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Cycling with children

Both infants and young children can be transported safely on a bicycle. For the youngest, a bicycle trailer is a good solution, especially if you want to travel with two children and luggage. The trailer will not be nearly so much at risk of turning over as a heavily loaded bicycle with a child’s seat, and in a covered trailer children will also be sheltered from the wind and rain. If your child is too big to sit in a trailer, but still can’t pedal long distances, a half-bike or a tandem is a good option; the child can pedal to its heart’s content while the adult takes care of the steering and braking.

You can get special bicycle trailers to seat 1-2 infants. Some trailers can also take a baby’s carrycot. Inside the trailer the children can play with their toys or take a nap – so they are rested on arrival. You might want to fit a child’s seat on the adult bicycle as well so that your child can sit with mum or dad every once in a while. Try not to cover day-long stretches with infants, since it won’t do them any good to spend too many hours in a child’s seat or trailer. Stop for frequent breaks so the children can get off and stretch their legs.

There is a wide range of children’s bicycle trailers available. For a cycling holiday you should go for a lightweight, smooth-running trailer that is stable on the road and doesn’t wobble. You should also check to see if there is enough storage space in the trailer and if the coupling is easy to use. It is also an advantage to have a folding trailer – especially if you want to take it on trains and buses. For some trailers you can buy additional accessories to convert the trailer into a buggy.
If your child is too old to ride passively in a child’s seat, but still too young to cycle alone in traffic, a half-bike is the answer. This resembles the rear-end of a child’s bicycle, and is fixed to the rear of an adult bicycle. With a half-bike your child won’t just be transported around, but will actually be able to do some peddling – and this makes the trip more fun for everybody. A half-bike must be coupled to the adult bike according to the same rules that apply to bicycle trailers, and depending on the make, is usually suitable for children aged about 5-10. Choose a model with a good coupling to ensure stability.
A tandem is a good idea if two cyclists of differing ability want to cycle together – because on a tandem there’s no chance of losing sight of each other! If you want to cover long distances with slightly older children, a tandem is therefore an ideal solution. Tandem bicycles are available that allow children to ride on the back seat from age 8 and up. Two adults can often also ride this type of tandem.
Children who are used to cycling on their own can readily be taken on a cycling holiday as soon as they can ride the bicycle safely. With plenty of stops along the way and the right bicycle, 30km will not be beyond the means of an 8-year-old cyclist. You do need to make sure that the child’s bicycle is not too big: partly because it is hard to handle an over-sized bicycle and partly because it results in bad cycling posture, with aches and pains to follow. The child’s bicycle must not be loaded with heavy or bulky luggage. A set of small panniers can, however, be carried by children aged 8 and up.