Never before have there been so many options for families wishing to get out together on their bicycles. As each family is a unique entity and has needs of their own, there is no one way of biking that is best. Consider the best option for your family!

Small children will need to be connected to your bike in some way. There are a number of options available: trailer, trailer bike, tandem, or coupler to attach your child’s bike behind yours.

Trailers are wonderful and are a very popular choice for many families. Your child can relax in the trailer and sleep when he wants. When he wakes up, he can either watch the scenery go by or play with toys. If you are traveling, a trailer can provide additional space for gear.

Trailers are not perfect though. Some families have found that their child sleeps too much in the trailer, and then isn’t tired at night when the parents need to sleep after a busy day. In addition, your child will not be helping with the work load, which can lead to frustration for some children.

Trailer bikes are one-wheeled contraptions that attach to the back of your bike. Your child will be able to pedal when he feels like it and rest when he wants. Some trailer bikes come with gears, which is highly recommended so your child can help pedal up hills. This option has the advantage in that the child feels he is helping with the workload. When you reach the top of a hill, he knows he’s helped and can be proud of his accomplishments. He is a member of a team and takes full credit for victories won.

The down side to the trailer bike option is that the child is exposed to the elements and is not easily protected. Even with proper rain gear, it will be hard to keep his hands and feet warm and dry if the weather turns bad. You’ve also got the issue of falling asleep on the bike. Depending on traffic conditions at the time, this could lead to a dangerous situation.

A tandem is a great option for touring with children. Many of the advantages of the tandem are the same as for the trailer bike – being part of a team and being able to help out with the workload. But the tandem also has the advantage of pedaling in sync. As the pedals are hooked together, a child on the back of a tandem learns to pedal with a normal cadence and is more closely connected to the captain. You can carry on a conversation easier due to sheer proximity. In addition, the tandem is more rigid than a trailer bike so is a more efficient machine.

Tandems, however, are expensive. They are dedicated tandems and you will not be able to simply jump on to run errands alone. They are also very oversized so are difficult to fly with. If you plan to travel a lot with your tandem, it will be worth the extra money for S & S couplers so you can break the bike down into small pieces.

The last option for touring with small children is using a coupler that will connect a small child’s bike on to the back of your bike. With this option, your child can ride on his own when safe, but can be connected to you when in traffic. The two connectors currently available are the Trail Gator Tow Bar and the Follow Me coupler.

When your child gets older, a single bike of her own becomes an option. You will have to consider all aspects of your child before making the decision to put her on her own bike – physical strength, coordination, ability to be aware of surroundings, experience in traffic, and maturity. If your child can handle her own bike, it can lead to a greater sense of independence and satisfaction; if she can’t it can lead to disaster.

If you are like many other families, you have kids of varying ages so will need a combination of some sort. A tandem with a trailer is a great option. Trailer bikes are now made so a trailer can be connected behind them. As you ride around town, you’ll be a long train, but you’ll be getting out on your bike – which is good the whole family!

Looking to find tips and advice about bicycling with children, then visit www.familyonbikes.org to find the best advice on family bicycling.

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