Help Your Child Prepare for Mountain Biking CampAug 12 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Your child will love and survive Mountain Biking Camp if properly prepared! My son has become an avid mountain biker, mostly due to his enrollment in a summer mountain biking camp three years ago. We have learned a lot during this time! I highly recommend this type of camp for kids who are athletic, enjoy the outdoors, and love to bicycle. In our family, his passion has spread throughout the family and we now all enjoy family rides together. If it sounds like something your child might like, here are some points to consider. Type of Camp First of all, research the camps available in your area. We have found camps specializing in mountain bikes offered through Campfire and Southwestern Oregon Community College. Be sure to check out the credentials of the camp. The camp should be sponsored by a reputable organization, be certified, and be staffed by experienced mountain bike teachers and technicians. Mountain biking can be a dangerous activity if not undertaken with knowledge and care. Check with the camp to find out what types of riding skill and equipment are needed. The first time my son attended camp, we naively sent him packing with his loyal Huffy “mountain bike” purchased at the local discount store. Although he managed to have a lot of fun, and became highly interested in the sport, he struggled to keep up with the other campers with more sophisticated equipment. Not only that, the bike was completely destroyed due to the hard use and went straight to the dump when he came home. His week would have been much more satisfying if we had known what type of bicycle to provide. Since then I have also heard his stories of boys sent to this type of camp to “get in shape”. Mountain bike camps are generally quite strenuous with the expectation that one can ride long distances over some pretty challenging terrain. There are camps that specialize in gentler rides and even family sessions. Be sure you are signing up for something your child will enjoy and be able to do. Nothing is more miserable for a child than to be the one who can’t keep up. Biking Equipment You will want to provide a sturdy bike meant for “real” mountain biking. If you are not familiar with the differences between bicycle shop bikes and toy store bikes, visit some bike shops and talk to the folks there. You will quickly learn about the essential features you will want and what size bike to buy. Do not allow your child to use or buy a bike that is too big. It will not be safe or enjoyable to ride. Most kids at bike camps prefer bikes with front suspension systems, sidepull brakes, a good quality derailleur, a sturdy but light frame, and quality rims/tires. You might be able to get a good bike on sale at a shop for about $200. But, more likely, you will spend more than that. Very adequate bikes can be had for $300 to $1000. It is not necessary to spend more than that unless you are into high level biking. Watch for good sales if you have some time. Some good brands include Trek, Cannondale, Rockhopper, and Klein. There are many excellent reviews of good bikes on this site. There are a few other items that are essential: Be sure to buy a quality helmet that fits very well. Have the store personnel check the fit before you buy. Giro is a popular helmet with good ventilation. Your child will need to have adequate water storage. I cannot emphasize how important drinking enough water will be to your child’s health and enjoyment. The ideal method is a “water pack” which fits like a small backpack and holds a large quantity of water. A well-known brand is the Camelbak. They are fairly expensive (in the $30 range), so if that is out of your range, buy several large water bottles which can mount to the frame. Your child will also want a small repair kit for emergency trail repairs. Several tools are available with multiple uses. Your child will need riding gloves to protect hands from blisters. A bike lock is a good precaution to protect your investment. Get a heavy cable lock since lightweight ones are easily cut with bolt cutters. Beyond that there are some items which, although not necessary, will make riding more enjoyable: First are riding shorts. Many styles are available ranging from form fitting to “cargo” style. The essential ingredient is padding in the seat to protect one from bumps and saddle soreness. Some kids enjoy a riding jersey which wicks away perspiration, but that is not as important as the shorts. Flat tires are a hazard of biking. There are several ways to deal with them. You can buy patch kits to repair flats, but of course that requires a bit of time, generally not a great solution on the trail. You can carry additional spare tubes and a bike pump for changes. You can also have special Kevlar liners installed in the tires (about $40) which will not go flat under normal circumstances. Check with your camp to see if your child needs to be prepared for flats, or if the camp personnel handle this. Biking shoes are specially designed for mountain biking. Some styles actually clip onto special pedals allowing the bicyclist to pull up as well as push down on the pedals (this is also accomplished with toe cages). Clip shoes are tricky to get used to, so be sure to have your child practice if you go for these. Cages or clips can be very important if you need to use one leg to pedal. This may sound strange, but my son once fell and injured his knee on a ride. He could not walk, but he could ride with one leg due to his toe clip shoes. What to Pack I will assume that you will pack all the usual clothing/toiletries one would need at any camp. At mountain bike camp your child will also need the following items: Shirts for riding – these will come back covered with mud Extra socks – these will come back black, send one pair for every ride Riding shorts – these should be soft and non-chafing, preferably padded riding shorts Biking gloves Helmet Tool kit Bike lock Water system Something to carry things in – your Camelbak, a small underseat bag, a fanny pack Sunglasses – for the sun, but also to keep bugs out of your eyes Sunscreen First aid kit – should include various sizes of Band-Aids, absorbent material such as paper towel, antibiotic ointment For emergencies - mylar blanket, tiny flashlight, whistle Rain gear/windbreaker High calorie snack bars – Power Bars, Clif bars etc. Include at least one for each ride. Chapstick Disposable camera Before You Go Your child should try out all your equipment with some warm up rides. Make sure everything is in working order and build up some riding muscles at the same time. If your local bike shop offers classes in bike maintenance and simple repairs, you might want to consider enrolling your child. Talk to your child about what to do in emergencies, wilderness survival, and about using good judgement while riding. It is more important to come home in one piece that to be the first one down the trail!  |
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