Biking With Children

Never before have there been so many options for families wishing to get out together on their bicycles. As each family is a unique entity and has needs of their own, there is no one way of biking that is best. Consider the best option for your family!

Small children will need to be attached to your bike in some manner. Your options are: trailer, trailer bike, tandem, or a couple to attach your child's bike on to the back of yours.

A trailer is the perfect option for many families. Your child can ride comfortably and sleep when he wants. He can play with toys in the safety of his little home. It is also easy to protect children from the elements in a trailer and you can stash extra gear in there with him.

Trailers aren't perfect though; there are some disadvantages. Many parents find their children sleep all day in the trailer and then want to play all night when the parents need to sleep. Also, some children can get frustrated that they are not part of the team helping to propel the bike.

Trailer bikes are one-wheeled contraptions that attach to the back of your bike. Your child will be able to pedal when he feels like it and rest when he wants. Some trailer bikes come with gears, which is highly recommended so your child can help pedal up hills. This option has the advantage in that the child feels he is helping with the workload. When you reach the top of a hill, he knows he's helped and can be proud of his accomplishments. He is a member of a team and takes full credit for victories won.

The down side to the trailer bike option is that the child is exposed to the elements and is not easily protected. Even with proper rain gear, it will be hard to keep his hands and feet warm and dry if the weather turns bad. You've also got the issue of falling asleep on the bike. Depending on traffic conditions at the time, this could lead to a dangerous situation.

A tandem is a great option for touring with children. Many of the advantages of the tandem are the same as for the trailer bike - being part of a team and being able to help out with the workload. But the tandem also has the advantage of pedaling in sync. As the pedals are hooked together, a child on the back of a tandem learns to pedal with a normal cadence and is more closely connected to the captain. You can carry on a conversation easier due to sheer proximity. In addition, the tandem is more rigid than a trailer bike so is a more efficient machine.

Disadvantages of the tandem are primarily price related. Tandems are not cheap. Besides that, the tandem is forever together and you can not simply disconnect it to run errands by yourself. Another disadvantage to tandems or bigger multiples is the hassle of shipping them - they are very much oversized and some airlines won't take them.

One more option that works for touring with children is a small connector that connects an adult's bike to a small kid's bike. The child can ride his bike on his own when desired, but when tired can be towed behind Mom or Dad. The two connectors currently available are the Trail Gator Tow Bar and Follow Me coupler.

When your child is a bit older, a single bike becomes an option. Not all children mature at the same rate, so it is difficult to give an age - one child might be ready to ride his own bike at age 8 while another child would need to wait until a teenager. Pay attention to your child and make the decision based on his skills and personality. Consider his physical strength, coordination, ability to be aware of surroundings, and maturity.

If you have children of varying ages, you may find a combination of approaches to work. A tandem with a trailer works well. Many trailer bike companies are now making them with the ability to hook a trailer behind. You may find yourself traveling through town on a long train, but at least you'll be out and about on your bike - which is great for the whole family!

Want to find out more about bicycling with children, then visit Nancy Sathre-Vogel's site for tips and inspiration from afamily on bikes.

Tags: bicycle, Bicycles, bicycling, children, Cycling, exercise, family, recreation, Sports, travel