Bike solution please

[podsquash]

Hi,

My son is 3.5 years old, very tall and big for his age (about 18 kilos and about the height of most 5 year olds). He has just learned to pedal a bike and happily whizzes about on a little bike with stabilisers. I sometimes manage to cycle to pre-school in the village with him and his little sister (she is dinky at 18 months, only about 10 kilos) in a bike trailer.

However, I have recently started getting them both to wear helmets (better late than never) and he hates being in the trailer now - I think it tips his head up at a funny angle against the back and makes him uncomfortable. Plus it seems like he might just be too big for it now, although I'm not really sure how you can tell.

He keeps asking to cycle to school but I can't really see how he could cycle all the way there because I'd either have to run beside him with the buggy (good exercise, might be up to it one day but it is about a mile and a half) or cycle beside him with baby in a bike seat, which doesn't seem v very safe as there are bits where I will have to get off to help him etc.

I wondered about one of those trailing bikes but it says they are for 4-7 year olds. I suspect he is probably up to it coordination-wise, and might be pretty safe but I don't know? And can you put a bike seat on the back as well? Am I better sticking with the trailer for the time being? Do they really need helments in the trailer? Is there a way of making him more comfortable?

Anyway, sorry it is so technical but any advice gratefully received.

Thanks,

Erin

don't really know but am also looking into trailer possibilities.
Would it be practical to put a cushion or beanbag-type thing behind the child in the trailer so that their helmet doesn't force their head forwards? we had the same issue with DD's seat on the back of my bike, we got some foam from the market fabric stall and made a shaped insert for the back of the seat.

If he's the size of a 5 year old than the trailer bikes that attach to norlam bikes will be fine, and yes, you can also have a bike seat for your DD on the bike as well.

Could he not ride on the pavement while you ride on the road beside him though? That's how DS goes to school. If there's a junction he just comes down onto the road in front of me so that he has right of way over traffic turning in from the junction, but when he gets to the other side he goes back onto the pavement.

Ahh, I've just seen he's still using stabalisers, maybe that's not such a good idea then.

I don't think they need helmets in the trailer. Most people who use them here don't use helmetas in the trailers. The tag-along trailing bike is a good option, he doesn't even have to pedal, just sit there. I've seen some pretty tiny kids on them round here.

Thanks for this - really helpful. We have tried him cycling along the pavement today with me jogging behind him with the buggy and it worked brilliantly - took probably 45 minutes which is ok because he will be eager to get out the door if he knows he gets to cycle (or 'bisangle' as he calls it). He was really careful and loved it. I also think that the trailer will continue to be an option if he doesn't wear a helmet. We live in a village and I thin the roads are pretty safe on the way to school so I feel ok about this. And a trailing bike will come in due course, I'm sure, when i want to teach him more about road safety and so on.

love 'bisangle'

Our ds has just turned 4 and has been on a trailer bike for a while. We started with a Trailgator (bar to attach his bike to yours though you have to remove stabilisers) but found a crack in the rather dodgy-looking attachment so have now bought a tagalong (one-wheel attachment only for this purpose) from Trek, which seems to be available in mainstream bike shops. He is just tall enough to pedal this. Can't put his feet down but it doesn't tip over.

There is probably room on your bike for this plus a baby seat, depends on the baby seat design. Find a bike shop which sells both and get them to help you???

why can't you cycle with the trailer and he rides on the pavement? sorry if I have missed something.

I have a tagalong, and I would not want to put a 3 year old on it - he would be completely out of sight, and if he let his attention wander could fall off it quite easily - but I suppose it depends on the 3 yr old. My 6 yr old DD is too tempted to lean out and pick flowers, it gives her a false sense of security.

there are tagalongs which can go with a bike seat, but you have to get a particular kind OR get a front mounted bike seat on your cross bar. I suspect you would need q lot of upper body strength to hold it all steady.

if you are interested here is one example;

roland trailer bike