Take Your Child Bicycling with a Trailer Bike

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.

A trailer bike (tag-along, trail-a-bike) can make bicycling with children a delight for everyone involved. A one-wheeled machine that hooks on to your bike, a trailer bike is perfect for small kids who are big enough to reach the pedals. If she can ride it, she will love helping you pedal and being part of a team.

There are both pros and cons for the trailer bike. Consider them carefully:

Advantages:

She is part of the team. Having your child struggle right along with you to get up the hills leads to a feeling of success when she reaches the top. She knows she's not dead weight that you are pulling.

Since she has her own pedals, she can pedal or rest whenever she wants. Her feet move independently of yours so she is in control of her energy.

Disadvantages:

In the trailer, it is easy to close the rain flap and keep the child protected from rain or cold. On the trailer bike, she is exposed to the elements.

The gentle hum of the road may cause her to fall asleep. This can lead to a dangerous jerking of your bike - stop if you feel her swaying!

Cheaper trailer bikes do not come with gears, which means she will not be able to pedal going up hills. If you want to do any serious riding, you'll need to get gears on the trailer bike and teach her to use them.

Most children love bicycling with their trailer bikes, and you will love having your children with you!