Cyclo cross events are pretty unique in that they offer an Under 8 category all the way up to Veteran 50+. So everyone in the family can join in from Granny to your youngest kid! Kids can start racing from a pretty young age – the youngest competitor in the Solent Pirates is four years old.
Some races will require British Cycling Membership or a race licence but the majority of non-competitive races for kids won’t require a licence. If in doubt check out the British Cycling website for further details
While you don’t need to be a member of a club to enter races, it can be a good idea. It’s a great way of getting more involved in the community and will mean that your kids will see familiar faces at the start line and quite probably entertain themselves for the remainder of the day while the rest of the family are racing. They have a great time and you get to ride, it’s win win. To find your local club check out British Cycling
The cyclo-cross season runs from September to January. There are events all over the country most weekends. Check out where your nearest cyclo cross event is here.
Also worth a read:
How to: Take your family cycling without killing each other
Time in the saddle makes me a better mum
How to buy a second hand kid’s bike
