Disclosure: In any review for a product or service, products or compensation may have been provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” and "Terms of Use" tabs for more information.

Family cycling vacations can take various forms: everyone on their own bike, kids on tow bikes, kids in a trailer, one adult riding and another staying back then switching, two adults riding and having childcare for the kids who don’t ride… There are lots of options. Much depends on how old your children are, if you want to cycle as a family, and how strict your own riding/training needs are.

The first major decision is whether this is a family bike excursion where everyone rides or just the adults riding bikes. This article discusses some useful tips for both cases, as well as how to make family cycling vacations work no matter what sort you’re doing.

How Old (And Fit) Are Your Children?

Be realistic about how far your youngster will want to ride their bike. You don’t want to make them dislike cycling just because you want to get to a specific location and they’re not going to be able to do it. 

When reading family cycling trip reviews, keep the children’s ages in mind. A cycling vacation with toddlers is not the same as a trip with a fit 15-year-old who has been riding since they were four. This is especially critical if you choose a point-to-point vacation rather than a fixed-base vacation.

When you schedule a family cycling vacation, ask if there are other routes or shortcuts you can take if you get on the trip and discover it’s too hard for your children. This can mean you have a contingency plan in place should you need one. 

Don’t Push The Mileage 

Though it may be tempting to want to cover a lot of territory, keep your expectations in check. Make time for ice cream breaks and, preferably, beach/playground/kid-friendly activities at the conclusion of the day. When choosing a route suited for small children, it’s also vital not to overlook altitude increases. The higher you go, the thinner the air, and that makes things much tougher, even if the terrain looks nice and flat. 

Get Insurance 

Although you might only think that insurance is necessary when you’re driving and run the risk of having a car accident so you might need a car crash lawyer, the truth is that insurance – specifically travel insurance in this case – is vital. 

You should always get travel insurance no matter where you go on vacation or what kind of activities you intend to do, but if you’re cycling, it really is something you mustn’t forget. Accidents can happen, and it would be much better to have insurance than not. It may not be pleasant to think about, but that doesn’t mean it’s something you can ignore. 

Are There Any Non-Cycling Activities To Do?

If you’ve spent the morning riding away from the kids, you’ll most likely want to spend the afternoon doing something family-friendly. What that means for your family will vary, but when choosing accommodation, consider staying somewhere with suitable activities on-site – or at least near to water parks, beaches, and other places children are sure to want to go.