A Trailer Bike is a Great Way to Bicycle with Children

After bicycling with your children in a trailer, you may be wondering if your baby is now able to move on to her own trailer bike. The answer to that question is - maybe. Most children are able to ride safely on a trailer bike from about age 3 or 4, but it will depend on your child.

Your child can be part of your team when she rides on a trailer bike (tag-along, trail-a-bike) - a one-wheeled contraption that hooks on to your bike. As long as she is tall enough to reach the pedals, she'll be able to ride safely. She will have her own little bike safely attached to yours.

Please consider all factors of the trailer bike - both advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

She is working right alongside you rather than being dead weight. As a team, you will climb hills together and will rejoice when you reach the top.

On the trailer bike, the pedals are independent of yours, which means she can pedal when she wants and rest when she wants.

Disadvantages:

You will have to plan for rain or other inclement weather more carefully. In the trailer, it is easy to protect the child but is much more difficult on the trailer bike.

Just like being lulled to sleep in a car, your child can easily fall asleep on her trailer bike. If you feel a jerking on your bike - stop!

If you have the single gear variety of trailer bike, she won't be able to pedal going up hills. Just like you, she needs gears - but does she know how to use them?

Bicycling with your children will be a wonderful experience for both of you!

Looking for info on bicycling with children, then visit www.familyonbikes.org to find the best advice on taking children bicycling.

Tags: Bicycles, bicycling with children, bikes, Biking, children, Cycling, family, family bikes