Moms Vibe: Mountain Biking with Kids
By Marci Lutsky
Goodbye ski season, hello biking season! We just wrapped another incredible ski season and as the temperature has finally started to warm up here in New Jersey, we dusted off our bikes. We are a biking family. On most days my kids and I ride bikes to school along the bike path and then I continue on my road bike towards Ocean City or Longport. While I love road biking, I have fallen in love with mountain biking. Yes New Jersey is flat, but there are some fantastic spots to explore with kids who enjoy mountain biking.
I recently joined a great group on Facebook called Atlantic County MTB. They organize youth rides on Wednesday nights all around the area including the Egg Harbor Township Nature Reserve and Estell Manor. The group is organized by Jason Cooke and meets at 6pm. Jason leads the group of kids along the trails. We met up with the group last week at the EHT Nature Reserve and rode with a total of 13 kids between the ages of 6 and 14. The trails at the Nature Reserve range from easy to moderate. The program teaches kids about shifting gears and helps them build confidence while pedaling up hills and through sand. Parents are encouraged to stay and ride along with the group. This was ideal for my husband and I because we had the opportunity to learn about new trails at the Nature Reserve while meeting other families with similar interests to ours.
Another great place to go mountain biking is Batsto Village which is part of Wharton State Forest. We spent Earth Day on the trails there. My twins are 7 and we did the 5.5 mile Firetower loop with them which was completely flat. My son loves the steep hills while my daughter likes a flatter terrain so this trail is ideal for her. All of the bike trails there begin at the back of the Batsto Village Visitor Center parking lot. If you go mountain biking or hiking at Batsto Village with your kids, check out the Nature Center to see what kinds of kids crafts they are doing that day.
So why do we enjoy mountain biking? The nice thing about mountain biking is that you don’t have to deal with cars or people on the bike path looking at their phone (big pet peeve!). It also really gets you close to nature. There is something so peaceful about riding your bike through the woods, listening to the sounds of nature while observing vegetation and wildlife.
If you are thinking about taking up mountain biking, what do you need to get started? You will need a bike with gears. Having the ability to change gears is extremely helpful on uneven terrain. Before heading out you should make sure to have a helmet, water (multiple bottles are helpful or a backpack that you can carry water in), patch kit in case of a flat tire, spare bike tube, sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, first aid kit and snacks. If you are bored with riding along the boardwalk or bike path, consider taking up mountain biking. Your kids will love it!
Marci Lutsky is a local mom of seven year-old twins and can be reached at veggingattheshore@gmail.com.
