Passing it On To the Youth and Kids

[enduramil]

The whole threead about kids at trail day's got me wondering about something. In regards to the whole passing it on to the kids and such.


How many of us when out for a ride actually talk to the kids and youth? how many of us actually stop and help them out with learning a section or a new stunt?

How many of us are willing to bail on our ride plans to show the kids the trails?

[biggles604]

I've stopped and helped, but for the most part, I find the kids are much better than us "old" folks

[enduramil]

I've stopped and helped, but for the most part, I find the kids are much better than us "old" folks

Some are. Just got thinking from the other thread.

It brought up some questions. I remember how many adults took time to show me how to ride and trails when I started at 12. Let's see Patrolskid, Kevin, Jordan, Axel, too name a few.

Gues was wondering for all the talk how many actually gave them the time.

[Knnn]

All the time, if given the opportunity. I really enjoy taking up kids of friends and neighbours up Fromme to experience or learn on the easier trails.

Sometimes I think I have more fun teaching than riding. Experiencing their delight of doing a huge 1 foot drop or rolling a log or riding the 'Monster Rock' at the top of Griffin, is truly priceless. They are so stoked! I guess I'm living vicariously through their experiences :)

[thebigchin]

We stopped and helped some kids fix a flat... Well actually, Shirk and Heckler fixed the flat. I heckled from the sidelines...

[freakonaleash]

I had a good quote about this in the woodlot gold thread which is apparantly gone now.

Anyways, MTB mike helped me big time.

thing is though, many people are discouraging on here. Like how much I get flamed. I would never want to ride trials with them. But from what ive experienced in real life, generally they passs you on the trail and say hi, if you ask for help, the old guys will help.

[enduramil]

I had a good quote about this in the woodlot gold thread which is apparantly gone now.

Anyways, MTB mike helped me big time.

thing is though, many people are discouraging on here. Like how much I get flamed. I would never want to ride trials with them. But from what ive experienced in real life, generally they passs you on the trail and say hi, if you ask for help, the old guys will help.

MTB Mike is a great guy, just watch out for him in the Bobcat.

[old&new]

Most of my rides this year have been with my kids and their friends. We are always excited to see other kids on the trails. Their enthusiasm for riding is very contagious. It’s a pleasure following them down the trail watching them hoot and holler as they try new things. I would highly recommend that you take kids riding, they will show you what riding is supose to be about, FUN!!. :-)

[lets ride]

bansheeair and I ride with the kids all the time. We volunteer for shop rides and help the kids twice a week on rides. Trail etiquette and basic skills are mostly what the kids we are with need the most help with.

[Dantes Inferno]

Just move outa there way and thats the best you could do for helping them. And change their flats. Seriously, kids need to learn under trial and error. Thats how I learned. Take them riding, kids are not interested in jibberish "theory" and "technique". One way or another they will get down the hill and the next time it will be more solid than the last.

Just be careful though, those kids are sure dangerous....


Kids also learn better when surrounded by their own age group and own skill levels. Because then they have real competition to gauge there skills and can see the improvements first hand. I volenteered for two years with "rippen riders" in squamish. And If a kid asked for help Id help them, but if not i wouldnt. We were mostly there as a guide and for first aid reasons. They progressed the most just because they were out riding.

[Dantes Inferno]

also i find that its not a big deal encouraging kids that already bike. They are already hooked. The real thing is getting new blood into the sport who have not tried mountain biking yet. I started because my dad was into it, so I cant relate to someone who didnt have that kinda influence.

[freakonaleash]

Take them riding, kids are not interested in jibberish "theory" and "technique"

Thats very true. I never learn anything by being told how, everyone rides different, youve just gotta give 'er and see what happens .

[clown]

Kids should stay at home playing video games, watching tv and eating chips.

[freakonaleash]

Kids should stay at home playing video games, watching tv and eating chips.

Old clowns should stay at the sideshow eating cigarettes : O

[ratherberiding]

when i started riding the shore(12) i would catch the huckwagon up seymour and no matter how fast or slow i was on my specialized hardrock comp with v brakes the guys that i shuttled would ride with me. Now 16 i still occasionally see those old timers and i we still go for a rip.

[clown]

Old clowns should stay at the sideshow eating cigarettes : O

I just wish riding like this was available back in the days when I was 14-15-16. But you know ........poontang was pretty cool too.

[Squamch]

I can remember my first shore ride, dad took me and 2 buddies over to seymour, drove us up to the parking lot, we got out, unloaded and assembled out bikes, 2 snipes, and a kona stuff. Half a dozen guys on VPS's, monsters, 3 piece profile cranks, 3" gazzy's, the whole works, the ultimate bike as far as we were concerned, came over and asked if it was our first time on seymour. After we told them it was, they asked where were we from, what kinda riding were we after, and guided us the whole day. Then they rode back up with us, even though they were going to have one of them stay behind and shuttle, they all chose to come ride with us, and show us what was up.
These guys were WAY beyond us in skill level, but sacrificed their ride to show 3 14 year old's some trails.

The riders who gave us directions to Fromme however, made up for those guys kindness by giving us directions to the gondola parking lot, after being asked how to get to the trail head by 3 kids in dirty riding gear. That was one hell of a climb, for absolutely no reward.

[lets ride]

Take them riding, kids are not interested in jibberish "theory" and "technique".

We found that after a few trips over the bars, wash outs on corners and such the kids would be asking what they were doing wrong. This would lead into some "theory" and "technique", then back to riding. All we did is accelerate the learning curve.