I am a new bicycle commuter, and would like to install something on my bike for my daughter to sit with me when I pick her up from school. So far she has sat sideways on the top tube (which is alright, but not very comfortable), we walk together, or I let her sit on the bike and I walk along side pushing it.
Basically, I want something from the "Multiple Riders on One Bicycle" section on this page:
http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/
Many of them look like the second person (even an adult!) is sitting on the rear bike rack, but some use a little extra seat with a backing. I don't know what to search for or where I would find something like that in the US. All of the bike racks I've seen on Amazon are only for cargo and are rated for 15 or 20 lbs. My daughter weights 60 lbs and is only getting bigger :)
I have a simple Huffy bike I bought at a garage sale (not a mountain bike, it has narrow tires). Thank you for any help or tips you can provide. :commute:
st0ut
06-06-08, 10:32 PM
how old is she?
you dont live in amsterdam. therthe cars are seperate frm cyceleist and whenrthey are together there are too many hazrds for cars to go much more that 15 mph. or 20 kph
thoae are for low speed short distance. tuning is diffucult faliing terrible.
get a trail a bike. i love mine did 18 miles on it last weekend.
Why can't you get HER a bike and have her ride it to school? If she is old enough to weigh 60 pounds, she is likely old enough to ride her own bike. If you are concerned about her safety, ride with her to and from school.
You really don't want her as a passenger on a one-person bike, even if those "rider" adaptors were available here in the U.S.. Not only does the second person make the bike harder to handle, it can indeed lead to possible injury, either from falls from the excessive weight toppling the bike over or the bike structure and/or components themselves failing under the excessive stress the designers did not account for (especially something like a Huffy which is not all that well-built to begin with).
One more important point: You might find yourself trying to explain why you were letting her ride to a cop and/or a judge. Not only is carrying "live" cargo in the form of another human being on a "single" bike bad for the bike and perhaps both of you, it's also against the law in most areas to carry a passenger if the vehicle (the bike) is not designed to carry one.
deraltekluge
06-07-08, 08:07 AM
One more important point: You might find yourself trying to explain why you were letting her ride to a cop and/or a judge. Not only is carrying "live" cargo in the form of another human being on a "single" bike bad for the bike and perhaps both of you, it's also against the law in most areas to carry a passenger if the vehicle (the bike) is not designed to carry one.It's dangerous, and it's ILLEGAL! From the laws for my state:
RCW 46.61.760
Riding on bicycles.
(1) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
(2) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.
akostke
06-07-08, 04:24 PM
Thanks all for the advice.
She is 8 years old and already pretty good at riding on her own. I'd love to have her bike with me, but my wife drops her off by car in the morning on her way to work, and I pick her up by bicycle, so it's not possible right now.
The ride home is a 15 minute easy ride through neighborhood / subdivision streets, only one crossing at a stoplight (which we walk through), so it is relatively safe.
If the attachment is built for another person to ride then I don't think it could be considered illegal to have more than one person on a bicycle. A child seat attachment allows more than one person on a bicycle. The trail-a-bike also allows more than one person to ride a bicycle (though it is a little more involved). I'm wondering if anyone has seen for sale an attachment designed for a second person to sit (e.g. like the ones on that Amsterdam bicycles site). If the trail-a-bike is the only option, I'll consider that. Otherwise my plan is dashed :)
cranky old dude
06-07-08, 04:42 PM
Thanks all for the advice.
She is 8 years old and already pretty good at riding on her own. I'd love to have her bike with me, but my wife drops her off by car in the morning on her way to work, and I pick her up by bicycle, so it's not possible right now.
The ride home is a 15 minute easy ride through neighborhood / subdivision streets, only one crossing at a stoplight (which we walk through), so it is relatively safe.
If the attachment is built for another person to ride then I don't think it could be considered illegal to have more than one person on a bicycle. A child seat attachment allows more than one person on a bicycle. The trail-a-bike also allows more than one person to ride a bicycle (though it is a little more involved). I'm wondering if anyone has seen for sale an attachment designed for a second person to sit (e.g. like the ones on that Amsterdam bicycles site). If the trail-a-bike is the only option, I'll consider that. Otherwise my plan is dashed :)
Either go with a "Trail-a-bike" or a tandem. Both safe, both legal, both fun for both of you.
With a tandem you have a life-long machine for any two members of your family to enjoy, and yes
you can most definately pilot a tandem alone. Start out with a used one, if you like it then it's time
for the investment on a new one.
st0ut
06-07-08, 06:49 PM
Why doesnt your wife drop off the girl with her bike and you escort her home?
wayne_imhoff
06-08-08, 04:25 PM
try a 'trail gator' http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=16991&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Show%20All%20Products
I use this when my 7yr old son rides with me.