Giving the little 'un a backy?

[Sara_H]

Well after doing some on road cycling with my son on holiday, I now know he's not ready for cycling on the road.

But sometimes I need to drop him off at my Mums before work.

I was wondering about giving him a backy - like we used to do with our mates when we were kids.

On some of the dutch websites I've seen a child seat that goes on the back of a bike, for older kids to sit on and hold on, as opposed to the "toddler" seats.

I have no idea what tey're called or where they could be obtained - any ideas?

For info - he's 8 and weighs about 26kg.

 

[Emmanuel Obikwelu]

I was cycling down the road and a white bloke looking a bit the worse for wear called out to me as i passed "givusa backy" Startled i blurted out that i was sorry but i didnt smoke whereby he exasperated said no a backy on your bike. Thankfully i was past him by then and i waved in apology as i disappeared.

 

[danger mouse]

When I lived in Germany many years ago it was all the rage to fix another saddle to the cross bar

Kids just held onto the handlebars which could be interesting

 

[snorri]

deleted

 

[G-Zero]

Just got back from hols and the Dutch family on the pitch next to us had some weird and wonderful arrangements for their kids.

The adults bikes looked comfortable, but were massive, sit up high things. The bloke's bike had a kids seat behind the rider's saddle and another set up on the crossbar for another kiddy. His bike also had a windscreen !!

They also had an assortment of trailers/buggies for towing and pushing.

It was nice to see dad returning from the site shop on a morning with both kiddies on board as well as juggling 2 fresh baguettes.

 

[Furkz]

When I lived in Germany many years ago it was all the rage to fix another saddle to the cross bar

Kids just held onto the handlebars which could be interesting

seen a lot of this in Pakistan where they carry a minimum of about 4 on a bike. works well although the kid may require disciplinary action if they pull round on the bar

remembers sandals are key for doing the Tour De Pakistan.... im not joking btw

 

[ausalex]

Have you thought about getting a tow bar and towing him on his own bike? I use a trail gator to pull my 5 year old around.

 

[Sara_H]

Well, I have a trail gator in the garage that we've never used .

I was thinking the buisness of his front wheel being up may be a bit weird?

 

[Sara_H]

Just got back from hols and the Dutch family on the pitch next to us had some weird and wonderful arrangements for their kids.

The adults bikes looked comfortable, but were massive, sit up high things. The bloke's bike had a kids seat behind the rider's saddle and another set up on the crossbar for another kiddy. His bike also had a windscreen !!

They also had an assortment of trailers/buggies for towing and pushing.

It was nice to see dad returning from the site shop on a morning with both kiddies on board as well as juggling 2 fresh baguettes.

My OH has three boys and reports that he's carried all of them on his bike at once in one configuration or another!

 

[Ellis456]

I havent given a "backy" since I was a young lad, and I remember it being hard work, the whole bike swings left to right.

 

[rualexander]

I think it is illegal in the UK to carry a passenger on a bike unless it has been built or adapted to carry one, e.g. child seat, etc.

 

[Arch]

Well, I have a trail gator in the garage that we've never used .

I was thinking the buisness of his front wheel being up may be a bit weird?

I guess you could counter it by raising the saddle and lowering the bars to level him out. But I'm not sure tailgators are designed for kids that old - I'd check that out. A proper trailerbike (the thing with a hitch to your bike, and one rear wheel) would be better. If possible, one that attaches to a rack, rather than a cheap seatpost attachment, which is liable to develop a lot of looseness, allowing the trailerbike to schlonk from side to side.

To carry a passenger legally, your bike must be adapted - I think this means handles, and footrests. On a regular bike, his weight might be a little too far back over the rear hub. An option is an Xtracycle addition - this can be fitted with footrests and you clamp some tandem bars onto your seatpost.

The final option is a kiddyback tandem, but that's a big investment.

It's one of those areas where we are way behind the Continentals. In Holland they don't bat an eyelid at carrying kids and other adults on the rack, or crossbar, because they do it sensibly.

I once saw a BMX (here in York) with: one kid pedalling standing up, one sitting on the saddle, one standing on the rear stunt pegs, and one sitting on the handlebars!