{"id":123246,"date":"2026-06-18T20:10:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T20:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/18\/my-six-year-old-rode-to-school-without-me\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T20:10:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T20:10:10","slug":"my-six-year-old-rode-to-school-without-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/18\/my-six-year-old-rode-to-school-without-me\/","title":{"rendered":"My Six Year Old Rode to School Without Me"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>All of a sudden, I am obsolete.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\">Pride and freedom.<!-- --> (Photo: Brian Park)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Published June 18, 2026 02:10PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>A few weeks ago, my six year old rode to school without me. Or rather, without my help.<\/p>\n<p>We wake up like usual, make breakfast like usual, and get out the door in chaos like usual. It\u2019s bike to school day so I leave extra time for the many distractions the bike path provides: big bugs, cool sticks, lost bears, stinky dog poos.<\/p>\n<p>We set off for school, and I think to myself, \u201cwhat happens if I don\u2019t tell him he needs to shift into a harder gear?\u201d He shifts. \u201cWhat happens if I don\u2019t tell him to stop at this trail intersection?\u201d He stops and looks both ways. I am shocked. \u201cWhat if I don\u2019t push him on the final big hill before school?\u201d You see where this is going. He stands up and pedals himself all the way to school with no input from me at all.<\/p>\n<p>All of a sudden I am obsolete.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_989635\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img alt=\"A child rides on a bike path.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-989635\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kidsbike2-720x480.jpg?width=750&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kidsbike2-720x480.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kidsbike2-720x480.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">Riding to school.<\/span> (Photo: Brian Park)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My own father didn\u2019t get to teach me to ride. My cousin decided when I was five that he was tired of waiting for me. He put me on an old bike and pushed me down a hill in the orchard repeatedly until I stopped tumbling over. The family story goes that my dad was walking back to our house from the neighbour\u2019s place when all of a sudden I just pedalled past him on a bike\u2014to his surprise and dismay.<\/p>\n<p>While my dad was robbed of that rite of passage, he played a huge role in my love of cycling. He let me ride his 1998 Rocky Mountain Fusion (with parallel-push Shimano LX vee brakes!), he offered my free floor-sweeping services to <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedombikeshop.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Freedom Bike Shop<\/a> in the next town over when I turned 13, and he drove me up there every Saturday for years until I got my license. We rode bikes together, but he left me the space for it to be my thing. I am so grateful he identified mountain biking as something I clicked with and supported me endlessly in it.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_989639\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img alt=\"Family photo of Brian on a bike.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-989639\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/brian-childhood-bike-720x480.jpg?width=750&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/brian-childhood-bike-720x480.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/brian-childhood-bike-720x480.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">I am old enough that my childhood photos were on film. Get your kid a good helmet!<\/span> (Photo: Brian Park)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_989643\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img alt=\"1998 Rocky Mountain Fusion\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-989643\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1998-rocky-mountain-fusion-720x480.jpg?width=750&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1998-rocky-mountain-fusion-720x480.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1998-rocky-mountain-fusion-720x480.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">I commandeered my dad\u2019s Rocky Mountain Fusion long before it fit me.<\/span> (Photo: Rocky Mountain Bicycles)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thinking back on how my father supported my passions, maybe I\u2019m not obsolete after all.<\/p>\n<p>Cycling might not be my kid\u2019s thing. I don\u2019t know what he will click with. But I know what kind of parent I want to be. Even if he wants to be a <a target=\"_self\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.triathlete.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">triathlete<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_989640\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img alt=\"A child rides over a small jump.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-989640\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kidsbike1-720x480.jpg?width=750&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kidsbike1-720x480.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kidsbike1-720x480.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">Making sketchy jumps out of piles of sticks is an important rite of passage.<\/span> (Photo: Brian Park)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Cheat Sheet: Getting Your Kid Into Cycling<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400\" aria-level=\"1\">Watch Pinkbike &amp; Ben Cathro\u2019s video series: <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OIsgiRgUhXw&amp;list=PLQCfPUTFFOkmpnisQIYTAGc1P4ljU7AtJ&amp;index=6\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Get Your Kids Into Biking<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Use a\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/kidsrideshotgun.com\/products\/shotgun-pro-kids-mtb-seat\" rel=\"noopener\">Kids Ride Shotgun<\/a> or <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/mac-ride.com\/products\/black-mac-ride-child-bike-seat\" rel=\"noopener\">Mac Ride seats<\/a> on your own bike to get kids used to a riding position (people accuse KRS of stealing the design, but there are similar products that predate both).<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400\" aria-level=\"1\">Start them on a <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-afl-p=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/competitivecyclist.g39l.net\/c\/2850304\/368279\/5416?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.competitivecyclist.com%2Fstrider-12-sport-balance-bike-kids\">balance bike<\/a>, we don\u2019t ever recommend training wheels.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400\" aria-level=\"1\"><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-afl-p=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.avantlink.com\/click.php?tt=cl&amp;mi=23773&amp;pw=357617&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fprevelo.com%2Fproducts%2Fzulu-one&amp;website_id=357617\">Prevelo<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-afl-p=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/cread.php?awinmid=91079&amp;awinaffid=1152355&amp;campaign=&amp;clickref=&amp;clickref2=&amp;clickref3=&amp;clickref4=&amp;clickref5=&amp;clickref6=&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwoom.com%2Fen_US%2Fproducts%2Fgo-4-kids-bike%3Fvariant%3Dvibrant-yellow&amp;platform=pl\">Woom<\/a> kids bikes are currently the best for younger kids (Prevelo are tough and have good MTB geometry, Wooms are lightweight and city-focused). Both are expensive, but have good resale value. It\u2019s also worth checking the <a target=\"_self\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinkbike.com\/buysell\/list\/?category=4\" rel=\"noopener\">Pinkbike BuySell<\/a> or Facebook marketplace for used ones.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400\" aria-level=\"1\">The <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-afl-p=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/jenson.sjv.io\/c\/2850304\/989438\/13009?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jensonusa.com%2Fixs-trigger-ff-mips-helmet\">iXS Trigger FF<\/a> in size XS is the smallest good full face helmet I could find. Not cheap, but I like my kid\u2019s face.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400\" aria-level=\"1\"><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/towwhee.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">TowWhee<\/a> or Kids Ride Shotgun bungee straps are amazing for when your kid runs out of energy or wants to come on a bigger ride. Cheap bungee cords and old inner tube works fine too, although the purpose-built straps are safer and easier to use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- --><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/urban\/urban-culture\/my-six-year-old-rode-to-school-without-me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All of a sudden, I am obsolete. Pride and freedom. (Photo: Brian Park) Published June 18, 2026 02:10PM A few weeks ago, my six year old rode to school without me. Or rather, without my help. We wake up like usual, make breakfast like usual, and get out the door in chaos like usual. It\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":123247,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123246"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123246"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123246\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123247"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}