Tue, 19 Dec 2023 06:01:06 +0000 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280555#Comment_280555 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280555#Comment_280555 Sun, 17 May 2020 22:07:04 +0100 Victorianeco
My daughter is 4 and can ride her bike with stabilisers but obviously she can't ride with us on bike rides. What are the best options?

1. Bike seat?
2. Trailer? - is she too big for one of those?
3. Tag along bar or similar? - my concern is she has no seat belt for instance so not sure I like that idea...]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280557#Comment_280557 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280557#Comment_280557 Sun, 17 May 2020 23:51:41 +0100 WillInAberdeen
Amazingly quickly, their stamina and confidence increase to the point where you can't keep up with them (ours was 7 when that happened)

We tried tagalong, trailgator etc but they get frustrated if
they are missing the independence and control, which imo are the best part of cycling when you are 4. Like going hiking, you do have to go at their pace, but you can sneak out for a grown-up ride later. Frequent snack stops help too.

We had better experience with a balance bike than with stabilisers but that's another discussion.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280558#Comment_280558 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280558#Comment_280558 Mon, 18 May 2020 06:49:31 +0100 dereke
Two kids on the back and recently I've started towing my older (7) ones bike to places we want to go cycling (we live on a hill so it is nice to go on the flat). Just pop the front wheel in the pannier and attach the handle bars with a bike lock and it is nice and secure.

Back to the price. I use this thing way more than our car, to me it is a second car and from that perspective it is cheap.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280559#Comment_280559 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280559#Comment_280559 Mon, 18 May 2020 08:24:57 +0100 jms452 Posted By: WillInAberdeenAmazingly quickly, their stamina and confidence increase to the point where you can't keep up with them (ours was 7 when that happened)

This is very true and is probably the thing to work towards long term - but long term will be months/years

If you need to go distance or on a busy road in the meantime a tag along or bike seat work well.

Bike seats have a weight limit (20Kg) and can make the bike hard to handle when they're in it. If she's already you may want to skip a seat.

If she can ride her own bike she should hold onto a tag along in the same way but as with everything new I'd practice somewhere quiet a few times first.

cheap tag alongs can have poor quality link-ages that jerk you them around a bit - if you're going tagalong I'd buy a decent one.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280560#Comment_280560 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280560#Comment_280560 Mon, 18 May 2020 08:27:37 +0100 Victorianeco http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280561#Comment_280561 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280561#Comment_280561 Mon, 18 May 2020 09:36:45 +0100 bhommels http://schoolruncentre.co.uk/tandem-onderwater-adult-and-child-tandem/
On top of that, judging from how she got along on her own bike I tend to believe our daughter got a sense of how to go about in traffic from having had the best seat in the house for years.
It has top quality components and tandem wheels & hubs so no trouble carrying panniers full of shopping in addition to the passengers. It also means the trade in value was substantial. And no, I don't have any personal interest in promoting these things except for getting people, both big and little, out of their cars.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280572#Comment_280572 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280572#Comment_280572 Mon, 18 May 2020 14:56:56 +0100 RobL The kids loved it, and were totally at ease with it. They're 14 and 19 now, neither intend ever to get a car, both love cycling.
Here's a pic of one:
https://www.google.com/search?q=u+plus+2+tag+along&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjDv-bOxL3pAhUSlKQKHQiMDrUQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=u+plus+2+tag+along&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIECCMQJ1CzLFiaLWDfLmgAcAB4AIABSYgBigGSAQEymAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWc&sclient=img&ei=AZDCXoO7GZKokgWImLqoCw&bih=1030&biw=2048&rlz=1C1GCEU_enDE835DE836#imgrc=i497qZqrBThutM]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280672#Comment_280672 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280672#Comment_280672 Fri, 22 May 2020 10:47:15 +0100 jms452 Posted By: VictorianecoAny recommendations for a tag along and what about harnesses / belts?

We brought a cheap one and the linkage caused the tag along to jerk from side to side - wasn't great but did teach my daughter to hold on tight!]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280700#Comment_280700 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280700#Comment_280700 Sat, 23 May 2020 13:17:31 +0100 dimengineer You have to have the right "big" bike though. As they basically clamp onto the seat post, that bit MUST be right.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280770#Comment_280770 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280770#Comment_280770 Mon, 25 May 2020 09:20:02 +0100 bogal2 have. A trailgater is good, a metal bar that fixes your bike to theirs, as they can ride on their own but when they're starting to struggle you can just hook them up to your bike to speed things up!]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280771#Comment_280771 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280771#Comment_280771 Mon, 25 May 2020 09:49:30 +0100 jms452 Posted By: bogal2Getting your daughter a lightweight quality bike makes a big difference. Brands like easy rider, frog and Isla make light bikes with good components for little people rather than adult components which the cheap ones often
have.

+1]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280775#Comment_280775 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280775#Comment_280775 Mon, 25 May 2020 10:59:07 +0100 Victorianeco
So yes a towing type mechanism may be best and just unlink her when we get to the flats.

Any recommended brands for a tow bar?]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280797#Comment_280797 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=280797#Comment_280797 Mon, 25 May 2020 22:20:57 +0100 WillInAberdeen I can't remember if you can use them with stabilisers (anyone?) but we didn't have those.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=281245#Comment_281245 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=281245#Comment_281245 Tue, 09 Jun 2020 10:01:29 +0100 Victorianeco
There is a rod that connects the bar to the bike being trailed that seems to stop the handlebars turning, this seems to be flimsy and no doubt easily removed by my daughter if she decided to flip it off. This part:
http://www.trailgatorspares.co.uk/parts/trail-gator-stabiliser-rod-parts-aa-bb-cc/5/1/all

My guess is that this isn't essential? As the front wheel is lifted, turning that wheel makes no difference to the safety aspect of running it perhaps adding some extra stability? Need to clarify it before I set off later]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=281251#Comment_281251 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16558&Focus=281251#Comment_281251 Tue, 09 Jun 2020 10:47:35 +0100 djh