GUIDE – Biking with a Child 2-6 years old
goRide, your Family Riding Specialists – supporting you to become confident and enjoy riding as a family.
Get the right solutions & support to ride with a 2-6 YEAR OLD… attached to, or towed by your bike.
SMILE when you ride
Welcome to goRide’s Riding with a Child, 2-6yrs guide. This is where we help you to get riding as a family. We are here to support you to be prepared so that you can feel safe and confident about riding a bike with your child or children.
Let’s work through what you need to consider, help you understand your options and determine what is the best solution for your family.
To ride with a child between the age of 2-6 yrs you will need to either:
- Attach a Kids Bike Seat to the front/mid of your bike – Mid Mount Kids Bike Seats or Front Kids Bike Seats (limited use due to age)
- Attach a Kids Bike Seat to the rear of your bike – Rear Kids Bike Seats
- Tow a Kids Bike Trailer behind your bike. – Kids Bike Trailers
- Connect your child’s bike to your bike using a Bike Tow Frame to create a Tandem
Is your child riding their own bike? Understand your options to ride with a child 4yrs+ riding their own bike.
Options for Riding with a Child 2-6yrs – Learn More
All of the following options are suitable for the age range 2-6yrs. Some will be a better investment depending on the exact age of your child or your growing family. Note the Tow Frame which requires your child to be riding their own bike. Also note the Rear Junior Seat which is for the 4-10yrs age range. For a more detailed comparison please read our story…
Mid Bike Seats
Age Range 2-6 yrs
A fantastic way to ride with your young child. These unharnessed seats are fun on off road trails & are a great riding experience for well balanced kids… LEARN MORE
Rear Bike Seats
Age Range 1-6 yrs Maxi Rear
Age Range 4-10yrs Junior Rear
These seats are so versatile giving a growing family flexibility. They are suitable for a wide age range and there is a solution for most bikes… LEARN MORE
Bike/Multi-Use Trailers
Age Range 1-6 yrs
Brilliant to give your family access to lots of outdoor fun, can be used for stroll/bike/jog in all sorts of environments… LEARN MORE
Tow Frame
Age Range 3-9 yrs
A great investment for a family. Very stable bike to bike connection, creating a tandem. Can assist a young child to ride in a wide variety of environments (including traffic). Or use intermittently to support your child up hills, to ride further… LEARN MORE
Front Bike Seats
Age Range 1-3 yrsÂ
If buying for a 2yr old+ you will have limited time using this seat. Is this the right choice for your family?… READ Age of Your Child in our BUYING GUIDE
What about a short term hire? Would that make more sense for your family?…Â
Feel safe & confident riding with your child
Safety is your number one priority when you begin to ride with any young child. You need to understand how to be safe and how adding the weight of your young child or children will make it feel when you ride. What will it change compared to when you ride solo?
- How do I get ready to ride with a child?Â
If you want to ride with your child or children the first thing to understand is how to be safe? Your first step is to find a helmet that matches the type of riding you will be doing. The helmet needs to be light and cover most of your child’s head.
Young children have varying head circumferences. There heads are growing constantly between the age of 2-4yrs. So it is very important to get a helmet that can be adjusted to fit them properly. You must keep checking that the helmet is the right size and adjusted to their head shape.
2. Feel confident to ride with your child
Riding with a child between the ages of 2-4yrs changes the feel of the bike and alters your riding experience. Understanding the changes helps you be prepared for riding with your child making the experience safe, easy and enjoyable right from the beginning. If you are wondering if you can manage or to help you get prepared, please read our stories, which are full of great information and tips.
What is the right choice for my family?
There can be many factors that will influence your decision about which seat, trailer or tow to buy for the 2-4yr age group. So there are different ways to go about making your choice.
- The style of bike you have
- The places you want to ride now or in the future
- The size of your family – how many children, now and in the future
- What bike will you be riding?
Not all kids bike seats, trailers or tows can be used with all bikes. The design, style and size of a bike influences what can be attached to them. Click on the situation that best relates to you…
I want to search by matching my bike to a kids bike seat/trailer.
I have an E-Bike or Cargo Bike that I want to match to a kids bike seat/trailer.
I have an x-small or small bike frame as I am reasonably short and I want a kids bike seat match.
I want to buy a new bike to use with a kids bike seat/trailer.
2. What options are best suited to where and for how long I want to ride ?
The range of kids bike seats, trailers and towing options suit different riding environments. It is a good idea to consider where you want to ride with your 2-4 year old now, and where you might like to ride together as you gain more confidence and as they get older. To understand more read our story about riding environments and the bike seats that suit them.
Considering the type of riding you want to do – short or longer rides or multi-day can influence what kids bike seat, trailer or tow best suits your family.
3. The solution that best matches your family now and in the future
If you are planning to ride with two siblings, or twins between the ages of 2 to 4 you will want to know the best way. It is important to consider what solution works for your family now and how this will influence your family riding as your children grow.
Supporting You to be Safe & Comfortable
There are a few things you can do to help both yourself and your child enjoy your riding. It is important that everyone feels safe, comfortable and confident about exploring by bike.
Keep them dry & warm
Therm All Weather Hoodie $79.90
These are fun and bright all weather hoodies for 1 to 6yr olds. A waterproof & thermal jacket which is perfect for young kids sitting in bike seats, trailers or being towed… LEARN MORE
Be prepared
Tool Kit Range…
Bikes and bike seats need tools to tighten anything that comes loose. Have what you need when you are out riding. Easy to carry & use tool kits… LEARN MORE
Be safe, be seen
Bike Jacket Range
Choose the bike jacket option that works best for the riding you will do with your family. Bright outer layers are great for safety… LEARN MORE
Be visible on the bike
Visibility Solutions…
There are ways to make you, your child and your bike visible in the environments you are riding in. Learn about outer layers & light choices to be safe… LEARN MORE
Now that you have more understanding of the kids bike seat, trailer or tow that is the the right choice for your family, read the Riding Safely Story that matches your choice. Learn how your riding will feel with the seat, trailer or tow attached, how to get ready for your first ride and make every ride safe and enjoyable for the family.
goRide is here to support you through this experience. If you are struggling with the information, need some things clarified or some reassurance then please get in contact. We love hearing from you and want to help.
A selection of family riding stories, support & solutions that will make you & your family SMILE.
Rear Kids Bike Seats
Stories & Support – View stories relating to Rear Kids Bike Seat on one easy to navigate page.
Mid Mount Kids Bike Seats
Stories & Support – View stories relating to Mid Mount Kids Bike Seats on one easy to navigate page.
Front Kids Bike Seats
Stories & Support – View stories relating to Front Kids Bike Seats on one easy to navigate page.
Kids Bike Trailers
Stories & Support – View stories relating to Kids Bike Trailers on one easy to navigate page.
Towing Kids who Ride their own Bike
Stories & Support – View stories relating to Towing Kids Riding their own bike on one easy to navigate page.
Kids Learning to Ride a Bike
Coming soon Stories & Support – View stories relating to Kids Learning top Ride a Bike on one easy to navigate page.
Support and inspire other riders and families to ride
Share your riding outings, adventures and experiences on our quick and easy question and answer forms. Join us in helping others ride bikes. All entries receive a free shipping coupon and go into our seasonal prize draw.
goRide supporting women and families to SMILE when you ride
