Family bike rides

Now that Evan is mobile on two wheels, I've been dying to get out for some family bike rides.  A few weeks ago we got the coupling piece to hook up the bike trailer we had to our bike, and since we've been enjoying a few outings on wheels.  John occasionally takes the kids out for rides on the days he's home with them, and then we've taken a few trips as a family so far.  

Our first family ride was in the evening, and we didn't venture too far in case Evan got tired or something didn't work out.  We rode quite a ways, around many blocks in our neighborhood, and all went well.  The next family ride was another evening ride, but probably a little too late in the evening.  We ventured out to the nearby park (where John has ridden with the kids several times now) and then rode along a bike path from there to make a loop past some stores that John has also ridden with the kids on already.  However, Emma started whining and crying halfway along on that trip, so we had to stop several times to check on her.  Daylight was quickly fading and I was the only one with lights on my bike, so I ended up leading the way home after that.  At least we were not riding on roads, but still, we have no idea why Emma was so unhappy, other than she may have just been sleepy.  

Out on our first family bike ride.

This past Saturday morning we took our longest trek yet, by riding over a mile to a park that we usually drive to.  It has a splash pad (that Evan usually loves) and playground and a BMX dirt track, so I figured there would be something fun for the kids to do.  Emma went straight to the playground, but Evan realized there were some neat tracks to ride his bike on and chose to stay on his bike (and never even touched the playground or the splash pad!).  After riding around some of the winding paths at the park, he found the BMX dirt track.  Riding down the hills wasn't a problem, but riding up the steep, yet short, hills was harder.  He found himself not making it all the way up, then sliding/riding backward from which he would usually fall over/wipe out.  His first wipe out he got a small scrape on his elbow and cried, and I thought he'd be done.  Yet, he quickly brushed it off and wanted to try again!  After I convinced him to first get used to riding on the dirt and going down the fast hills, John came over and helped give him some pushes to get up and over the up hill parts and voila!  He was riding on the BMX track!  What a big boy!

Testing out the dirt BMX track.

With a little help from Daddy, he made it over the bigger bumps!

We had packed a picnic lunch for this trip, so we found some shade and enjoyed our lunch on the beautiful late summer day.  The trailer is great for hauling Emma and some extra gear/snacks!  And it also even works for putting Evan's bike in it and then Evan can ride next to Emma, if he gets too tired.  John had to do that once, but otherwise he's been hanging in there and keeping up with us!

Taking a little snack break in the shade of a tree at the park.

I am certainly looking forward to more rides like this.  And as the weather starts to cool off a bit, I think it will the perfect riding weather for more family bike outings.