best way for my dinky granddaughter to ride with us?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,352
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 680 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
556 Posts
best way for my dinky granddaughter to ride with us?
right now we drag her around in a burly trailer on our tandem. but she is not even 4 and can ride the smallest bike trek sells. she is not even 30 pounds yet. her bike has 12" wheels that she rides like a champ.
thought about this guy with a donor bike but there is not enough seat post above our back rack.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...1GJZM3EQ&psc=1
or this guy Burt its getting expensive.
https://www.amazon.com/FollowMe-Tand...0GGGFVPGWB35H9
thought about this guy with a donor bike but there is not enough seat post above our back rack.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...1GJZM3EQ&psc=1
or this guy Burt its getting expensive.
https://www.amazon.com/FollowMe-Tand...0GGGFVPGWB35H9
#2
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,402
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,700 Times
in
2,520 Posts
most of the tag along bikes/bike attachments for kids seem to attach to the seatpost. But some attach to a rack.
I belong to a FB buy nothing group and people give these away fairly often. Although it might not be easy to find a rack mount one
It would help if you posted a picture of the bike.
I belong to a FB buy nothing group and people give these away fairly often. Although it might not be easy to find a rack mount one
It would help if you posted a picture of the bike.
#3
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,369
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6222 Post(s)
Liked 4,222 Times
in
2,368 Posts
right now we drag her around in a burly trailer on our tandem. but she is not even 4 and can ride the smallest bike trek sells. she is not even 30 pounds yet. her bike has 12" wheels that she rides like a champ.
thought about this guy with a donor bike but there is not enough seat post above our back rack.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...1GJZM3EQ&psc=1
or this guy Burt its getting expensive.
https://www.amazon.com/FollowMe-Tand...0GGGFVPGWB35H9
thought about this guy with a donor bike but there is not enough seat post above our back rack.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...1GJZM3EQ&psc=1
or this guy Burt its getting expensive.
https://www.amazon.com/FollowMe-Tand...0GGGFVPGWB35H9
My kids both rode tandems when they were less than 4 (by a month). Both rode this tandem and a Burley Samba 25 to 30 years ago. This tandem is current for sale.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Likes For fooferdoggie:
Likes For fooferdoggie:
#6
Dirty Heathen
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,182
Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times
in
534 Posts
Holy Bolt-ons, Batman! There's a lot of stuff attached to that bike!
IIRC, the rack-mounted tag-a-long might have been from Blackburn, or Topeak, but it did require using their specific rack.
If having a rear rack, and the tag-a-long at the same time is important, you could always mount the rack on the tag-a-long, like I did here:
IIRC, the rack-mounted tag-a-long might have been from Blackburn, or Topeak, but it did require using their specific rack.
If having a rear rack, and the tag-a-long at the same time is important, you could always mount the rack on the tag-a-long, like I did here:
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,352
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 680 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
556 Posts
I would've to work it out. I cant use a tag along all in one has she is way too small. we use the rack every day os it cant go. I could make some kind of adaptor to do it.
#8
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,369
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6222 Post(s)
Liked 4,222 Times
in
2,368 Posts
She captains the tandem and you ride your own bike. You could ride the little one if you want.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#9
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,369
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6222 Post(s)
Liked 4,222 Times
in
2,368 Posts
I have never been a big fan of trailer bikes and I’m less so after seeing a little girl fall off one when her mom turned a corner and she didn’t. A better (and safer) alternative is the Weehoo. Not as cheap as cheap trailer bikes but certainly better. I found one for cheap at a local swap meet for friends of mine. It’s easily adjustable for any size child.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Likes For cyccommute:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18380 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
How close is your granddaughter? How much riding with you? Babysitting?
I like the idea of the trailer bike, especially the Weehoo for the young kids. You can have multiple tow bikes.
You can also go for a tandem. CoMotion Periscope?
Bike Friday Tandems are also very adjustable.But, that likely would be only for a very dedicated cycling family.
Keep in mind that the kids grow up VERY FAST. So, you could spend a ton of money on a bike that is only used for a couple of years (or... at worst, only used a few days).
I like the idea of the trailer bike, especially the Weehoo for the young kids. You can have multiple tow bikes.
You can also go for a tandem. CoMotion Periscope?
Bike Friday Tandems are also very adjustable.But, that likely would be only for a very dedicated cycling family.
Keep in mind that the kids grow up VERY FAST. So, you could spend a ton of money on a bike that is only used for a couple of years (or... at worst, only used a few days).
Likes For CliffordK:
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,443
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 626 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 401 Times
in
277 Posts
I pulled two wheeled carts with my Burly Bongo. I setup the child crank for the stoker position and also bought the Burly Piccolo. At one point A had one child on the child crank, one on the trailer cycle and the child cart hooked to the trailer cycle. I never dumped the Tandem and non of my children fell off.
#12
Junior Member
first suggestion : chariot type "covered" trailer
second suggestion : sitting type (with buckles) add-on like cyccommute suggested
IF (a big IF) she is used to riding at faster paces and can hold herself over bumps and other things the rear seat of tandem throws at her, and is OK not being in control, you can try a tandem.
our daughter learnt cycling early and she was riding 20miles when she was 4 (i know, everyone is proud of the the even moles on children).... but, when she rode the tandem with me when she was 4, within five minutes, she said she does not like it and is scared that she has no control over what happens and sometimes cant hear what i am trying to communicate - fair point, i thought. Later, when she was 8, she was very happy to be on the tandem as it extended our range.
second suggestion : sitting type (with buckles) add-on like cyccommute suggested
IF (a big IF) she is used to riding at faster paces and can hold herself over bumps and other things the rear seat of tandem throws at her, and is OK not being in control, you can try a tandem.
our daughter learnt cycling early and she was riding 20miles when she was 4 (i know, everyone is proud of the the even moles on children).... but, when she rode the tandem with me when she was 4, within five minutes, she said she does not like it and is scared that she has no control over what happens and sometimes cant hear what i am trying to communicate - fair point, i thought. Later, when she was 8, she was very happy to be on the tandem as it extended our range.
#13
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,517
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2747 Post(s)
Liked 3,401 Times
in
2,058 Posts
#14
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,557
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3680 Post(s)
Liked 5,444 Times
in
2,767 Posts
Maybe some ideas here https://www.bikeforums.net/recreational-family/
#15
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,792
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3591 Post(s)
Liked 3,401 Times
in
1,935 Posts
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,352
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 680 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
556 Posts
that could be interesting since she is blind but that wouldn't to work on our tandem as it has a regular bottom bracket. Plus is is way too small to sit on the seat and reach the bars. she is not even 30 pounds yet.
Last edited by fooferdoggie; 08-21-21 at 08:25 AM.
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,352
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 680 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
556 Posts
How close is your granddaughter? How much riding with you? Babysitting?
I like the idea of the trailer bike, especially the Weehoo for the young kids. You can have multiple tow bikes.
You can also go for a tandem. CoMotion Periscope?
Bike Friday Tandems are also very adjustable.But, that likely would be only for a very dedicated cycling family.
Keep in mind that the kids grow up VERY FAST. So, you could spend a ton of money on a bike that is only used for a couple of years (or... at worst, only used a few days).
I like the idea of the trailer bike, especially the Weehoo for the young kids. You can have multiple tow bikes.
You can also go for a tandem. CoMotion Periscope?
Bike Friday Tandems are also very adjustable.But, that likely would be only for a very dedicated cycling family.
Keep in mind that the kids grow up VERY FAST. So, you could spend a ton of money on a bike that is only used for a couple of years (or... at worst, only used a few days).
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,352
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 680 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
556 Posts
I have never been a big fan of trailer bikes and I’m less so after seeing a little girl fall off one when her mom turned a corner and she didn’t. A better (and safer) alternative is the Weehoo. Not as cheap as cheap trailer bikes but certainly better. I found one for cheap at a local swap meet for friends of mine. It’s easily adjustable for any size child.
#19
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,617
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10970 Post(s)
Liked 7,496 Times
in
4,192 Posts
Maybe dinky means something different near you? Your granddaughter is blind and riding at 4?
Get a weehoo and be done. It's an excellent product and resale is high for when you are finished.
Get a weehoo and be done. It's an excellent product and resale is high for when you are finished.
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,352
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 680 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
556 Posts
I have never been a big fan of trailer bikes and I’m less so after seeing a little girl fall off one when her mom turned a corner and she didn’t. A better (and safer) alternative is the Weehoo. Not as cheap as cheap trailer bikes but certainly better. I found one for cheap at a local swap meet for friends of mine. It’s easily adjustable for any size child.
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,352
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 680 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
556 Posts
no my wife is blind so she cant captain a tandem. my granddaughter is almost 4 and can ride a bike but she is tiny only 29 pounds and short. but my wife started riding a bike while blind around 5.
#22
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,792
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3591 Post(s)
Liked 3,401 Times
in
1,935 Posts
Bar reach could probably be accommodated with a judicious choice of handlebar and stem.
#23
Dirty Heathen
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,182
Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times
in
534 Posts
All bikes have seat posts, but only some have a rack. The only one that mounted ‘fifth-wheel’ style came with a dedicated rear rack.
Even with a little kiddo on there, tag-along rigs can be pretty heavy, I’d rather have it clamped to the tug bike’s frame, than a couple of skinny rack struts and M5 bolts.
Depending on the shape of the tow bar, and the rear of your tandem, it may clear the top of the rack, once it’s installed; alternatively, move your rack to the tag-along so you can keep using your bags, they tow just fine even without a rider onboard.
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,352
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 680 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
556 Posts
You’re on your own; there is no “Part That Does”.
All bikes have seat posts, but only some have a rack. The only one that mounted ‘fifth-wheel’ style came with a dedicated rear rack.
Even with a little kiddo on there, tag-along rigs can be pretty heavy, I’d rather have it clamped to the tug bike’s frame, than a couple of skinny rack struts and M5 bolts.
Depending on the shape of the tow bar, and the rear of your tandem, it may clear the top of the rack, once it’s installed; alternatively, move your rack to the tag-along so you can keep using your bags, they tow just fine even without a rider onboard.
All bikes have seat posts, but only some have a rack. The only one that mounted ‘fifth-wheel’ style came with a dedicated rear rack.
Even with a little kiddo on there, tag-along rigs can be pretty heavy, I’d rather have it clamped to the tug bike’s frame, than a couple of skinny rack struts and M5 bolts.
Depending on the shape of the tow bar, and the rear of your tandem, it may clear the top of the rack, once it’s installed; alternatively, move your rack to the tag-along so you can keep using your bags, they tow just fine even without a rider onboard.
Likes For fooferdoggie:
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18380 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
Go for the Weehoo now. Even hunt for a good used one.
Then, in a couple of years, you might consider a triple tandem. It might be fun for the kid, and could grow into a Grandparent's outing.
One thing I discovered with my nephew was that he had troubles learning to ride a solo bike, then once he got it, he entirely rejected the tandem. The problem was that kept us land-locked. With a tandem, we could have gone for miles and miles and several hours. Instead, perhaps a mile each direction, and back to "Grandma's".
Here is a Bike Friday Triple:
https://eugene.craigslist.org/bik/d/...346785697.html
It should be extremely adjustable.
I also mentioned CoMotion triples above, that should take smaller stature riders (periscope and trident).
If you start with a weehoo, the start hunting for a year or two for the triple, one will pop up that you like.