Ideas for encouraging 17 year old

[G3CWI]

To my surprise my 17 year old daughter expressed a slight interest in cycling yesterday. She enjoyed a bit of cycling with me when she was a child (canal towpaths etc) and she did the local Bikeathon a couples of time too (about 15 miles I seem to recall). She has not been on a bike for several years. Over dinner last night she asked if the local cycling club ever organises a Bikeathon - which I took to be an expression of interest in cycling.

The local club does not organise anything like that as far as I'm aware and the big local Bikeathon folded some years ago. There are no local Sky Rides and getting to those that are in the general area would be tricky. She is about the same height as me and so could probably ride one of my road bikes. The Cycling club has relatively few teenage members and I think they tend to be into the racing side of the sport. The Easy Riders group that I ride with are very welcoming but we are all "of an age" and I cant see her enjoying that for long.

I will happily take her out to get her used to a road bike but I would welcome some idea. It may come to nothing but it must be worth a try.

She was quite a sporty child with amazing endurance. She's built like the proverbial bean-pole.

Ideas?

 

[mjr]

Does she know anyone else of similar age who might also like the easy riders style?

Do local youth clubs/groups or sports/activity centres know any groups that you don't?

Good luck!

 

[Jayaly]

Could you find out if others in your Easy Riders group have relatives of a suitable age, maybe see if you could set up a ride for the kids or with the kids? If you do a few rides with your daughter and make it known that others are welcome, there might be more that would join in. If I ever got wind of a social ride in my area arranged to encourage teens, I'd definitely suggest it to my son. He used to ride with me as a child too, until my bike was stolen, and there seemed to be one more friend that wanted to come with us every time.

Part of me wants to suggest that if there is nothing suitable on the sky ride calendar, maybe there is a gap there which could be filled using Ride Social. Along those lines, I have sometimes wondered whether, if I set up a balance bike social ride, other parents of littlies might be interested. However, another part of me runs away screaming at the thought of throwing the party nobody came to, and for a 17 year old girl, that might be a biggie.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Could it be that the weekend tootle type sky rides have not taken off previously but a bit of interest from such as yourself could spark them to try again?

Otherwise maybe ask the local council if they have any groups or social rides they're aware of but don't really publicise - ours have a few things on the go but not a hint of them on website or media etc.

Just one thought too, has she expressed an interest in road bikes or is that what you have available for her?

I know it's late in the academic year now too but could she/you suggest something through school to get a like minded similar age group going?

 

[HarryTheDog]

A 17 yr old girl is no longer a child usually, but a young adult in my experience ( boys are a little bit different) . She should be able to cope with anything a adult woman can just may lack a bit of confidence. I would just take her cycling myself get her up to used to doing a reasonable amount of miles and say suggest a sportive and do it with her she may like them and want to do more or even race ( note no road races for junior girls they are in with the adults). I started off a similar way with my two ( boy+girl) they were both out with my local club doing 60 miles at 15. A target event may help with focus. With local clubs when she gets a bit of speed and mileage up the club will probably welcome her with open arms as young girls in cycle clubs is usually rare. My daughter was really encouragd by the reaction of my club to a fast young lady.

 

[mjr]

I'd be cautious about suggesting sportives to new riders. In my experience, they contain too many idiots pretend-racing and putting other riders at risk with dangerous practices (silent left-side overtakes, surrounding other riders, blasting past through junctions, ...). The standard of riding seems far worse than old bikeathons and charity rides, especially on the longer distances. The best seem to be those where the short/medium loops share very little with the longest loop or two and long loop starters aren't allowed after the short loop starts, so you don't get aggressive roadies trying to make up time after being late to the start and cutting up people who are giving it everything they can to get around the 10-mile loop.

If she wants to race, then by all means go racing with a proper club of racing enthusiasts who will usually put on a good event (and deal with entrants who ride like idiots); but if she wants to do fun rides, try to find one of the few surviving old-style rides... but I think the best bet may well be try to introduce some youth to the easy riders.

 

[raleighnut]

This any use.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...NLVSn6NxapocTPV2TXuSGlQ&bvm=bv.95515949,d.ZGU

 

[Ticktockmy]

I would get her to try and get some of her friends interested, then with your guidance let them plan a few local quite rides, it will not be long when they will be off on there own, doing their own thing

 

[Debade]

I really like the idea of a school program as one idea. Some schools in the States now have mountain biking leagues for both the girls and boys.

I would also emphasize commuter (vs recreational) biking since it may offer some additional freedom to visit places/friends and most teens are looking for ways to become more independent. And, as it relates to this, perhaps family rides to shops, friends, dentist appointments, school, etc will make bicycling part of her transportation selection. If she is interested in NGO bicycle programs World Bicycle Relief could offer some opportunities (There maybe another or local organization that is better suited). Also, bicycle touring. We have a friend planning a multi-day holiday ride with his 17 year old. If you have not toured, there are lots of great information online including some on this site. It is a great way to spend a family holiday and encourage the love of bicycling.

 

[G3CWI]

Some good ideas there - I will try some. She is at college not school - which has a rather different dynamic. Raleighnut - thanks for the link. I had been on the skyride website but oddly that ride did not show up for me. It's actually round the corner from us and i will see if I can get her interested in it.

Other ideas very welcome.

 

[G3CWI]

Raleighnut - thanks for the link. I had been on the skyride website but oddly that ride did not show up for me. It's actually round the corner from us and i will see if I can get her interested in it.

Oh dear - just noticed that raleignut's suggested ride was in 2012 !

 

[raleighnut]

Oh dear - just noticed that raleignut's suggested ride was in 2012 !

I must have got a 'cached' page from 2012 (that's when I started doing Skyrides after being signed up to them at the Leicester 'Cityride') only did a few as I found out group rides were just not my thing (far sooner be on my own or with just a couple of mates) I'd looked up a few round there as Mum lived in Knutsford at the time and I used to get up to visit a couple of times a year'
Sorry for the crap linky

 

[Winnershsaint]

Interestingly my nineteen year old daughter returned from her first year at uni having added a bit of timber and expressed an interest in cycling to lose a bit of it and to improve her fitness in preparation for a uni field trip to the Cairngorms in September. She has gone down the turbo trainer route to get her started using my bike. It's not ideal but not a bad fit. I've said I will look at a road bike if she maintains it too. She seems quite in to it and I've adapted a structured programme I use for her. Sticks a movie on her phone and off she goes.

 

[G3CWI]

[QUOTE="Winnershsaint, post: 3747834, member: 11872" expressed an interest in cycling to lose a bit of it and to improve her fitness.[/QUOTE]

My daughter is the opposite. The cakes will do her good actually.

 

[Hacienda71]

It is a shame that the Macc Bikeathon folded I enjoyed riding it a few years ago and it was in aid of a good cause and had routes suitable for all rider levels. Iirc Tim Broster on Sunderland Street was the driving force behind it and the Macc Wheelers helped with the marshalling. However you can't expect someone to go through all the hassle of sorting it year after year. The logistics were quite large getting roads shut for the start and finish areas etc.