My 5 year lad loves cycling, and always complains when I go out for my longer rides, that he can't come along.
So I've been toying with the idea of a Tandem with kiddie cranks, do you think he's too young to start?
Not too young but quite expensive to be practical. (My Expensive is Singletrack cheap) Unless you go full on european and get a specialist tandem it won't be any fun for him. Just get a trailer and put him and his bike in it. Much more sensible. You'll freeze the wee one otherwise.
There are some that have kids seats at the front and rear steer. Conventional or semi recumbent varients.
My nephew modelling here. Useless at pedalling. Not a realistic reach until he's much taller even with adapted crank position which does exist for this bike.
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oldest antigee from 7 but quite small for her age
kiddie cranks, touring bars for reach, straps on pedals done up tight to avoid pedal strike
never did anything mega - met a couple at a youth hostel once with 2 tandems custom built think their youngest was only 4 and they were doing some big stuff
youngest much preferred tag along as could coast a bit
Been using my tandem daily since the kids were 4. It's a thorn kiddie back tandem. Large at the front sloping down to very small at the rear and has double drilled cranks so they can be run short.
If he's got a bike already this would be cheaper.
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We have an Isla trailer and didn't really use it much. Started using it when my daughter was 3 but found that she got bored around the same distance when she would be tired on her own bike. We normally do about 5 miles of canal towpath or trails through the local woods.
I would rather just stick to 5 miles she is enjoying than going further and her getting fed up.
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Ours were big enough at 7 for our 'normal' tandem. You need to pedal soft and be ready for weight shifts etc. Used to have son stoking and the girls in a trailer - good resistance training.....
