How do you transport the kid and the kid's bike on a bike?
 

So, my six year old rides two-wheeled on her own, but she doesn't have the speed or stamina to pedal 5 miles across town to get to the trailhead, do a group ride, and then ride back home again, so I'm wondering if there are any really cool ways to solve the problem of getting the kid and the kid's bike to the ride spot via bike.

Right now, I have a fairly handy system wherein I bungee the bike into the back seat of the Tanjor trailer in which I haul the kid. Really, it works great, so I've got no complaints about that.

However, I would be interested in something more sporty for the kid, and am wondering if there's anything like the Tout Terrain convertible Streamliner+ "tag-along" that's easier to to get, less expensive, and has accommodation for hauling the front end.

Here's a pic of the Streamliner+ so you know what I'm talking about:

http://www.en.tout-terrain.de/upload...120x560_02.png

I dunno how much the Streamliner+ costs, but if it's like TT's other stuff, it's awfully pricey, and anyway, the thing does not have any provision for carrying it's own front end when in trailer mode, so it's not the cat's meow in any case. Why the kid needs a big, honking suspension fork is another beef, but also another thread.

Do you have a creative way to achieve what I'm thinking of? Do you know of one? Can you imagine one?

at 24 pounds in bike form its a tank i would not burden on myself!
let alone a 6 year old
get a se minni ripper or other 16 pound mini bmx with sealed bearings and low rolling resistance tires and the ride wont be as bad!just plan more stops
and kids grow fast

Thanks, Bdcain. I know the weight thing is crazy with kids bikes, and I just don't get it. Sure, we basically want them to be inexpensive because, as you say, the kids do grow fast, but at the same time, there are lots of simple things they can do to keep weight down without skyrocketimg the price, like nixing the stupid suspension. Anyway, I'd be willing to pay a premium for a nicer kid's bike than what's currently, generally available.

hey i paid 300$ for my kids minni ripper shipped to canada from vegas
very cheap !
and I will sell it after my sons done and get my $ back maybe more!
and the weight makes all the difference in the world
weigh the child if he/she weighs 25 30 pounds
and bike weighs 25 - 30 pounds
its sorta like
a 175 pound person riding a 150 to 175 pound bike...
sound fun?

We've done the trailer and bungee cord thing ourselves. Put the front tire sideways behind the seat, bungee it in place and pull the back tire. I don't know if I've tried it with 7 year old's newer bike. I'm trying to convince my DH to design something (kind of like the Trail Gator) so that when DS gets too tired on his bike, I can pull him. Often we just use the Trail on Bike and a regular trailer as younger DS is often still riding in it. If you come up with any awesome ideas, please post them.

We use either a trail gator or our Xtracycle to transport kids plus bikes. On the xtra we can take two kids plus two kid bikes and the kids can sleep, so that system usually wins. The kids ride specialized hotrocks, because they are relatively light and have good resale value. Our 5 year old rode a 23 mile day on his earlier this summer! But we would never have tried something like that, if we didn't have a reliable method for towing his bike while also carrying him.

So Liam, ebartom...you folks know exactly what I'm talking about!

I hadn't thought to tackle this with an Xtracycle, just because I don't think I need that much bike that often. I have been wanting to buy a Bullitt, though, so maybe this is my excuse! Or not; dropping 3 large on a cargo bike would definitely damage my marriage!

If I come up with a creative alternative, yes, I will keep you posted!

I really like the xtracycle as a cargo bike because it's very slim when empty, and handles like a regular bike. It can carry a ton of stuff, which means we do most of our grocery shopping by bike these days, and we can go out for long outings with the kids, with beach gear and changes of clothes and kid bikes and anything else we might possibly need. We got it because it's a solution that can carry two kids + kid gear + tow a kid bike. But we use it for everything, now that we have it. We found ours used, which also made the transition easy. It's a specialized globe with a free radical attachment.

I have a friend with a Radish, and that's what he says, too. It's just hard to believe, because it's so long, but probably more because it doesn't fit into my image of "sporty". I believe you guys, of course, but I just can't seem to talk myself into one! If this is the solution, though, I need to keep trying.

Do you have a pic showing how you fit a kid and their bike on the Xtra?

Here's the 12" on the xtracycle: http://flickr.com/gp/fletzet/XUtD13
And the 16" on the xtra: http://flickr.com/gp/fletzet/2fNt56 or http://flickr.com/gp/fletzet/CbZW0V

And one of the pictures that inspired me to get the bike: http://www.flickr.com/photos/56062272@N00/2646331896/

We also attach the 20" on the xtra, but we don't have that well figured out with double seat. The 20's handle bars tend to rub into the back of the seat and are damaging it.

I agree with e, an Xtra really is the best thing to have with kids. We have two and both are setup to tow bikes. My wife's Xtra has the padded seat, I have the baby seat. Between the two of us, we can haul three kids and two bikes. And my attachment method works for 12" up to 26" bikes, but the 26" wheel is a tad large to have in the side pouch along with a rider. We usually just bungee the front tire to the side of the bike that's being towed.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=276602

Not my actual setup, but really similar to what I have. I had pics around here somewhere but a recent computer crash caused me to lose a few files. If I find them, I'll post up my actual setup.

Thanks for the follow-up and insights, folks.

Towing with the Extra looks pretty tidy. I was hoping this line of inquiry would lead to the justification for purchasing a Bullitt cargo bike, but I don't think one of those can top an Xtracycle for this use.

Again, thanks.

Just remember that when you tow a bike on the Xtra, it isnt with a rider on the towed bike. That back bar of the Xtra and in most cases the adapter bracket arent load bearing. Its simply for when the kiddos are pooped out or you are riding a section of path that may be unsafe for them on their own (like close to busy roads).

If I could do it over again (and had a little more money) I would have gone the Big Dummy route. But I already had the mtn bikes so why not put them to good use. Plus I was able to remove the Xtra and hand down my bike to my oldest son. Xtras are just like LEGOs; they're kinda spendy but you can build them to suit you and they provide hours of entertainment ;)