The bicycle backpack thing could happen quicker than you think. In 1985, when he was 8, I took my son on a 200 km golf trip by bicycle. Every day ended with 9 holes of golf played with a shared set of 4 clubs (something you can get away with on pasture courses where fees are on the honour system). One day with favourable winds we did 100km and 18 holes. We slept good that night!

He still talks about it!