Visit tow bar is an original and very interesting way of getting children and parents to enjoy cycling together! It combines a means of transport - as the child on the bike is towed by an adult - with a learning function, as it helps the young cyclist to improve his or her balance and better grasp trajectories on two wheels.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TOW BARS
Halfway between a bicycle trailer and a tandem bicycle, the towbar connects a child's bike (the towed bike) to an adult's bike (the towing bike). The former guides the latter, whose wheel The former guides the latter, whose front wheel is raised, leaving the child free to pedal and join forces with his or her companion.
Depending on the brand, which has more or less specific fastening systems, the tow bar can take different forms:
- It can be a structured part, linking the front wheel of the towed bike to the rear axle of the towing bike;
- It can also be a real bar, which connects the seatpost of the towing bike to the frame and front axle of the towed bike.
Most tow bars can be folded onto the towing bike, to quickly release the small bike.
WHAT'S A TOW BAR FOR?
A means of transport
Like baby-carrier seats or bike trailers, towbars are accessories for transporting young children by bike. But unlike the first two solutions, the towbar can only be used when the child has reached a certain age (generally not before 3) and is already familiar with cycling.
Depending on the child's stage of learning, the benefits of the towbar will differ:
- if the child is just learning to ride a bike, it's a practical way of taking him and his bike on a route that allows him to practice and progress in complete safety;
- if your child already knows how to ride on his own, the tow bar will enable you to take him on longer outings and rides than his age would allow. Indeed, if your child gets really tired, he or she can stop pedaling and simply enjoy being pulled along by mom or dad!
For learning to ride!
When on the bike, towed by an adult, children must always remain attentive to events, even if they can stop pedaling.
Always equipped with his helmet, he must keep upright on the saddle and keep the handlebars in his hands, or his bike will start to lean dangerously.
Thus positioned, and subjected to the tractor bike's changing directions, the child can work on his balance, familiarize himself with the sensations of the bike, apprehend the trajectories... By observing the attitude of the adult in front of him or her, the child also learns about the adult's gestures (arm outstretched to signal a change of direction, for example).
Of course, for this learning process to take place in the best possible conditions, and for obvious safety reasons, the adult on the tractor bike must also adopt the most flexible driving style possible. Sudden changes of direction and sharp handlebar movements have a negative and dangerous impact on the towed bike. Similarly, the parent must take care to make wide turns, as if towing a trailer, and carefully avoid obstacles (a barrier on a greenway, for example).
Among other precautions, it's advisable to fit the towing bike with a mudguard to protect your child from water and mud splashes. And if the towed bike has stabilizers, they must be removed!
It's also advisable to use the towbar only on cycle paths, wide roads, or really rolling trails. Although it can be installed on a city bike, its use on narrow streets is impractical due to the total wheelbase of the system. And its use on a mountain bike is strongly discouraged, as the child's bike could come unstuck, causing a fall for both child and adult.
INSTALLATION
Installing this type of bar requires a little care, since you need to check that there's enough space around the seatpost of the towing bike: if you're used to riding with a low saddle position, it will be difficult to install.
Generally speaking, we can only advise you to scrupulously follow the assembly instructions supplied with these bars.
We also recommend that you regularly check the various clamping points on both the towing and towed bikes, to ensure that the installation is secure. An insufficiently tight tow bar on the towed bike can make it very sensitive to changes in direction, leading to imbalances and falls.
You should also be aware that manufacturers always specify a maximum weight for the towed bike and cyclist, generally around 45 kilos.
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