Biking on Minnesota Trails with Kids

  1. Keeping it fun. Sometimes we ride really slow and walk up some slopes, and that’s fine. We take snacks, water and sometimes a treat!
  2. Keeping it safe. We always wear helmets. We follow trail instructions, aoid paths alongside auto traffic, use bike lights when we ride later in the evenings and carry tube replacement kits in case of a puncture.
  3. Keeping it respectful. The trails are for all to enjoy. We always try to remember trail etiquette like yielding to pedestrians, “coming on your left”, etc.
  4. Keeping it clean. We always take our trash with us. Goal is to leave every site we visit the same or better than we found it.
  5. Keeping it working. We perform a quick check of tires, brakes, and chain before each ride (A= Air, B= Brakes, C= chain), and perform periodic maintenance on the bikes.
  6. Keeping it comfy. Weather can change unexpectedly and ruin the ride. In spring and fall we carry a backpack with hats (go under helmets), gloves, rain jackets.
  7. Keeping it current. Trails change, close, detour. We check if any official website info before heading out.

Did we forget anything important? Any suggestions?