E-Bikes:

Using an E-Bike to ride with a young child is a fantastic way to start your families riding journey.  Having the assistance an E-Bike will help make the riding you do easy and enjoyable.  E-Bikes have strong frames and are generally designed to enable carrying weight (exception being E-Mountain Bikes).  The biggest issue you may have is where your battery is and how this affects attaching things to your bike.

Type of Riding: E-Bikes are used in all riding environments from around town riding to multi day tour riding.  Type of Frame: There are a wide range of E-Bike frames available, please see the end of this story to learn more about your frame and what type of kids bike seat will work with it.

Mid Seat: It is important to understand the space in front of your body and how this will influence your ability to use a Mid Seat.  There are a couple of mid seats specifically designed to be used with E-Bikes (wider frames).

Rear Seat: Battery placement at the rear of your bike – under a rear carrier or in the frame of your seat post tube will affect your ability to attach a rear seat so you must investigate further if your E-Bike has a battery in one of these positions.

Bike Trailer/Towing: E-Bikes are a great choice for towing a trailer or child on their own bike especially for making your riding easy with added weight.  The only thing to watch for is attachment at the middle of your rear wheel – you may need a special attachment piece.

Cargo Bikes:

Using a Cargo Bike to ride with a young child is a fantastic way to start your families riding journey.  Cargo Bikes have extremely strong frames and are designed to enable carrying cargo.  They are heavy and usually longer than a standard bike so you will need to adapt to handling one. Cargo bikes are ideal for adding front and rear bike seats, it would be unusual to choose to tow a bike trailer.

Type of Riding: Cargo bikes are for around town, urban, commute style riding.

Mid Seat: Cargo bikes are usually designed with a step through frame or low top tube for ease of getting on and off.  The only mid seat compatible with this type of frame design is the Original DoLittle which comes with a tall adaptor.

Rear Seat: This can be the best match for a number of Cargo Bike styles.  Cargo bikes often have extended rear racks or carriers, integrated into the frame of the bike, that are the perfect place for a rear carrier mounted seat.

Bike Trailer: Generally a Cargo Bike is doing the job of a bike trailer by providing you with storage options and multiple seats for young kids.  It would be unusual to choose to add a trailer to your cargo bike.

Bike Tow Frame:  Again with Cargo Bikes the kids are usually sitting on the seats provided.  To ride with multiple kids you may want the option of towing an older child.  A clear path will be needed to the middle of the cargo bike rear wheel for attachment.

E-Cargo Bikes:

The ultimate in family transport, often used to replace a second car.  An Electric Cargo Bike takes all the effort of riding a heavy bike away with the assistance it provides you.  Also enabling you to ride hills.  Battery placement needs to be considered and whether this will interfere with your ability to attach a kids bike seat.

Type of Riding: E-Cargo bikes are for around town, urban, commute style riding.  Often purchased as a replacement for a car.

Read both sections above to understand compatibility.

You can use a bike tow frame with either a E-Bike or Cargo Bike.  Tow frame connect the adult bike to a child’s bike. A great option for commute or transport type travel by bike.

Find out more about bike tow frame attachment:  Will a Bike Tow Frame fit my bike?