[Closed] Kids first mtb experience

I don’t know Llandegla, but I’d go green for the first trip - don’t forget you probably have suspension, beefier tyres, much bigger wheels, better brakes etc.  Build up their confidence.

green trail at Llandegla - never done it
blue at Gisburn but seems quite long if I recall- and nothing much happens - it just trails in a forest rather than a trail centre or MTB IMHO

, blue at Whinlatter but wondered if it might be bit technical?- the bit nearest the cafe /start is as technical as it gets[ some berms basically] some nice views as well and good play area in the main centre. I would do this over gisburn personally

NB philips park next to the velodrome in Manchester - you get the velodrome to look round a pump track/bmx track/skills area and the trails opposite also an option given ages. A good day out and much nearer - dont go when City are at home.

for proper mountain biking you can take them straight up from staveley or Kentmere right up to the ressie - all gravel road but easy bar one descent for the 6 yr old. C then cross the river if your av skills are good and come down the other side joining the nan bield descent - when its flat - massive road hill at the end STEEP with corners - have a GPX of this if interested - might even have pics on strava- its dead easy but you are definitely in the mountains and is IMHO the perfect lakes ride for kids
Also in Lancs FWIW

Llandegla green is just a small lap of the reservoir. Nothing special. It's blue is very smooth and is what you make of it. Easily rideable on any bike. It does however start with the three mile climb.

If you're in Lancashire then just go up Rivi and choose your own adventure. I started riding up there when I was about 12 (totally unsupervised, my parents thought I was visiting my friends round the corner) - there's plenty of stuff from smooth and flat through to relatively technical and small drops. You can climb as much or as little as you want.

Be sure to ask Lowey, once of this parish, for permission first though 😉

If you don't mind travelling a bit further, Hicks Lodge Leicestershire is excellent <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">for kids.</span>

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Its not going to tax your average STW Gnarlord, but it' a few miles long, its got small berms & jumps, & the gradient is perfect for smaller legs. Its pretty much all well drained singletrack, so even mid Winter it's fully rideable.</span>

And its got a great Cafe with some delicious home made cakes.

If you've non-cyclists there is a nice walk around the lake instead.

10km is a long way for a six year old.

Or or more importantly 5km is a long way back to the car when they decide they’ve had enough...

There are plenty of kiddie friendly trails in the other Philips Park / Waterdale.

The Reds, especially the one directly out of the car park, are quite technical though.

I have a 6 and 8 year old. Hicks lodge is perfect when they are young/new to riding. You can do the big wide easy green trail and do sections of blue (with fun and easy berms and bumps). You can then progress to a full blue loop or 2. then stop at the cafe whilst the kids play on the playground stuff. been doing this for the last 2 years, the then 4 year old needed a bit of a push up the small hills but they are no problem now.

Sherwood pines is then a good next level, the red loop is pretty flat and not too technical, my 6 year old can manage this, once again you have the option of jumping on the fire road and there is a cafe and place where they can build dens at the end.

Whinlatter blue is a step up in my opinion, mainly due to the climbing. The loop is not too long but there are a couple of reasonable climbs which make my kid whinge. We have only been able to do the full loop of this in the last few months. But you can do the first couple of sections a few times or do the first half (only 1 climb) and build up to doing the full lot. Whinlatter has a great playground that will entertain the kids for ages.

These are the 3 trail centres I've done with my kids.

Thanks all appreciate the advice. It's a fine line between good fun and a complete total and utter whinge fest when you're six!

Basically, it's all about the tow rope. We used one to excellent effect once the kids were too big for the sag wagon (Chariot Cougar bike trailer)

Haldon blue (might have been green, anyway the easiest one) is great for kids.  Really twisty turny with only one major uphill that you can easily push him up.  (alas it's in Devon)

Whinlatter blue also quite good, but fairly hilly.  You could do something creative with drop off at the centre and pickup at the road lower down.

Minortaur at CyB is brilliant.  The only problem is the big* up hill at the end.  Kinda takes the shine off it if you're not careful.  But again, easy with a tow rope.  Or just park the car down by the Mawdach/Eden confluence for the perfect car assisted trip.  Cwyflym coch also good, but not if he's new to mtb.

Grizedale easy routes are shit.  Just as hilly as TNF, but with no singletrack.

Gisburn, don't recall much about it.

Llandegla green isn't that good.  Shares the same *initial* bit of the general uphill, which isn't much fun for a 6 yo.  We've been going to Llandegla for years with the kids at all stages and i'd suggest a tow rope up the fire road beyond the upper car park.  Works really well as they miss the shit bit and get to really enjoy the rest.  Not sure exactly when this picture was taken, but I think he was 6 at the time judging by the bike he's on.  It's part of thre Llandegl 'black', but it's the same intial hill for red, black, blue so you can take your choice.

This is our at 8 years old I think in Germany.  Fairly big hill made easy.  One turn round the handlebar grip; Italian friction hitch round your stem; through the saddle rails; friction hitch round his stem to his handlebar grip.  Sorted.  Either of you lets go then the rope drops to the ground.  we've done some excellent rides like this when he was 4,5,6,7,8,9.  Really extends the range, his enjoyment and reduces stress.

https://flic.kr/p/SUj5zq

Glentress Blue is obviously a winner as you can shuttle to the top car park and get loads of kids runs in.  But quite a drive from Lancs.

Not so keen on the Manchester centre, too much glass and shit.

Dalby also a good option for car shuttling

On the tow rope note, I’ve just bought one of these.

https://towwhee.com/

Not as cheap as a bit of old rope but works really really well.

Like the towing idea. Cheers.

Hurstwood near Burnley is perfect for beginners, with some nice natural stuff nearby as well.

Sorry I missed out some key opinion from my post yesterday.

I'm not convinced that finding shortish flattish easyish routes works for young kids. We tried it a few times and they just moaned lots because it was fairly dull and fairly hard work.  Instead of decreasing the work element, we decreased the dullness. This did of course mean that they had to put more effort in, but they didn't mind because it was properly exciting.

So embrace the technical twisty and semi difficult. See if they like it

Hurstwood near Burnley is perfect for beginners, with some nice natural stuff nearby as well.

i was going to suggest Hurstwood also.  There's a little skills / pump track affair there too which is a hoot.

The TowWhee looks great JamBo. Did you buy it direct or find a UK distributor?

Bought it direct. Took a couple of weeks. Worked out at £42 but it slipped through customs without getting charged.

Thanks. Time to get rid of the Trailgator....

Hurstwood looks like a perfect place to start out and build confidence on the trail.  Thanks all some great suggestions and help. Heres to the next generation! 🚵