Quote Originally Posted by Owlie View Post
I also don't know how many people consider their kid's riding around the neighborhood (for example) as a separate physical activity from playing outside. I don't think mine did...apart from their insistence that I wear a helmet.
I was just thinking this.. I wouldn't consider it separate. I don't really distinguish the two when it's just my oldest riding his MTB around our property. He's "playing outside" because while he's out riding, he might get distracted and do something else for a while (look for bugs, climb all over the dirt bike jumps, or whatever) and it's really not that "formal". (and for the record, we live on 9 acres.. no way no how would I let him run loose in a neighborhood.. I don't think it's safe - things have really changed in 20 years)

I biked a lot as a kid (and I actually just bought the exact model 10-speed I had as a kid off CL earlier.. long story) and I never really considered it any big deal - it was just our main transportation to friends houses, and something we did just because it's what we did. Of course we enjoyed it, but if you asked us what "sports" we did as a kid, cycling would likely not be included...