Essential Mama Gear: Biking with Kids

I love riding my bike, but when we added our fourth child to the flock, I wasn't sure how to keep riding! I needed an affordable way to haul the two kids I had who could not pedal themselves.

Read on to find out how I made biking with multiple kids work!

Ready for an Adventure?

When our fourth came along, her big sister was able to ride, but not for very far. If my sons and I wanted to do any real pedaling, I needed a way for one adult to haul both girls.

Sure, I wanted to run out and order a Radish, cause they're just sooo shiny, but the price tag was just not something I could justify at the time. (Xtracycle, if you are looking for Mama bloggers, hello!)

Anyway. I started looking for other options, and I found the Bobike Mini. It fits on the front of your bike, so you can see your little one. The company is based in Holland, where people ride their bikes the way we use cars, so they have some pretty serious safety standards.  And you can start using it at nine months, and keep using it to age three!

I love this thing! Here's my girl on her Bobike Mini. She never gets bored up here, because she can see everything, and people love to chat with her (including me)! She love, love, loves going for a pedal!

The Bobike Mini and Giro Toddler Helmet, ready to roll. (Ahem, please excuse my lame workout clothes, and the port-o-potty,lol.)

Solutions for Littlest Riders (3 Years and Under): ​

• ​​Bobike Mini (9 mths to age 3) Bobike comes from the Dutch, who ride bikes more than most people. (When you see cute pics of bikes overflowing with children, it's usually them!) It even has a quick release, in case you want to ride solo for a change.
• Giro Toddler Helmet (Giro puts this little knob in their helmets. Turn the knob for easy fit adjustment. I think this is totally awesome, because their little heads grow and change so often!) 
• Appropriate clothing (remember, kids on the front will not be pedaling, so they rely on clothes to keep warm or cool!)
• Clip on Toys (when very small, you can clip a toy to their seatbelt)
• A Mama Bike you can trust! Be sure your brakes are in great condition! I have a Raleigh Route 3.0.
• Practice! Be sure to take your bike for a test ride, without the baby, to be sure you are comfortable starting and stopping. It is definitely different with a seat on front!

​So... What About the Second Kid?

Well, that was tricky. If she was younger, I would have just put her on the back of the bike with either aBobike Maxi, or the Walmart version. But she could ride. The trouble was she could not ride far!

We solved it with the Trail Gator! The Trail Gator is a tow bar that lifts the kid bike's front tire off the ground, so they can't steer.... but they CAN still pedal! (She got such a kick out of telling me to rest and let her be the engine). 

Here's me and the girls, cruising along.

Bobike Mini and Trail Gator in action.

Solutions for Small Riders:

Trail Gator Tow Bar:

• Pros: Kid can use their real bike. They can help you pedal. You can unhook them and they can ride solo. Your kid feels more like a "big kid."
• Cons: Adds weight to your set up. Kid has access to their brakes.
• Tips: Whenever you park, put your towed bike on an angle. Leaving the whole thing in a straight line makes it tipsy. We did not use the specialty training wheels.

Rear Seat:

• Pros: Has a seat belt. Kid can sleep. The Bobike Maxi is up to 10 years. 
• Cons: You are doing all the work, pedal-wise. Kid doesn't have much of a view. 

Cargo Bike:

• Pros: Low center of balance. You could put two kids on the back and a Bobike Mini on the front if you had three non-riders. You could make this your car and not pay car insurance, lol. You have places to haul water. And snacks. 
• Cons: Cost is pretty high.

Hauling Bikes by Vehicle:

Eventually you're going to want to take your bikes somewhere... I give you the Sport Rack. Your bikes sits on top of this thing, rather than hanging. As a small woman,  I find it easier to load than the other kind (especially when I'm trying to spot four kids in a parking lot). 

Just don't forget it's back there when you're driving! Bonus: people quit tailgating me when I have the rack on our van!
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Biggest Kids:

In theory, your other kids are big enough to be doing crazy things like riding pump tracks and going over ramps, so they aren't going to need you to haul them anywhere.  Thank the dear Lord. (If you are the exception, I'm thinking cargo bike.)
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More Tips for Biking with Kids:

Where do I put my phone? If you don't have a kid on the front, you can get a holder and just clip your phone on the front. Otherwise, just get a small hip back for your phone and wallet. The small bags that clip under your seat are cool, but they do not work on some set-ups (mine doesn't work with my tow bar).

Bring plenty of water. If you want to carry one thing of water to share, you may want a Camel Back. If you hate sucking on straws (or sharing), then find a bottle that will fit in a bottle holder on your bike. Your kids will need these, too.

Have a destination. Kids do much better when they have a goal (a park, an ice cream shop, whatever).
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Practice the Duck Line. The point of the Duck Line is to get everyone out of harm's way (cars and horses and such). Form a Duck Line with the Mama bike in the front, and then the youngest solo rider to the oldest, single file. No one breaks the Duck Line until Mama Duck says it's clear (that gives you and your oldest rider time to check for more cars). You want to practice both getting into the Line without panicking AND not flying so close that you could crash if someone stops.

Sharing is Caring! Click to Pin!

Snacks are awesome. If you're going far, stash some food or plan to stop somewhere you can get something. We keep some easy to pack snacks that are for adventures only.

Explore new places. Find a way to haul your bikes and go exploring! State parks with bike trails are awesome options (No mountain biking with babies on board! No, no, no!)
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Don't forget your safety. You need a plan for flat tires and skint knees, etc. You also need to research your route to find the kid safest routes. 

Don't forget the kid helmets! In most places, it's the law. Giro makes awesome helmets for kids (see the list).

Now Get Out There and Pedal!

I hope this helps you figure out the best way to get your family biking! Please leave your own Biking with Kids tips in the comments... I'd love to hear what works for you!