Summer holidays are always a special time for family adventures. As an avid cyclist, my son has often watched me head out on long rides, curious about what it’s like to spend hours on the bike. This year, he told me he wanted to experience a long ride himself.
I planned the ride over the weekend, making sure it would be traffic-free so he could enjoy cycling without too many stops or distractions. After considering a few options, we chose the Caledon Trailway—a beautiful, scenic path stretching from Terra Cotta to Palgrave, ON. To start, we picked Inglewood for its close proximity to coffee shops and local bike stores. It’s perfect for a first long ride, with smooth sections and plenty of nature to enjoy along the way.
We had only finalized the plan the day before, and he couldn’t stop asking questions about where we were going and what to expect. To ensure we were ready for the distance, I suggested going to bed early so our legs would be fresh and energized. Normally, he and his younger brother put up a fight at bedtime, dragging things out with tantrums—but to my surprise, he went to bed without a fuss, clearly excited for the adventure ahead.
Morning came, and he woke up buzzing with excitement. The first thing out of his mouth: “When are we leaving?” I filled our water bottles, loaded up my bike and his Spider-Man bike, and off we went.
The morning air was perfect—not too hot, with the sun shining and birds singing. The trail was alive with summer energy—families strolling, cyclists zooming past, and trees lining both sides, providing welcome shade. Since we had forgotten mosquito repellent, we kept moving to avoid bites. Along the way, we passed a lively pond full of croaking frogs, while birds provided a cheerful soundtrack.
A section of construction near Hwy 410 slowed us for a moment, but he hopped off, pushed his bike up the hill, and walked back down with a grin. Curious, he asked why I didn’t get off my bike and how I managed to climb so easily. I explained—breaking it down for him—that my bike has multiple gears, which make steep hills easier to conquer. Immediately, he exclaimed, “I want one too!”
By the 5k mark, I wasn’t sure how he’d handle the ride or how his energy would hold up. Secretly, I hoped he might want to turn back—but he was determined. “Dad, let’s go further!” he said. We kept adding small increments, and by the time we returned to Inglewood, we had completed an incredible 10k ride.
We hopped off our bikes and stopped at the nearby Wolf Cafe, celebrating like true champions—an ice cream cone for him, coffee and a feta croissant for me. We chatted about the ride, laughed about the croaking frogs, recounted our favorite moments, and already started planning our next adventure. I felt deeply grateful—not just for the distance we’d covered, but for the journey we’d shared. I was so proud of his determination and strength.
P.S. Just two days after his first 10k ride, he went out with his mom for a 20k ride. The fact that he’s just 6, combined with his curiosity and love for cycling, makes me think it’s definitely time he got a new bike.
Crafting Bits, Building Bonds 
Leave a comment