Recommendations on a TANDEM bicycle?

[Analog]

My daughter's 7 and I'd like to have her ride with me. I don't know much about them - but I would like to get one. Any recommendations?

 

[notfred]

Tandem bicycles are made for adults. It is possible that there is a kid sized tandem bicycle, but I'm absolutely positive that you're not gonig to find one that's adult sized in the front and child sized in the back. Just get her her own bike and ride next to her.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Tyler
Tandem bicycles are made for adults. It is possible that there is a kid sized tandem bicycle, but I'm absolutely positive that you're not gonig to find one that's adult sized in the front and child sized in the back. Just get her her own bike and ride next to her.

Actually, that's not quite right. There are "adapter kits" you can get that move the pedals up within reach of small kids. That'd be my recommendation as you have a perfectly good tandem you and your wife or whoever can use once the kids are older and want their own bikes. The other option would be a "trail-a-bike" (kinda looks like the rear half of a bike with a long arm that clamps onto your seatpost).

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
...once the kids are older and want their own bikes.

For me, that was at 6 years old. His daughter is already 7. How long do you think she's going to want to be stuck sharing a bike with her dad? The tandem is a waste of money, IMO. He'd be better off w/ a bike for his daughter. Plus, she can go out and ride bikes with her friends.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Tyler

Originally posted by: Fausto1
...once the kids are older and want their own bikes.

For me, that was at 6 years old. His daughter is already 7. How long do you think she's going to want to be stuck sharing a bike with her dad? The tandem is a waste of money, IMO. He'd be better off w/ a bike for his daughter. Plus, she can go out and ride bikes with her friends.

I guess it depends on his daughter and where he lives. Tandems are popular here for adult/kid combos since traffic is so bad most people don't want their kids piloting thier own bikes until they're older.

 

[Analog]

Actually, she has her own bike, but I'm thinking of 25 mile runs on a paved rail-to-trail. Basically, I'm looking at it from a workout perspective. Having her on her own bike wouldn't cut it, as I'd be poking along at her pace. I know that she won't be doing much of the work, but at least it will be at my pace and I would be sure she's right there with me at all times.