The first step in planning a family cycling vacation is to outline your trip priorities. Once you've established a budget, define the length of the trip as well as the degree of adventure. Consider the age of the kids, their interest in cycling, and their capacity to bike. Determine how far you want to cycle in a single day. Decide whether cycling should be a small component or integral part of your holiday. Establish the type of cycling that suits you. Mountain biking or bicycle touring? Paved roads or rough terrain? A self-guided bike trip or assisted cycling tour? Think about lodging as well as food. Do you want to be pampered at the end of a long ride? Are gourmet meals part of the cycling experience? Review the options with your partner as well as the kids. Be sure they know what to expect. And most importantly, spend time training before you depart. It's the only way to avoid a sore bum and ensure the fatigue is fun.

Guided or self-guided bicycle tour? Self-guided bike tours are easy to plan, even in Buenos Aires. A variety of outfitters rent bikes and helmets and provide self-guided biking maps. Yet there are a few reasons to consider an organized bike tour when cycling with kids in Buenos Aires: Professional guides provide insight to the city's history and culture and they know where to ride.

Physical fitness will greatly impact distance but it isn't the only things to consider when mapping a trail. Determine the type of terrain. Find the best roads for cycling. Research weather and accommodation. Accurately assess the time required - flats, stops and pace. Plot a route that isn't boring. Ride out and ferry back. End each day at a unique location. Combine a cycling trip with something else, be it culture or nature. Unsure where to start? Take a look a what others have done. Purchase a route from a specialist.

All you need to enjoy a short ride with children is a helmet and bicycle. But if you plan to ride for a full day or embark on a multi-day journey, you will need to give thought to your equipment. Child bike seats, ideal for half-day rides, offer tykes little freedom. Bike trailers, carts pulled by an adult biker, allow the under 5 crowd to play, sleep and squirm. Trailer bikes or tag-a-longs make it possible for kids aged 5-9 to peddle longer. What's more, they're safer. Single bikes give children a greater sense of accomplishment; tandems give parents more control. Bike bags, saddlebags and panniers, overkill on a day trip, are a must on unassisted cycling holidays. Padded bike shorts are fundamental for avoiding a sore bum. Fingerless bike gloves are fundamental for avoiding sore hands. Shatterproof sunglasses protect eyes from more than wind and glare; they shield them from flying bugs and flying stones.

Dress comfortably and dress in layers. Don't forget to pack a windbreaker, hat, sunscreen and water as well as a camera and self-guided map. If your cycling guide or outfitter does not provide helmets be sure to pack one for each member of your family.