The tow bar is an original and highly interesting solution for bringing children and parents together in cycling! It combines a means of transport — as the child on their bike is towed by an adult — and a learning function, as it helps the young cyclist to improve their balance and better understand trajectories on two wheels.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TOW BARS
Halfway between a bike trailer and a tandem, the tow bar connects a child's bike (the towed bike) to an adult's bike (the towing bike). The towing bike guides the towed bike, whose front wheel is raised but allows the child to pedal and add their effort to that of their accompanying adult.
Depending on the brand, which may have more or less specific attachment systems, the tow bar can come in different forms:
- It can be a structured piece that connects the front wheel of the towed bike to the rear axle of the towing bike;
- It can also be a true bar that connects the seatpost of the towing bike on one side, to the frame and front axle of the towed bike on the other.
Most tow bars can be folded back onto the towing bike to quickly free the small bike.
WHAT IS A TOW BAR FOR?
A means of transport
Like child bike seats or bike trailers, the tow bar is an accessory used to transport young children by bike. But unlike the first two solutions, the tow bar can only be used once the child has reached a certain age (generally not before 3 years old) and is already familiar with cycling.
Depending on the child's level of ability, the benefits of the tow bar will differ:
- if the child is in the learning phase, it is practical for taking them — along with their bike — to a route where they can practise and progress in complete safety;
- if the child can already ride on their own, the tow bar will allow you to go on longer rides than their age would normally permit. Indeed, if they get very tired, the child can stop pedalling and simply enjoy being towed by mum or dad!
For learning to ride a bike!
When on their bike being towed by an adult, the child must always remain attentive to events, even if they can stop pedalling.
Always wearing their helmet, they must make sure to sit upright in the saddle and keep their hands firmly on the handlebars, otherwise their bike will start to lean dangerously.
Positioned in this way, and subject to the changes of direction of the towing bike, the child can work on their balance, familiarise themselves with the sensations of cycling, get a feel for trajectories... By observing the adult in front of them, the child also learns from their gestures (arm extended to signal a change of direction, for example).
Of course, for this learning to take place in the best conditions and for obvious safety reasons, the adult on the towing bike must also ride as smoothly as possible. Abrupt changes of direction and sharp steering movements have a negative and dangerous impact on the towed bike. Likewise, the parent must make sure to take wide turns, as if towing a trailer, and carefully avoid obstacles (a barrier on a cycle path, for example).
Among other precautions, it is recommended to fit the towing bike with an effective mudguard to prevent the child from being hit by splashes of water and mud. And if the towed bike has stabilisers, they must absolutely be removed!
It is also advisable to use the tow bar only on cycle paths, wide roads, or on genuinely smooth tracks. It can certainly be fitted to a city bike, but its use is not practical on narrow streets due to the overall wheelbase of the setup. And its use is strongly discouraged on MTBs, as the child's bike could lift off the ground and cause a fall for both the child and the adult.
INSTALLATION
Installing this type of bar requires a little care, as you need to make sure there is sufficient space at the seatpost of the towing bike: if you are used to riding with a low saddle position, it will be difficult to fit it.
In general, we can only advise you to follow the assembly instructions supplied with these bars scrupulously.
We also invite you to check the various tightening points fairly regularly, both on the towing bike and on the towed bike, to ensure the installation is safe. Indeed, a tow bar that is not tightened sufficiently on the towed bike can make it very sensitive to changes of direction, which can lead to loss of balance and falls.
Please also be aware that manufacturers always indicate a maximum weight to be respected for the towed bike and cyclist, generally around 45 kilos.
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