Kids

Bikepacking the Colorado Trail with Kids

by Andy Amick

For several years, I wanted to take my boys out on the Colorado Trail, completing one segment at a time. This year, we started that journey by riding Segment 1. Our plan involved two nights of camping along the 17 miles from the Waterton Canyon trailhead to the South Platte River. We could have easily […]

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Watching Your Kids Push Their Limits

by Andy Amick

One of the best things in life is watching your child accomplish a task they deem impossible. Of course, it’s even better when that something involves a bike. Earlier this summer, my 12 year old son and I headed out for an overnight bikepacking trip. While we rode the trails toward Chatfield State Park (the same […]

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Can You Balance Being A Dad And A Dreamer?

by Andy Amick

“You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one” How does one manage to be a good dad while also having their own dreams of adventures? That’s a question I struggle with often. It’s one that has really given me issues over the past month as the Tour Divide 2015 race got […]

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3 Ways To Enjoy Bikepacking With Kids

by Andy Amick

When talking of bikepacking, I think it was Paul Revere that said “one if by tag-a-long, two if by trailer”. Well, maybe not, but that’s a good strategy for sharing the world of bikepacking with young kids. My kids and I have been bikepacking together since they were three years old. The trips have been single […]

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Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day

by Andy Amick

Mountain biking is a wonderful thing.  It’s even better when you can share it with your kids.  This Saturday, October 5th is IMBA’s ‘Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day‘. Bring The Kids has a good post that goes into more detail on why IMBA created Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day.  For Saturday, IMBA’s interactive map shows […]

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Helping A Strong Willed Child Ride A Bike

by Andy Amick

Notice how the title does not start with “Teaching”.  With a strong willed, stubborn, independent child, it’s more about helping than teaching. There are plenty of online resources such as REI and Bicycling.com  for teaching a kid to ride a bike.  It’s all laid out with step by step instructions.  However, some kids don’t like […]

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Action – The Key To Great Experiences

by Andy Amick

Sometimes, the best decision is simply taking action rather than doing nothing at all.  As Wayne Gretzky said, “100% of the shots you don’t take, won’t go in”.  Do we know what tomorrow or even the next minute brings?  Nope.  But if you don’t try something new, you can guarantee that it won’t involve the adventures […]

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Bikepacking With Kids? Yes You Can

by Andy Amick

Don’t let people tell you that you can’t go bikepacking with kids. You can. They certainly can. And it’s fun! Taking your child out on the trail presents a few challenges, but there are many more positives than negatives.  Here are three things to keep in mind when planning a bikepacking trip with younger kids. […]

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Tanya Koob Explores The Canadian Rockies

by Andy Amick

In early 2012, I came across Tanya’s blog Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies as I was looking at stories of other parents taking their kids on outdoor trips.  My kids and I get out on a regular basis, but nothing like Tanya and her family.  Almost every weekend, they are out hiking, camping, SUPing, […]

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Happy Friday – Labor Day Edition

by Andy Amick

Happy Friday!  It’s the start of a long Labor Day weekend and it’s still blazing hot here in the Denver area.  It won’t be long until Fall is here, but for now we can enjoy a few more hot days.  By the time you read this, I’m hoping to be out on the trail for […]

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