Preparing for your first ride with a Bike Tow Bar

Congratulations on purchasing the Bike Tow Bar!  Your family can now enjoy some wonderful family riding.  Let us help make this riding successful right from the start.

Supporting you and your family to SMILE when you ride.
riding with a child 4yrs+

Follow goRides process for preparing for your first ride with the Tow Bar Have a safe and successful experience riding with your child. 

Test Installation of the Tow Bar

Tou have just recently purchased the Tow Bar to your and your child’s bike. Before your first ride please check that all the connections are tight and secure.

What to look for…

  • The Adult Bike –  The Tow Bar is attached to the seat post using the seat post mount. Is this attachment point secure? Make sure, you cannot rotate the attachment around your seatpost. You want your child riding directly behind you.
  • The Bar
  1. Check the bar is securely connected to the seat post. Is the quick release lever closed.
  2. Make sure the two tubes used to create the bar are securely attached.
  3. is it securely connected to the receiver on the kids bike.
  • The Kids Bike – Check that the receiver will stay mounted to the childs bike.

When you feel confident the Tow Bar is securely connected you can attempt your first practice ride. 

Note: goRide recommends that you check the connection of the Bike Tow Bar before every ride. We suggest you methodically work your way through this check the first few times and it soon will become a quick and easy check before each ride. 

First Practice Ride – Without your child

We recommend that you test the feel of the Bike Tow Bar in a quiet place without a passenger. Practice riding your new bike set up away from road traffic. 

How will it feel?

The tandem will steer and brake differently to what you are used to with your solo bike.  This is especially true if your child’s bike is relatively large and your child is therefore older and heavier. 

As the adult you will control the experience so you need to be aware of the risks and any potential danger.  

What to practise… 

  • connecting/disconnecting the tow bar.  You want to be satisfied that your bike to bike connection is secure and you also want to be confident in using the tow bar
  • riding with the tow bar
    1. Get some understanding of the change in weight/balance, practice braking (does it take longer to come to a stop?) and practice starting (a heavier bike is harder to get moving). The changes will be more pronounced when you add the weight of your child.
    2. Get some understanding of the change in length, practice cornering & turning

When you feel confident riding with the Tow Bar with out a passenger you can begin to prepare your child and plan for your first ride together!

First Practice Ride – Prepare your child

Check your child has their helmet on and is wearing it correctly.  Check that they have appropriate clothing on and closed in shoes suitable for riding a bike.

Make it clear to the trailing rider (your child) that to be safe they must remain seated on their bike and not suddenly dismount. This is very important if you do any riding in traffic.

Communication

To be safe when towing a child on a bike. communication is key. Always communicate in a loud voice. Work through clear communication – that you have talked about and both understand.

Starting – Choose instructions that suit your family for starting – either ready, steady, GO or count 1, 2, 3 GO.  The trailing rider can make this starting call so you know they are ready.

Stopping – The adult rider will be making this call. Make sure the trailing person/child is aware when you are stopping or any slowing down.

You need to let your child know it is OK to ask you to stop and that they need to remain on their seat until the bikes are completely stopped. How will they communicate this to you?

Note: Kids with rear pedal brakes will still be able to engage their brakes while you are riding.  You may need to remind them not to do this.

First Ride Together

Choose a safe place that is quiet and ideally has no traffic.  School playgrounds, empty carparks, off road bike paths/cycleways.

This is a new experience for everyone so start small and be very patient.  Choose an area with a long clear path in front of you so you don’t need to turn immediately.

Process

Straddle your bike first and hold your tandem set up steady.  Let your child know they can mount their bike.

Child gets on their bike and sits on seat.  If they can reach the ground from their seat, encourage a start position with one foot on pedal, one foot on the ground. If they are smaller and light you could encourage them to place both their feet onto the pedals.  You need to be prepared to take and balance this weight.

Your child needs to let you know they are ready.  Then use their “start communication words” so you can do some riding.  We recommend starting and stopping a few times so get used to the feel and communication sequence.  You can also repeat what you practiced with out them (see section 2 above) – braking, cornering and turning.

As your child sits in behind you it is not always easy to see what they are doing, keep chatting to them as they get used to the feeling of being towed.  Also talk to them about when it is safe to dismount and how they let you know they would like to stop.

When you both feel confident…

Your first ride to a destination should ideally be short and fairly simple. Think about your route or the trails you could use for this. Ideally you do not want them dismounting until you reach your destination/a safe area especially if you are near traffic. The tow bar will help broaden the riding your family can enjoy so make the most of this new journey your family is on.

What we love about the Tow Bar

  • Great option to have to ride together when needed
  • Your child can choose to pedal or not
  • Easy to attach when out and about encouraging independent as well as tandem riding 

Enjoy the family time and memories that you will create with a Bike Tow Frame. goRide, supporting women and families to SMILE when you ride. 

We’re here to help.  If you have any questions please call us on 021 025 15576 or 0800 44 33 77 or CONTACT us via email

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