[dilgra]

Greetings forum friends,

We used to really enjoy riding our bikes pre-baby but just haven't put much thought into our options to ride as a family yet and would like some input. I always thought a trailer would be the best option but now that Tati is 3, we are thinking about a carrier/seats on the back of one of our bikes but it makes me a little nervous. we would like to go to a tandem bike with her eventually so it seems like a good idea to get her up on the bike with us to get the feel of it rather than being towed behind but don't know what is safe for this age and when to make the transition.

So, what are you using to take your little ones on your bikes? As always, thanks for your advice/input

[BeverlyZ]

We use a bike trailer, and the weight limit is around 50 pounds for one child. We expect to get more years out of it. If you can find a used one in good shape, it will become like gold in your household! Have fun!

[adptalex]

We bought a seat for my husband's bike from Trek. It has its own suspension so it makes for a smoother ride for our daughter. We also have a trailor, but she doesn't ride as well in it. She likes to be close so that she can talk our ears off!!

[netmon]

We have a Kettler bike seat. It is very sturdy and secure. My daughter still rides beautifully in it and she is 4 1/2 years old and 47 pounds. We have one at home and at my parents winter home. She is riding her own 2 wheeler now without training wheels, but this has been great for long rides.

We recently got a "hitchhiker" and she is really into that and not about the bike seat anymore. She is now interested in being an active participant. However, I am not sure how it will work for long rides. We shall see.

[cborsa7]

I tried the bike seat and now have the trailer.
The bike seat felt unsafe for me becasue of the extra weight of the child. The trailor is up to 100lbs, double rider, but I can not even feel the weight of pulling it. I love it. I think it will just be a matter of personal preference on which you will choose.

[Devora]

We never used a seat -- it seemed to me like it would affect our balance more and I didn't think it was as safe in terms of the child falling if you fall. We used a trailer -- a Chariot, to be specific. We loved it! Our son was comfortable (when he was very small we put a small pillow behind him so his helmet didn't smoosh into the back side, but by the time he was 2.5 we eliminated the pillow). He could have books with him, snacks at hand, and he could easily and comfortably sleep. The only thing I didn't like about it was that it was red and gray and the gray was about the same color as the asphalt. So when we were on the road (which was rare) it blended in too much for my liking. I fixed that by sewing bright yellow cloth on the back.

If you are a big bicycling family and depending on your daughter's height you might not want to invest much in a trailer at this age, though. Buy one second hand. Our son, at 4 was out of his trailer. He's now on an Adams tag-a-long (other people call them other things; it's the one-wheeled bike that hitches onto your bike so it's sort of like a tandem but the chains are independent). He loves the tag-a-long even more!!! And it works great. We encourage him to pedal, but if he doesn't then it's no harder than the trailer to pull. He loves being up where he can see more and where he can talk more with us. He loves feeling like he's really riding. We bought him a yellow bicycling vest and gloves and he thinks it's the coolest thing.

I am more comfortable with the tag-a-long because it sits more at the height of a regular bike so he's more visible. The trailer did make me a little nervous because it's lower and I could envision someone seeing the adult bike but not the trailer behind it. Once I added the yellow cloth, though, most of that concern went away.

[dac_cincy]

Devora-

Could you emailme privately about the tag-a-long. I have been thinking about one. I have a number of questions and I don't want to hijack this thread.

Some questions to give you a feel for what info I am looking for:

1. How long of ride do you go on typically? I am pretty concerned that Bug will let go of the andles- fall off,etc just becuiase he get distracted by something
2. What type of bike do you have that you attach it to?
3. Are there any watch outs in terms of types of bikes that can use this?

I have a ton more research to do- but Bug just got the pedallign thing down pat, so I think he will enjoy a tag-along system more than being pulled in a trailer.

Love and hugs

[robandjulie]

We use a weeride for our kids.

WeeRide - For The Family On The Go! - Kangaroo Center-Mounted Child Bicycle Carrier

It's approved for kids up to 40 lbs. DS (age 2.5) rides it in now., but DD was on a trike by 3.5 and now her own 2-wheeler with training wheels at 4. That's fine for short family rides around the neighborhood but if we were to do longer rides where we wanted to go more than 4-5 mph we're looking at a co-pilot type hook-on tandem thing.

[becky]

Bella started with her bike seat when she was about 2.5 years old. My hubby has never had a problem with extra weight on the back of the bike. She always wears her helmet.

It is a lot of fun!

[Devora]

A few more details about the tag-a-long/hook-on, whatever you want to call it:

- It can hook onto any adult bike. You simply put a coupling on the stem of your seat. The coupling system is very easy to use -- It does have to be perfectly lined up but once you get used to that it's simply a matter of sliding it in and screwing in a pin that secures it.

- It does not affect your maneuverability. In fact, it's more maneuverable than a trailer because your child is on a vehicle that is the same width as your bike so you don't need to worry about a trailer not clearing something that you can clear. You do have to take turns a little bit wider than if you were riding solo.

- We do have to use pedal blocks for our short son, but I think we'll be able to remove them soon. (Growth spurt!)

- He started on it at 4 years. He would have been ready to start at 3 years but the reach forward for him was a bit too much. Just make sure that your child can comfortably sit and hold the handle bars without having to lean way forward.

- We've never had a problem with letting go, etc. I mean we do in the sense that we have a little daredevil who the second time out decided to see if he could let go with both hands. But what kid doesn't try that? And he's never fallen off it -- although he almost slid off once when he turned around to look at something and turned too far. But, again, they can do that on a tricycle, too. It does make it easier for handing him drinks and snacks. He eats granola bars and apples while riding (either I come along side and hand it to him or my husband reaches back with a straight arm and my son can reach forward and grab it).

- It's not possible for the tag-a-long to fall down so they don't actually have to balance. But there is some give and take for them so for some kids it might help them feel comfortable with the idea of two-wheel balancing. But they have nothing to do with balancing. I also don't see how they could pull you over -- unless they grab onto a tree branch or something and don't let go of it. But they could do that on a back-of-the-bike carrier, too.

- We ride all sorts of distances -- the shortest is 2 miles to and from the playground; the longest was 50 miles; more typically we go about 15 miles on evening rides.

- If you are doing bicycle touring, be aware that it will impact your ability to carry anything on the back of your bike. You can fit side panniers over your back rack, but under-the-seat bags and over-the-rack bags probably won't fit because of the metal bar that connects your bike to the child's bike.

[Larue]

Hi Kelli. Sabrina is also 3, and we use a bike seat for trail rides. She rides in front of DH and loves it. See attached photo. She likes being part of the action, and DH has never had a problem with the additional weight. Though our peanut only weighs about 30 lbs.

For short jaunts around the neighborhood, she rides her two-wheeler “big girl bike” with training wheels.

Happy trails!

[ej-momtobe]

We use a bike trailer and it works very well. Actually DS will usually fall asleep and nap in it. We got a very good quality trailer used. (which also converts to a jogging stroller.) I never seriously considered the toddler seats for a bike....it just seemed like it would not be as safe, but I don't really know. One good thing about the trailer is that you can put extra stuff in it if it has a big pocket in the back. We have ridden to the grocery store and put the groceries in the back pouch.

[beverlyanderic]

i prefer a trailer first, then a center mount bike seat (like kettler and weeride) and then the rear mounted bike seat.

the trailer is great because we can go on really long rides and don't need to worry about a tagalong where your just can't sit back and relax.

it's great to carry a bunch of stuff in the trailer, too (as others mention)- i sometimes bring my 2.5 year old's balance/run bike in the back (strapped in) so he can go on a ride with me if he wants- the last time he was on his run bike and me on my bike for 2+ miles- it was great!

you can find trailers used in good shape on craigslist a lot- try not and pay full price for one.

[dianneemily]

Quick question for Devora- what brand of tag-a-long/hook-on, copilot thing do you have. We bought one, but had to take it back because it just didn't work right.

[LJR1974]

Because I have two little ones, I've only used the bike trailer. In fact the picture in my sig is the two of them in bike trailer just before a ride. I actually take it to the grocery store or pharmacy when I just need an item or two. It becomes a jogger, so I just unhook it and wheel them as is into the store!