Sponsored Post¦ Did you know that Sudocrem has been around for 90 years this year? Anyone who has children knows of this staple product and its amazing abilities. From healing nappy rash, to soothing cuts and grazes and helping acne, there are so many uses. To celebrate their 90th birthday, this Easter Sudocrem are encouraging us to all get on our bikes to help premature baby charity, Ickle Pickles!
Cycle More challenge
The challenge is to cycle 90km – but don’t worry, it’s very flexible! You can all cycle 90km together as a family, for instance, or add up the kilometers you’ve each cycled until they total 90km. This can be done over a day, a week or a month. It’s completely up to you and what you can manage!
Ickle Pickles
Ickle Pickles support babies born prematurely or have a condition requiring intensive or specialist care. They raise funds for the intensive care equipment, such as incubators and ventilators, that keep these babies alive. It’s easy to set up your fundraising account for people to sponsor you at Virgin Money Giving.
Family Cycling Tips
To help you on your way, Cycling UK have put together some family cycling tips in support of this campaign:
1. Make sure you have the right bike
Children grow fast so before going out riding for the first time check the bike is still the right size for them and adjust the saddle height if needed to allow them to extend their legs fully. If the bike is still too small for them, it may be time to buy a new bike.
Most bike shops will be able to advise on the right size bike frames for children and if you worried that a new bike would cost a fortune, you can often pick up a good quality second-hand bike from a bike recycling centre or from trusted online forums like the one run by Cycling UK. You can find out more here Buying the right bike for your child | Cycling UK
2. Watch how to do it
There are lots of resources online encouraging children to cycle. Cycling UK has produced this video How to cycle with your family during the coronavirus crisis | Cycling UK on how to teach your family the skills to go out on a family bike ride packed with lots of tips covering everything from the best position for an adult to ride with children and where to go.
3. Practice in the garden or a local park
Don’t be too ambitious and start small. Set a target and get your child used to feeling comfortable mounting and dismounting the bike and then build up to cycling from one tree to another and work on getting them used to stopping and turning around.
4. Short and simple
When your child is first learning to ride a bike, it is better to practice little and often rather than spending a long time trying to teach them so they end up becoming bored, frustrated or tired. Around half an hour is probably enough for a little one, but children are different, so you’ll probably pick up the signals when its time to take a break from the bike
5. Plan your route
Before setting off on a ride, spend a bit of time planning your route. Stick to quiet local roads, cycle paths or traffic-free routes. Cycling UK has a journey planner tool on its website which allows you to find a route Journey Planner | Cycling UK that will suit everyone in the family.
6. Wear the right clothing
Your kids should wear whatever they feel comfortable in, although overly baggy or long clothing is probably not ideal. For the same reason, make sure your child’s shoelaces are tied up tight before going on a ride so they don’t get tangled up in the chain or the wheels.
7. Bring a snack
If you are going for a longer ride than your child is used to, remember to bring some liquids to stay hydrated and a few small, easy-to-carry snacks to keep their energy levels up during the trip.
8. Eyes ahead
Remind children to keep their head up and looking at what’s in front of them when they are moving. There’s no need to look down at your feet peddling, they’ll take care of themselves.
9. Convoy time
If you are riding with more than one child, put the oldest or most confident child at the front and younger ones in the middle. As the adult ride slightly behind your children so you can keep an eye on them and point out any potential hazards. Encourage them to be aware of their surroundings.
10. Have fun
Don’t forget, riding as a family should be about fun. Take your time and let your youngsters discover a love of cycling for themselves. This is a family activity which can give years of pleasure and quality time together doing something that keeps you all healthy, so with spring coming up now is a great time to get out riding.
Remember, if you get any cuts or scrapes, Sudocrem will help it heal! So, what are you waiting for? Time to get on your bike!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Sudocrem.