Bicycles, Tandems And 3-Wheelers

What is a "third wheel attachment"?

A third wheel is an after market product that you can buy that attaches to your own adult bike. You attach it with a seat post. It's securely fastened there and it rides independently of your bike. It has its own wheel, therefore, third wheel. It has its handle bars and has a seat and has pedals. And the child can pedal right along with you, behind you and, if you had an idea of what a tandem looked like, it's almost like a tandem but with one wheel. And the child can have the freedom of riding a bike with you. You're bonding, you're together. It's higher than a trailer and a child can hold onto the handlebars as he rides with you. And it's a great way to enjoy cycling with your child if your child's not quite ready to ride their own bicycle with you.

At what age can a child ride a third wheel attachment?

Riding a third wheel can be enjoyed by any age. But, the child needs to be able to feel safe holding on back there by themselves. They need to be able to securely hold onto the handle bars. They need to be able to keep their weight on the seat when using a third wheel. You need to check with your child. Is it scary for them to ride back there? Is it making them too nervous? That can be anywhere from four years old to ten years old. You really need to get to know your child. You need to ask them. Put them on the unit; walk your bike along with them; see if they feel comfortable; and listen to your child. If they tell you they're afraid, then that's not what they want to be doing. Then wait until they're ready to ride the bike by themselves. But there's no really set age. They need to be at least four years old where they feel comfortable holding onto the handle bars and you as the parent feel comfortable having them back there, knowing that they can hold on when you start to ride.

What is a "tandem bicycle"?

A tandem bicycle is a two seater. It's made for two people. There is a seat for the front driver and there is a seat for the passenger, but both of the cyclists peddle. It's really a relationship of making sure that you work together because you have to peddle together. You have to lean together. The front part of the bike has the breaks, so the person in the back needs to know when you're stopping. So, it's a true relationship. You really do have to have some communication going when you're riding a tandem. Tandems are usually bigger bikes. So it's usually two adults riding a bike. It's very hard for a young child to ride a tandem with an adult because their feet won't be able to reach the pedals. So, tandems are usually ridden by two people of the same weight and the same height, unless you are a very small adult in which case you could ride it with your teenager. However, it's a good thing to remember that you both should be the same height and the same weight to safely ride a tandem.