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Make cycling with your kids your 2025 New Years resolution

Happy New Year from Cycle Sprog!

If you’ve chosen cycling with your kids as your 2025 New Year’s resolution, we’re here to help you every step of the way!

As the go-to source for family cycling advice for over 13 years, Cycle Sprog has everything you need to make cycling with your children a success. Whether you’re after practical tips for cycling with your child on board, guidance on finding the perfect kids’ bike, or recommendations for helmets and accessories, we’ve got you covered.

Cycling with kids – whether it’s a weekend adventure or the daily school run – is a fantastic way to stay active, strengthen bonds, and make unforgettable memories together. Even cycling during the colder months, cycling can be fun and rewarding! We’ve got plenty of tips to help you navigate winter cycling with kids, along with advice on why getting outside in January is a great idea.

To make it easy for you to get started, we’ve rounded up all our top articles packed with advice for parents. You can dive straight in from start to finish or jump to the section that suits your needs best.

Article contents:

a family cycling by the river on a winter day along a river, the two children are wearing colourful helmets and clothes and are looking at the camera while their dad cycles
our woom off 4 reviewer Zack riding his bike while wearing a green helmet and a warm blue jacket outside his school

Practical advice to get started

Before you set off on your cycling journey, it’s worth taking a moment to get prepared. Starting out as a family can be an exciting adventure, but with so many options available, it’s important to find what works best for you.

If one of your goals this year is to drive less, why not try cycling the school run? It’s a great way to spend quality time together in the mornings and afternoons while avoiding traffic and saving money on fuel. Our guide to cycling to school with kids has everything you need to get started.

For parents with babies or toddlers, there are plenty of ways to bring them along for the ride, from bike seats to trailers or cargo bikes. Take a look at our guide to cycling with babies and toddlers to explore your options and choose what suits your family best.

If your child is still too young to pedal independently, our article on how to start cycling with a small child provides all the details on using bike seats, trailers, or cargo bikes, so you can find the perfect setup to get started.

a mum in a pink shirt is riding in a park on a sunny day with her baby in a front thule yepp 2 mini seat
A boy in a raincoat and waterproof trousers rides his balance bike through a puddle

Worried about the winter weather? Don’t let it stop you! Our winter cycling with kids guide is full of practical tips to help your family enjoy riding all year round, no matter the conditions.

Finally, if your child is hesitant to get on their bike, don’t worry- you’re not alone. Check out our post, why doesn’t my child want to ride their bike? for insights into common obstacles and how to overcome them. With the right support, you’ll be riding together in no time.

Helmets and safety

Safety is often the top priority for parents when cycling with kids, and understandably so. The riding conditions you’ll encounter will depend on where you live and the infrastructure available to you. Planning a safe and enjoyable route is key, and there’s plenty of advice to help you get started. Check out our where to ride guides and use tools like Sustrans’ Route Finder to discover family-friendly routes in your area.

One common question is, should my child wear a bike helmet? If you decide they should, it’s essential to ensure it fits properly. Start by learning how to measure your child’s head for a helmet, then follow our tips in is your child’s bike helmet fitted correctly? to make sure it’s secure and comfortable.

Once you’re confident about fit, finding the right helmet is the next step. Our round-up of the best bike helmets for kids will help you choose a high-quality option that’s well worth the investment. With the right preparation, you can focus on enjoying the ride while keeping everyone safe.

a dad and daughter on a bike ride smiling

Buying a kids’ bike

If your child needs a new bike, we strongly recommend investing in a good-quality one. At Cycle Sprog, we’ve seen far too many bike-shaped toys that aren’t built to last and often break within weeks- or even days- of being unboxed. While it might be tempting to go for the cheapest option, it’s worth considering why you shouldn’t buy a really cheap kids’ bike. A well-made bike will not only last longer but also provide a much better and safer riding experience for your child.

a little girl on a red, Kidvelo balance bike
A girl in a school uniform, standing next to her bike, smiling, with a helmet dangling from the handlebar

If you want your child to enjoy cycling long term, then buying them one of the best kids’ bikes is a surefire way to achieve that, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. We’ve got some great advice on buying a second-hand kids bike that will help you find the perfect set of wheels for great value, or you could look at leasing options.

For more useful advice, check out 12 things you need to know before buying a kids’ bike, and above all else, make sure it fits them properly! We’ve got a simple and useful article about how to easily measure your child for a new bike that can guide you through the process. Finally, if you order your child’s bike online, we’ve got a handy guide to how to assemble a kids’ bike out of the box for a stress-free setup.

A woman holds a book above her son's head as she measures his height against a wall
Two twin girls laughing and smiling in a bike trailer

Reviews

We’ve covered everything you need to know about getting started with cycling as a family, from practical tips to advice on choosing the right bike. Hopefully, you’re now feeling more confident about the options available and might even have an idea of the setup that’s best for you.

As family cycling experts, we’ve spent years testing and reviewing a wide range of products designed to help parents cycle with their children. This means we can confidently recommend what works well- and help you avoid what doesn’t- so you can focus on enjoying your cycling journey together.

Accessories and carrying kids by bike

Here’s all the buying advice you could possibly need if you’re planning to pull your precious cargo along, we’ve rounded up the best kids bike trailers, as well as the best tagalongs for pulling a child behind your bike.

If you prefer the idea of having your co-pilot up front with you, then check out our recommendations for the best front bike seats for toddlers and young children. We’ve also got a similar guide for best front mounted seats for older kids.

Two parents cycling side by side, one with a trailer and one with a child on a tagalong
Box bike with four children

If you’re more of a fan of having your little one sitting behind you, then you can find all the guidance you need in best rear bike seats for toddlers and small children and best rear bike seats for older kids.

Finally we shouldn’t forget about cargo bikes! They’ve seen a huge surge in popularity lately, and for good reason. We’ve got a lot of great guides to help you choose the best cargo bike type for your family, as well as a full guide to the best electric longtail cargo bikes.

Starting a cycling journey with your kids isn’t just a fantastic New Year’s resolution- it’s also a commitment to a healthier, more active lifestyle and to spending quality time together. With the advice and expertise we’ve shared, we hope you’re feeling ready to get 2025 off to a great start.

If there’s something you think we’ve missed or you have your own tips to share with other parents, we’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below, tag us in your family cycling adventures using @cyclesprog on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X, and don’t forget to join the Family Cycling UK group for support and inspiration from a community of like-minded families.

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