Pfitzy
George Gregan (70)
Part The First:
The Pfitzys are going a multi-bike family, so my Rhino rooftop bike rack isn't going to cut it any more. I'm looking at any of the following to fit to the towbar on the X-Trail:
Disclaimer: DON'T SAY "ON THE TOP IS BEST" you bloody yuppies. I'm not paying over $100 per bike, and the roof racks on the X-Trail are only 720mm wide
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/on...arrier-A-Frame-4-Clamp-Velcro.aspx?pid=348716
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/on...-Clamp-Velcro.aspx?pid=326853#Recommendations
https://www.autobarn.com.au/streetwize-ball-mount-tilt-4-bike-rack-abbc4t
The tilt one (last of 3) looks handy because if I need the back of the car in a hurry, I'm not taking everything apart. On the other hand, tilting it with 4 bikes on it (i.e. in a hurry) might just fucking suck.
The top two look to have better soft fixing for the bike frames, which is going to be handy as the top bar on every bike is slightly different (my Giant Alias is a few years old and has exposed cabling on the underside of a bent triangular top bar).
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Part The Second:
So my boy is 11, and due to various failings on my part, never learned to ride a bike. Daughter is the 8, and much the same. Both of them are ruled by fear of injury, mainly, but also the boy wanted a BMX then found it was heavy and the geometry didn't lend itself to learning when he was 9 or so.
But mostly, my complete lack of patience at their fart-arsing around is to blame. I frustrate easily. Bloody kids. Their mother also likes to get involved when I'm trying to explain something, interrupting me with bullshit.
Not helping.
But this time will be different. They're older, a bit more robust, and yet my tongue will have callouses on it by the time we're fucking finished no doubt. And the wife will still baby them along.
The boy is getting a Malvern Star Hurricane 27-2 in silver (its a 27.5 - figure he can grow into it a bit) like this http://www.malvernstar.com.au/bikes/hurrican-27-2/
21 speed - a risk given he's never ridden a geared bike, so I'm tempted to disconnect the cables and leave it in 2-5 for now. Burn that bridge when we get to it.
The girl is getting a MS Livewire in 24" and a 3-gear rear hub. Want to keep it simple for her http://www.malvernstar.com.au/bikes/livewire-24i/
In terms of teaching, the idea is to take them down to the local oval, where the ground is slightly hardened from council mismanagement to reduce rolling friction, but there is enough grass to prevent abrasions.
Thing is, they're both too big for me to run alongside and hold the seat, when the weight of bike is taken into account. And the boy lacks core strength and muscle tone, which makes things a bit harder.
Are there any things I can learn from more experienced people here? How to work into it step by step. Taking pedals off? Basic balance techniques etc. Guess it depends on the kid, but I'm all ears.
I remember NOTHING about learning to ride on the gravel roads on the farm as a kid. At age 7, fat little Pfitzy had training wheels made from old mower castors and steel banding by his Dad, and the one day just didn't need them any more.
The Pfitzys are going a multi-bike family, so my Rhino rooftop bike rack isn't going to cut it any more. I'm looking at any of the following to fit to the towbar on the X-Trail:
Disclaimer: DON'T SAY "ON THE TOP IS BEST" you bloody yuppies. I'm not paying over $100 per bike, and the roof racks on the X-Trail are only 720mm wide
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/on...arrier-A-Frame-4-Clamp-Velcro.aspx?pid=348716
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/on...-Clamp-Velcro.aspx?pid=326853#Recommendations
https://www.autobarn.com.au/streetwize-ball-mount-tilt-4-bike-rack-abbc4t
The tilt one (last of 3) looks handy because if I need the back of the car in a hurry, I'm not taking everything apart. On the other hand, tilting it with 4 bikes on it (i.e. in a hurry) might just fucking suck.
The top two look to have better soft fixing for the bike frames, which is going to be handy as the top bar on every bike is slightly different (my Giant Alias is a few years old and has exposed cabling on the underside of a bent triangular top bar).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part The Second:
So my boy is 11, and due to various failings on my part, never learned to ride a bike. Daughter is the 8, and much the same. Both of them are ruled by fear of injury, mainly, but also the boy wanted a BMX then found it was heavy and the geometry didn't lend itself to learning when he was 9 or so.
But mostly, my complete lack of patience at their fart-arsing around is to blame. I frustrate easily. Bloody kids. Their mother also likes to get involved when I'm trying to explain something, interrupting me with bullshit.
Not helping.
But this time will be different. They're older, a bit more robust, and yet my tongue will have callouses on it by the time we're fucking finished no doubt. And the wife will still baby them along.
The boy is getting a Malvern Star Hurricane 27-2 in silver (its a 27.5 - figure he can grow into it a bit) like this http://www.malvernstar.com.au/bikes/hurrican-27-2/
21 speed - a risk given he's never ridden a geared bike, so I'm tempted to disconnect the cables and leave it in 2-5 for now. Burn that bridge when we get to it.
The girl is getting a MS Livewire in 24" and a 3-gear rear hub. Want to keep it simple for her http://www.malvernstar.com.au/bikes/livewire-24i/
In terms of teaching, the idea is to take them down to the local oval, where the ground is slightly hardened from council mismanagement to reduce rolling friction, but there is enough grass to prevent abrasions.
Thing is, they're both too big for me to run alongside and hold the seat, when the weight of bike is taken into account. And the boy lacks core strength and muscle tone, which makes things a bit harder.
Are there any things I can learn from more experienced people here? How to work into it step by step. Taking pedals off? Basic balance techniques etc. Guess it depends on the kid, but I'm all ears.
I remember NOTHING about learning to ride on the gravel roads on the farm as a kid. At age 7, fat little Pfitzy had training wheels made from old mower castors and steel banding by his Dad, and the one day just didn't need them any more.