My husband and I just got new bikes, and would love to go on family bike rides.
I'd like to know if there are any attachments that are safe/appropriate for a 5-year-old child.
I've seen the kid seats that attach to the back wheel, but she might be too big for it.
Also, the attachable wagons that trail behind are very expensive.
Are there any cheaper alternatives for taking kids this age along on bike rides?
Thanks! She has her own bike...
We'd like to go on long bike rides, quite far away. She wouldnt be able to manage on her own bike. Check out a trail a bike.
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/adams-tra...
It turns your bike into a 2 seater - with 2 handlebars and 2 sets of pedals.
They can be expensive new.
But check craigslist and ebay.
I got one for like $40 bucks....used it for 2 yrs then sold it for $35 bucks.
My only comment - if your daughter can ride a bike with no training wheels.....this trail a bike may cause her to "regress" becasue she will rely on dad to balance for her. That;s what happened with my 5 yr old son...and we kind of had to teach him to ride his own 2 wheeler again.
But if you are on busy streets this is the only way to go....until you can teach them the rules of the road.
my son is 6 now and we ride regularly in our neighborhood and ride several miles with no problem. Trails are more fun because we dont have to worry about cars.... Hey Wonderin,
I saw this on Coronado Island last week and thought it was a pretty slick little bike sidecar for kids. I have also seen lots of the previous mentioned Trail-A-Bikes or Tag-Alongs on the trails. Those can be purchased for a great price new or used and your kid gets to help you pedal and brake. I just thought this sidecar was pretty unique and wanted to share it with you. Good luck! Here is the link: http://www.chariotcarriers.com/english/h...
Kimber Their IS a safety attachment to a bike and they ARE cheap. Here is a website where you can buy one for your 5 year old. Hope this helps!!!!
http://www.target.com/gp/search/601-5805... http://www.trail-a-bike.com/product/
there awesome! buy her her own bike??? you'll have to ride slow especially if she traning wheels but thats about the only way you're going to be able to do it. Oh, I must say the hero of this situation is a
TRAIL-A-BIKE. It is a little half bike that attaches to the back of any regular bike's seatpost. They are a little floppy but just the best for enjoying long rides with your kids. I have rented them regularly at my store for the past decade and i will answer some of the questions you have.
when is she old enough? as soon as she can run pell mell downhill she has the skills required to hang onto her bike.
is it safe? safe as houses. terrific and fun. great!!!!
what is the weight limit?85lbs
they can never get away from you and the little contraption is a little wiggly so it really encourages them to practice their own balance for their best ride. It's a little wobbly to start (not dangerous or scary, just a little like driving a bus!) We put folks onto that with confidence and send them off for a days riding and everyone, almost unanimously, just thinks that trail-a-bikes are the beesknees!
Don't mistake it for a different contraption called a trail-gator that attaches your little ones' bike to yours and can then unattach. Our experience with this is so bad. They are SO WOBBLY that they make riding nearly impossible unless the little one is quite experienced.
The ultimate cheapo solution that I ever saw was someone had openned a seatpost clamp around a top tube on a man's bike and clamped a regular bicycle seat on just behind the handlebar and put bar tape between the shifters and the stem for the kid to hang onto and had bolted some little foot pegs onto the forks and had their little one between their arms and knees. Ingenious, I thought Yep....get a Trail-A-Bike. I have a friend who takes his son out on the mountain bike trials with one and it does pretty well. Keep in mind that you'll have a large turning radius with that hanging off the back of your bike, and the child doesn't have any control over things when you turn sharp, sway your bike to the side, etc.....so take it easy on her. :o)
You can find them used pretty often. They aren't a super popular product, but many people get them and use them for a couple years and sell them. Check ebay, craigslist, and any local clubs...maybe you can find one cheap. Good luck! | 