Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association - Forums

We're gonna try to do something for this date. I'm thinking we could rent the pavilion at Livezey for this:

For the fifth consecutive year, IMBA will be providing support, schwag and publicity for clubs that host “Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day” events. This year’s celebration will be held on Oct. 4, 2008—with help from Schwinn, Smartwool, CLIF Organic ZBar and Trips for Kids. Participating is as simple as organizing a kid’s ride in your area. IMBA even has an handy online guide to help you (or your organization) plan and organize your event.

IMBA says that more details on this year’s event will be announced soon, and promises that Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day 2008 will be bigger and better than ever. Last year’s celebration included events in Chiba City, Japan; Melbourne, Australia; and Chiluca, Mexico. More than 100 groups registered their rides on IMBA’s website. Click here for more information about last year’s Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day.

Here's a link with more info:
http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/11_07/11_05_kid_mtb_day.html (http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/11_07/11_05_kid_mtb_day.html)

I was thinking about how to include kids after Saturday's clinics. I remember this last year but forgot about it. 

How much does it cost and how do we get the Pavilion? And if is taken already I think there are a couple of other locations like Northwestern where they allow you to 'rent' the area for picnics and such.

Ive seen this event in action and its impressive. Count me in, especially since my four year old rode around the block today without her training wheels. She did great. Wathing a kid ride a bike is a special thing.

Dave

Yea I think this will be great. I've contacted Trips for Kids and signed up on their site and registered our group cause I think that is the first step. I will let you know more details as I get them. Kel is going to call and see about the date tomorrow so we can get a jump on reserving the pavilion.

I think Dave Haberstroh is the director for the Philly chapter. Isnt he a PMBA member?

We organized this at the last minute (big surprise) last year and IMBA sent me all their stuff. It's basically some instructional stuff and a bunch of number plates for the kids bikes. So I already have all that stuff here since we never held the event last year. I guess not having any kids didn't spur me to make sure it happened last year since nobody stepped up to the plate. Soooooo I'm glad some of us with kids are going to make this happen!

Count me in..  I am willing to help organize etc.   My 3 young Harris boys are already tearing up my driveway itching to ride..!  Plus they love hangin out with Crazy Uncle Lou and Uncle Paul and their mountain biking knucklehead crew.

This sounds great, need to figure out a course thats worthy.

K

:P

I agree - the hills and super rocky parts are tough for kids.. so it will be tough to find an good loop for the younger kids in the Wiss that isn't too technical, etc..  Demo 1 is great and I sometimes take my 6yr old on that a few times back and forth but it's a little short.  Any other ideas are welcome..  I know a friend that did a ride last Take a Kids day in Valley Forge / Betzwood and it was great for the younger kids as it's more flat and smoother...    We'll see and I'll keep an eye out on future rides. 

But for kids older than say like 10-12 they will be fine.. just have to have someone coach them so they don't get hurt and know what they are doing.

I recall Jesse saying that there is a way to turn up to the Wigard St. access trail from Demo #1 and then loop back to the demo #1 trail head at Wises Mill.

That would make it a loop, instead of back and forth, and I'd say two loops for sub 10-11 year olds might be enough. Plus if they are learning and honning new skills going over the same stuff couple of times is a good practice.

I think my schedule is open so far for Oct 4th, to hang around and help leading rides with kids.

dz

Yep, Wiggard road entrance has plenty of parking, some by the house and some at the entrance. The trail head leads right down into the last section of roly poly demo1, then go right, then the only hill is up the 'jumps'. Just after Tom's tabletop there is path to the right that leads to the Saul school field, and along the field path back to the start. I believe it is .6 miles.   You can also go down the hill more after the table top and cut right later to the field, and that loops is about .9 miles. And lastly you can go in along Henry Ave toward Wises Mill and take the top trail that leads right into Demo 1. Doing the whole loop is probably 1.5 miles with very few hills. All loops can be done backward. Just of note though, the longer Henry Ave trail is always overgrown. There is a path but we'd probably want to hit it with a couple of machetes first.

Ok Cool.. this sounds like good loop for the kids to start with.  - If the younger kids do 1 loop and want more they can do more...  I'm in.

Maybe we could probably get ice cream or something to that will make it more fun for the kids, or balloons or something, I don't know? .... something extra,  Steve would you mind wearing a giant purple panda suit?  Kids love that stuff.


 ::)

K

I wish my daughter was old enough to ride on this!

We have the Pavilion reserved for "Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day"

As I've been trying to set this up I wondered, what do we do about kids that don't have bikes? My question was answered on the following link. Please go here and read this tips. Thanks.

http://www.imba.com/resources/kids/10_tips.html (http://www.imba.com/resources/kids/10_tips.html)