How safe is mountain biking for children? At what age can my daughters ride the trails?

Deborah R. Sundermann
Corpus Christi, Texas

Alice's Answer:

We moms are worriers, aren't we? As you know, mountain biking has inherent risks, but that's not to say children should avoid it. If you teach your girls how to ride safely and in control, and to recognize when a trail is too tough for their abilities, you'll greatly reduce their chances of a bad accident. Of course, as with any cycling, riders need helmets. Gloves are also good protection during falls.

Mountain biking requires strength plus a certain level of maturity and judgment. The age at which a child attains all three of these varies, but one thing is certain: first your girls have to master cycling on roads and other paved surfaces before tackling dirt.

Your kids need to have great balance and they need to develop swift reaction and recovery times to the unexpected. Once they've got this, generally after several years of basic biking, they're probably ready to start learning about trail riding. You can sign them up for lessons or a mountain biking camp, but you can also get them started in your own yard or a park. All you need is a flat grassy spot. Begin with one obstacle, such as a small log, about four inches in diameter. Once your daughters can ride over that with ease, add more obstacles, such as a small hill, hole, rocks, and strategically placed cones to teach curve control.

In addition to balance, your little mountain bikers need to become experts at gear-changing and braking. Teach them to favor the rear brake to prevent skids, while feathering (gently pulling) the front brake.

One of their most important lessons will be learning to fall. The safest way to take a tumble when it's unavoidable is to relax, which is counter-intuitive. By going limp, a cyclist absorbs some of the impact of a fall.

Choose an easy course for your kids' first trail ride. At difficult sections, you might go ahead, dismount, and"spot" your girls through difficult sections. Finally, here's one of the most important safety lessons you can teach them-how to dismount and walk their bikes over sections they're not ready for.

Good luck and many safe miles to you and your daughters.