Buying a bike can be a daunting prospect. If you also want that bike to work with a kids bike seat or trailer there are even more things to consider. Their are so many different types, styles and prices… where do you start?
Supporting you and your family to SMILE when you ride.
Choosing a Bike to use to carry or tow kids/grandkids is a great idea and there are a lot of bikes on the market that will work really well for this purpose. You just need to have an understanding of attachment points for the type of seat or trailer you want to use, as not all Bikes will work. It is about finding a solution to fit your situation and where you would like to ride, now and in the future.
For information on buying an E-Bike to use with a Kids Bike Seat or Trailer see this story Buying an E-Bike to Transport Kids or Grandkids. If an E-Bike is in your budget ($3000+) we highly recommend considering this option. The assistance an E-Bike gives you removes barriers around weight & fitness to ride with your child.
What Design Features does your Bike need?
Your bike purchase needs to be really focused on a bike that makes you feel comfortable and safe. Once you have this feeling of confidence about riding a bike you will really enjoy adding a child/children/grandchildren to the experience.
Key design features your bike must have to work with Kids Bike Seats/Trailers
- strong frame or strength where a seat will be clamped – seat post tube, handlebar stem. It should be made from steel or reinforced aluminium. No carbon for clamping any of the front or rear bike seats
- a good gear range. Adding weight means it will be harder to push your bike along, or get going from stopped, so you need gears
- good brakes. Choose disc brakes if possible especially if you want to ride with a bike trailer or ride down hills
- space where you want to attach your seat
Bike Types & Matching Kids Bike Seats/Trailers
To follow are some suggestions for bikes that work well with kids bike seats or bike trailers. Pay particular attention to where you would ride these types of bikes – the environments they are designed for – are they a good match to the type of riding you want to do with your young child? You have a very limited time to enjoy riding as a family with kids attached to your bike
- Front seats 1-3yrs
- Rear seats 1-6yrs
- Single bike trailer 1-6yrs
- Double bike trailer 1-4yrs with two kids
Step Through Frame:
A city or commute type of bike with good options for attaching or towing kids. This bike is designed for around town riding and enjoying paved bike paths and cycleways.
Step through frames make handling the bike so much easier – getting on/off around kids seats, easier to straddle while stopping/starting. Just easier to manage. This is especially true if you want to ride with 2 kids on one bike.
Compatibility:
Front Seats. This type of bike is a great match to riding with a front mounted kids bike seat. The upright relaxed body position is a great way to ride a bike and it creates space for a front seat to be in between your arms. Look for height in the handlebar stem making attachment of the front seat adapters really easy – you need at least 20mm of space.
Rear Seats. A step through frame is also great for rear seat attachment, either on a carrier or directly to the frame. If you definitely want a rear seat then buy a bike that has a carrier integrated into the frame.
Bike Trailer. Attachment should be easy, just make sure that the gears & brakes will be good enough, especially if any hills will need to be ridden over.
Find out more about Step Through Frames
Triangle Frame:
A city or commute type of bike with good options for attaching or towing kids. This bike is designed for around town riding and enjoying paved bike paths and cycleways.
Triangle frames have high top tubes – getting on/off around kids seats, straddling while stopping/starting can be a bit awkward. Shorter people will struggle with this. For use with kids bike seats it is better if the frame is medium or larger. They are designed to travel fast and generally will come with good gear & brake options but please check this.
Compatibility:
Front Seats. A triangle frame can be made with good stem height or limited height so for front seat attachment we would recommend one with good height (Threaded Stem). The more upright you are when riding the better.
Rear Seats. Great match to rear seat attachment, often sold with a rear carrier. Plenty of space for frame attachment of a rear seat.
Bike Trailer. Attachment should be easy, just make sure that the gears & brakes will be good enough, especially if any hills will need to be ridden over.
Find out more about Triangle Frames
Trail (Squashed Triangle) Frame:
A off road trail type of bike with limited options for attaching a kids seat, great for towing kids. This bike is designed for mountain biking, recreation riding but often used in all environments.
Squashed triangle frames often have front suspension to give you a smoother off road ride as well as wider, knobbly tyres for better grip. They are a very popular style of bike in NZ to get out and explore the huge range of bike trails we have.
Compatibility:
Front Seats. These frames have limited stem height so for front seat attachment we would recommend a mountain bike adaptor and your frame size will need to be medium or larger.
Rear Seats. If you want a carrier on this type of bike you will probably have to buy one separately. Carrier mount rear seats will work. Frame mount seats often struggle to be attached so please check further.
Bike Trailer. A great match to this type of bike. Especially an Off-Road Bike Trailer designed to be used on trails and cycle pathways. Attachment should be easy, just check the type of rear wheel axel it has.
Find out more about Trail Bike Frames
Full Suspension Mountain Bike:
An off road trail bike with very limited options for attaching a kids seat, great for towing kids. This bike is designed for mountain biking but often used in other environments.
These frames have both front & rear suspension with squashed triangle, unusual frame shapes. They are a very popular style of bike in NZ to get out and explore the huge number of mountain bike parks & trails we have.
Compatibility:
Front Seats. These frames have limited stem height so for front seat attachment we would recommend a mountain bike adaptor and your frame size will need to be medium or larger.
Rear Seats. Are not compatible
Bike Trailer. Attachment should be easy, just check the type of rear wheel axel it has, it will more than likely be a Through Axel which will need a special attachment piece.
Special NOTE: There are two companies in NZ that specialise in making mid mount kids bikes seats for mountain bikes. These mid mount seats are unharnessed so can only be used from approximately 2 years of age. They are the perfect match to riding on mountain bike trails with young kids so may be a better option for your full suspension mountain bike. View Mid Mount Seat Range
Find out more about Full Suspension Frames
Test Before You Buy
Test ride the bike over a decent distance with variations in road surface and hills, etc. At least a 30min test ride, and longer if your bike shop will provide it. You have to be very comfortable and confident on the bike in order for you to carry/tow your most precious cargo. And compare different models, by riding them. You should not have to pay or commit to buying the bike before test riding it.
What to look for during the test ride. Mainly your comfort and safety on the bike. You must feel confident in the way it handles and steers. This is especially important for any downhill decent with the added weight of a child. When you have found a bike or two that you feel good about riding…(exciting!) now consider the kids or grandkids… where could you go… what will work??
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