keep Them Warm/Weather Protection
What they need to be safe when riding on the road depends on how far they are going and how committed you are to making them ride in all weather.
Warmth – the most obvious thing here is warm gloves for cold weather. When winter arrives their fingers will need protection but also think about ears, neck & head. See Extremity Base Layers
Jackets – most schools allow a rain jacket to be worn as your child commutes to school. Having a jacket that packs down well and is easy to carry is great for their town riding protection. Keeping dry is key to keeping safe and enjoying the ride. Fabrics that are bright, reflective & waterproof are important so their clothing remains dry. In poor weather conditions it is harder for drivers to see you. Being bright with outer layers is a great way to make sure you are visible.
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Bike Helmets for Youth - What are my options?
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