Trips for Kids

I finally got out on a Trips For Kids ride here in Tucson.

We met in Saguaro National Park, and after a pep / trail etiquette talk from Jon Shouse, the kids grabbed (borrowed) bikes and were off down the trail.

A few wanted to ride fast, so we blasted out some twisty trail off the front. And not just any trail, but the first piece of singletrack ever opened to mountain bikes in a National Park — the Cactus Forest Trail.

I had a hunch that I could generate some excitement by finding a suitable jump.

Sessioning time! And photo geeking! At one point I was taking pics with two cameras simultaneously as everyone took runs at the jump.

Flying off a water bar.

No feet descending is better than no hands, I guess!

Coming back up for another run.

Avery has some serious skills. I didn’t get a good pic of him jumping, but he knows how to jump and carve the bike better than most mountain bikers I know. It was really fun to follow and watch him ride the outside edge of berms/ruts.

Krista is “The Pro” to the kids, here looking very serious! They are so fascinated by her race bike, and eager to learn bike handling tips.

Since the Cactus Forest Trail is a small trail trapped by closed-to-bikes trails and wilderness, I never get to ride it. Definitely a rare treat to ride singletrack in the park.

Anyone having any fun?

Getting kids out on mountain bikes is such a good idea. I couldn’t help but be taken back to when I learned to ride trails, which was was pretty much at the same age as these kids. Their enthusiasm, so many of the things they said and the way they rode reminded me of how fun, healthy and liberating it was, even then. I guess that’s why I never stopped…

A little carnage!

I remember that part of learning to ride too.

I hope to make another Trips for Kids ride. They are always looking for volunteer ride leaders. Check out the info here:

http://www.tripsforkidsaz.org/Trips_for_Kids_Southern_Arizona/Volunteers.html

Seeing these kids having a blast, on bikes, in a National Park really drove home the point that we need more kid and beginner friendly trails, in National Parks especially. There was a park employee at the event who said just as much. She said attitudes are changing, and hopefully the Park Service will sometime join the 1990’s and realize that people riding bikes through parks is 100% compatible with the mission of the NPS. It would sure be nice for AZT riders to stay on dirt, rather than the busy/dangerous pavement (Old Spanish Trail) they are forced onto now.