Cycling tips from the founder of RideAus

Did anyone else catch cycling fever when the UCI came to town? My family certainly did.

To gain insights into the sport, I asked a local expert, Dan Irwin, owner and operater of RideAus, for tips to encourage little ones to hop on a bike.

Tell us about RideAus and coaching kids in the community.

RideAus, launched and operated by me, has been in operation since 2014 across several MTB facilities, venues and clubs in NSW. We provide mountain bike skills to all ages and abilities, with a strong focus on the youth sector, where we create safe and progressive sessions for riders. These clinics allow young riders to develop their confidence and increase their enjoyment with individually tailored sessions.

We have five staff circulating across various sites but our home base, supported by the local club, is in Helensburgh. RideAus caters for youth development for ages five to 15. From that point, riders can engage the adult skills structure for mountain biking, where a variety of disciplines, skill levels, and venues are utilised to provide a high quality of instruction and experience.

RideAus also specialises in athlete development and E-MTB skills-based sessions.

What age do you recommend kids should start riding a bike?

We like to gauge this one on the child’s willingness to ride and balance outside of a bike or any wheeled toy they may have. Generally, two-and-a-half to three-year-olds can navigate a balance bike quite well. If they are showing a keen eye for wheels, introduce a balance bike slowly and positively.

What types of bikes do you recommend for kids?

We highly recommend balance bikes with a hand-operated rear brake. These are great to introduce at a young age and you can teach the safety mechanism of braking quite early. For those that take some time to develop strength or mobility for balance, training wheels may be required but we encourage independent balance as much as possible whilst ensuring the child is having fun, staying safe and a positive learning space is available.

What should you look for in a first bike for kids?

Appropriately sized helmets and bikes for the child – first and foremost. Make sure that controls that are set up are easily reached by the child, and the tyre pressure is set for the young rider. Remember these young rippers are super light and don’t need much air in those tyres. The mantra "squishy like an orange" is a great starting point.

Any tips for teaching your child to ride a bike?

Keep your tone positive; riding is fun. Keep it simple, encourage riders to keep their eyes up, to scan the terrain ahead for them to navigate safely. Set them little balance challenges occasionally, this will fuel their confidence to be in control, regardless of speed or obstacles.

What are the benefits of bike riding for kids?

Cycling is a great form of transport and an amazing family activity for all to enjoy on the weekends. It is an awesome outdoor activity that has been shown to assist children’s increased focus in the classroom. It’s also a great way to connect other sports, such as riding or tennis, or to plan adventures like riding to the beach.

Cycling draws communities and friend circles closer together as the social exposure of riding your local cycle path and meeting others at a close-by park has incredible value, to not only the children but the parents also. What better way to engage in the basics of health, well-being and great psychological stimulation – ‘Ride your bicycle in the wilderness'. It’s all about having fun, and we aim to ensure that each young person’s experience with RideAus is a positive and rewarding experience, fuelling a life-long recreational hobby.

Learn more about RideAus via the website.

Dan also runs bicycle service and repair shop Fornix Wheels at Helensburgh Business Park