How the Right Bike,
Kit, and Support Can
A child’s life is full of milestones: learning to crawl, learning to walk, and, in our family, learning to ride a bike.
My daughter was born into a cycling household. While we never forced it on her, riding has become central to her life, just as it always has been to ours.
My own path on two wheels started relatively late. At age 20, I discovered I had an unexpected gift for cycling. Thanks to an amazingly supportive local cycling community, I quickly rose through the ranks to become a semi-professional rider, getting paid to compete around the world.
I’ve pinned a race number to my jersey on almost every continent, making lifelong friends and unforgettable memories along the way.
Even after stepping back from elite competition, I never stopped riding. The sense of freedom, accomplishment, confidence, and resilience—not to mention pure fun—makes cycling a gift that keeps on giving.
So when my daughter began showing an interest in bikes, we were thrilled to take her for a ride. Halfords proved to be the perfect partner for every stage of our journey.
Despite my years of competitive experience, family cycling was entirely new territory. I knew very little about child seats, trailers, or rear mounts. Being able to visit our local store, get hands-on with the equipment, and receive expert advice on the safest options for my precious cargo was invaluable.
When the time came for her to move on to her own two wheels, finding the right bike for her size and ability was crucial. Halfords is great at helping families choose the correct wheel size, and encouraging you to pop back in anytime for free adjustments as little ones grow gives total peace of mind.
Our family’s cycling path hasn't been completely plain sailing. Learning to ride comes with the usual wobbles and minor spills—moments where I’ve held my breath and watched through my fingers.
The hardest part for me was learning to let go. Like any parent, watching your child take risks and worrying about crashes is tough. But my daughter has turned out to be far braver than either of her parents. She has tried almost every cycling discipline imaginable and fallen in love with all of them.
Having a Halfords nearby meant an unexpected growth spurt or a flat tyre on an unusual wheel size never ruined a planned weekend ride.
Now, as she enters her teenage years, a new chapter has begun. There’s been a shift in our ride order: I’m still cycling behind her, but no longer by choice. It’s purely down to performance.
Realising your 12-year-old can out-sprint, out-climb, and out-descend you is a bittersweet moment. I’m bursting with pride at the rider she’s becoming, even if it's a little bittersweet to see how fast she’s growing up. "Fast" being the operative word—she really is becoming rapid on a bike.
After a decade-long hiatus from racing, our family is back on the competitive scene. Only this time, it’s my daughter standing on the start line.
While keeping every ride fun remains our main priority, her progression means investing in performance-level equipment. She has outgrown all the children’s ranges and now wears bigger shoes than I do—but she hasn’t outgrown Halfords.
Their lineup includes serious performance machines like the Boardman SLR 8.9 Carbon Women’s Road Bike. Built with a lightweight C7 carbon frame and precise Shimano Tiagra groupset, it delivers high speed and responsiveness that looks right at home on any start line.
She’s still growing, but this frame will easily carry her through the next few seasons. As for me? I think it’s my turn to visit Halfords—this time for an e-bike, just so I stand a chance of keeping up with my daughter.
Whilst in the past, riding for me was focused on performance, now I look deeper and realise it was never truly only about speed. There are health motivations - low-impact resistance for my muscles, cardiovascular fitness. There’s the mental health side - endorphins, adrenaline, de-loading. There’s wanting to show my daughters that cycling is a sport they can build a home in. There’s the fact that cycling takes so many forms - it can get you to your destination, or take you far away from the mundane and the daily tasks and the to-do lists. And, there’s also the great outdoors. Plus, riding downhill fast is always fun.
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“It’s about having kit that fits properly and feels comfortable. No child will enjoy riding if they’re hindered by a bike that’s too heavy.”
Including her first balance bike, she’s outgrown seven or eight bikes between the ages of two and twelve. As for helmets, shoes, and protective pads, I’ve lost count.
It can feel like a constant shopping trip, but loving the sport isn't about having the most expensive gear on the market—it’s about having kit that fits properly and feels comfortable.
No child will enjoy riding if they’re hindered by a bike that’s too heavy, a helmet that tilts to one side, or knee pads that keep slipping down. That’s enough to make an adult quit, let alone a young rider still mastering the basics.
