The Luff Family Adventures

Introducing children to cycling at an early age can lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy habits and joyful experiences. This proactive approach not only fosters physical development but also instills confidence and a sense of adventure from the very beginning.

Research indicates the average age for children to learn to ride a bike ranges between 3 and 7 years old. Moreover, children who adopt active commuting methods, such as biking to school, are more likely to maintain these healthy habits as they grow older.

By integrating cycling into family routines early on, parents can nurture not only their children's physical health but also their independence and environmental awareness, setting the stage for a well-rounded and active lifestyle.

One such family are the Luffs, who live in the Waikato town of Te Awamutu, very centrally located for any number of activities. They are Dad (Blake), Mum (Nicola) Parker (2.5 years) and Charlie (7 months).

We asked Blake to tell us more about their family adventures, the importance of having the right gear, and a few tips for families keen to follow in their footsteps.

 

Photo: Parker rides Shotgun - Look Mum, one hand...

 

You’ve instilled a love of cycling in your children from the very beginning. What inspired you to introduce them to biking so early, and how has their journey on two wheels evolved?

Both Nicola and I were (a very, very long time ago) competitive athletes, with Nicola taking on Ironman events and myself in the Coast to Coast, as a result of this we both quite like riding our bikes! We love getting outside and having adventures and it is something we really wanted to expose our kids to.

We brought our first kids bike trailer when Parker was 6 months old and started with some easy trails. We also brought a ‘Kids ride Shotgun’ seat to get Parker used to riding and balancing too. Not long after Parker was born we decided to get him a bike for his first birthday (nothing like getting into it early). We chose a bike that started as a trike and then you can change the rear axle out to become a balance bike.

More recently Parker has joined the Hamilton BMX club, which has been awesome for his riding development. We are nervous for what happens next! He already likes riding in the forest in Rotorua and at Te Miro. Charlie has only just recently become big enough to ride in the trailer, but we have already tried him on some shorter rides to ease him into family adventures. Parker is currently learning to master pedals, brakes then lose training wheels on his first true pedal bike. Once he is onto this full time, Charlie will be on the trike to start his riding journey

 

Photo: Parker enjoying the trailer

 

Many parents might think cycling adventures with little ones are too challenging. What has helped make biking with young kids enjoyable and stress-free for your family?

While riding with kids can be challenging, preparation and having the right equipment makes a huge difference. You don’t want to bite off more than you can chew to start with. You can literally start by riding to a park locally and build from there. In the Waikato we are lucky enough to have a lot of cycle trails relatively close by, with lots of entry/exit points to start with small rides and then get bigger as needed.

As before, having the correct gear makes a big difference, and we also pack a range of snacks, drinks and have some token toys in the trailer. Parker is pretty solidly on the shotgun seat now, so he wears his own kids CamelBak with water and we carry snacks.

 

Photo: Parker loves his Camelbak to stay hydrated on his ride

 

What equipment do you use to ensure safe and comfortable rides for your little adventurers? Any must-haves or game-changers you’d recommend?

While Nicola and I both have a range of gear acquired over years of riding, the main thing is your points of contact (hands, feet, backside) as a parent and with the kids it’s dressing them appropriately (shoes, lots of thin layers). We all love wearing merino so we highly recommend that.

We also bring spare clothes with us, along with normal extras (nappies, wipes). We have also been very rigid in always having helmets on the kids (including the trailer), so that wearing one becomes second nature very young. We replace our helmets every couple of years, the NZ UV is very strong, so we make sure that we don’t have to suffer the consequences of having damaged helmets.

Our set up hasn’t changed much in the past two years, Nicola and I both ride ‘acoustic’ bikes (no electricity here!), and I have the shotgun seat on my bike, and I also tow the trailer. One thing we have upgraded is our trailer. Our initial trailer was great, but as we started doing more adventurous riding off road, not having suspension made it harder for Parker to fall asleep while riding.

We picked up our new trailer from Facebook Marketplace locally and it is great having suspension and a bigger gear carrier. There are some awesome products out there for kids now too. Parker uses a Kids ride Shotgun riding top because its windproof on the front.

Don’t be put off getting a trailer if your bike has a through axle, there are adapters for this and they work great. Head to your local bike shop and they can sort it out for you. For the shotgun seat I highly recommend getting a small plastic mudguard that fits onto the fork to stop small feet going between the forks and the tyre (we speak from personal experience!).

 

Photo: The Luffs exploring Section E from Matamata to Te Aroha

 

You’ve explored the Hauraki Rail Trail and beyond. Do you have a favourite ride or a most memorable moment as a family on the Trail?

Our favourite ride we have done (pre-Charlie) was the ‘Old Coach Road’ near Ohakune. This is a step up from a standard cycle trail but, was really enjoyable and achievable as a family. Our favourite ‘local’ section to ride is around Karangahake Gorge, having a tunnel, a train and gold-mining relics does wonders for the attention span of a toddler!

 

What do you love most about cycling as a family? How do these adventures bring you closer and create special memories?

Cycling is something that is achievable to do as a whole family, so it’s something we can do all together without someone taking off or someone being left behind. We have lot of photos of our cycling adventures and they are really cool to look back on. Even Parker can remember different aspects based off photos of some of the places we have ridden, and it unlocks specific memories for him too.

It’s also nice to explore NZ, we are fortunate to have so many cycle trails, mountain biking tracks and parks within arms reach (or a short drive). So making the most of those not only gets everyone outside, but also does wonders for building a strong family.

 

Photo: Charie and Parker take at rest at Victoria Battery

 

For parents wanting to start their own biking adventures with young kids, what tips or encouragement would you share?

Don’t be put off by one bad experience, they will happen, there will be tantrums and you will question everything about your decisions but persevere and keep at it. Start small, don’t decide to ride 100km on your first ride.

For Charlie’s first trailer experience, we rode a short section of the Te Awa River Trail with a break at the playground at the Hamilton Gardens, and then back to the car. Short and sweet, but enough for a taster, he fell asleep in the trailer so it must have been ok! Take snacks, as food is a great bribery tool.

 

A few fun Luff Family Top Tips…

Stop for a bite at…

The Refinery in Paeroa, it’s a cool spot in the town in a wicked old building, the coffee is great and the best bit for us was an epic kids lunchbox that was affordable and had a good variety of food (Dad was jealous).

Take a detour to…

Owharoa Falls, it’s close to the Hauraki Rail Trail and it’s always impressive! If you’re keen to stretch the legs, the ‘Windows Walk’ from Karangahake is worth it, bit of climbing at the start but its very achievable.

Don’t miss…

Café 77 in Manawaru. It’s a perfect distance from everywhere for a break. It even has a playhouse for kids!

Remember to pack…

Spares, of pretty much everything. We try and be as self sufficient as possible, tubes (including for the trailer), pump, multi tool, clothing, gloves, nappies. It makes the trailer a bit heavier but you’re prepared for everything.

Soothe tears and tantrums with…

Regular stops for food and drink. Take a treat food that you might not normally have, because bribes work. Finishing at a playground is always a welcome bonus for us.

 

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