Mountain Biking with your Family

Looking for an activity that your whole family can do together? Mountain biking is a great option. Together, you can ride miles of trails and experience nature in a way you never have before. Many mountain bike trails in and around Boulder County offer amazing scenic viewpoints along the way where you and your family can stop, take in the breathtaking views, and enjoy a well-earned snack. Trails are ever-changing, which will keep the excitement factor high for both you and your kids. If your child cannot get enough with you, check out an Avid4 mountain biking intensive. Or, if your child wants to develop advanced skills in a one-day program, sign up for our brand new Extreme Adventures.

Mountain biking is also a fun, intense, full-body workout. While pedaling works out your heart and lungs, climbing, descending, and riding through rough terrain works out muscles in the legs, core, arms, and chest. For growing children especially, mountain biking is a great way to start an active, exciting, healthy lifestyle that can last a lifetime.

Gear and skills you will need: First, make sure everyone in your family has a mountain bike (with knobby tires) and a helmet. It’s especially important that your bikes are durable enough to handle trails. Any local bike shop should be able to help you ensure this. Other items that are important to have on a ride are enough water (one water pack per person is a good idea), food for when you get hungry, gloves, eye protection, and trail maps. When you get more involved and go on longer bike trails, it is important that you have the proper skills and tools to fix a breakdown. Bike shops around town offer maintenance classes to teach you bike repair fundamentals. Make sure to carry a multi-tool, air pump, spare tube, and patch kit in case of a flat tire or other glitch.

Getting ready and getting on the trail: If you or your children have never ridden off-road before, make sure you’re all comfortable with more bumpy terrain. You can start to do this by riding on grass. Once you’re comfortable with the feeling, try riding on gravel paths (like those at the end of the Boulder Creek Path). When you’re ready, you can then move up doubletrack dirt trails, like those at Marshall Mesa’s Community Ditch Trail. Then, slowly work your way up to easier singletrack dirt trails. Once your whole family is ready and feeling a little adventurous, there is a wide selection of more technical trails throughout Boulder County. Be aware that these trails may include obstacles such as rocks, roots, and tight switchback turns, so make sure everyone’s really ready before you go.

Wherever you go, make sure that mountain bikes are allowed on the trails that you choose. Also, on multi-use trails, make sure everyone in your family stays to the right of the trail, and yields to horses and hikers. Additionally, if you are going downhill, uphill mountain bikers have the right-of-way. For an idea of what trails are in the area, see below. You can also go to www.mtbr.com for listings and reviews of trails throughout the country with their skill levels. Local bike shops also have lots of information about trails and group rides.

Keeping your kids excited: When mountain biking with children, it’s important to start out small and not to push them to hard. Make sure, above all, that they’re having fun. If they are, they’re much more likely to purse the activity and keep going at it. Also, if you know the trail well and you know your kid can handle it, let him/her lead the way for a little bit!

Some local trails:
- Boulder Creek Path/Canyon Trail (paved/gravel)
- Bobolink Trail (mostly gravel)
- Marshall Mesa trail system (doubletrack/singletrack)
- Flatirons Vista (smooth singletrack)
- Betasso Preserve (technical singletrack)
- Heil Ranch (technical singletrack)
- Hall Ranch (technical singletrack)

World-class destinations within striking distance of Boulder include Moab, Fruita, Steamboat Springs, and Crested Butte. Check out an Avid4 Family Trip to any of these premier destinations.

Tsvi Bieler is a great new addition to the team at Avid4 Adventure. He is an avid mountain biker, snowboarder, and all-around outdoor enthusiast.