How do I tow a child's bike?

How to tow a child's bike on a bicycle (simply and without special accessories)

Is your child tired at the end of a ride? Would it be convenient to bring his bike home from school or to bring his own bike? Good news: with a Bakkie pannier bag, you can tow a child's bike on your bike, easily and without any special equipment. We'll show you how to keep the wheel parallel to your bike, so you can tow it safely.

 

Taking the time the first time.

Before setting off on your adventure, take a few minutes to adjust the straps and find the right settings. Once everything's settled, you'll see: handling becomes quick and intuitive.
The aim: to align the wheel of the small bike with that of the bike towing it, so that it rolls straight, without friction or imbalance.

 

Preparing the bike bag for towing

Before installing the child's bike:

1. Take out the 3 straps stored in the bag pocket. Sewing marks :
• Green = shortest
• Yellow = medium size
• Red = longest
2. Loosen the vertical straps.
3. Unclip the rear vertical strap.
4. Pre-position the straps:
• Green strap: clip its female buckle to the male buckle on the inside of the pannier. It will then pass through the base of your towing bike.
• Yellow strap: pass it through one of the tubes in the luggage rack tray to keep it on standby.
• Red strap: clip its female buckle onto the male buckle at the top and rear of the pannier. It passes through the inside of the luggage rack tray.

Installing the small bike wheel

1. Do a blank test:
• Hold the wheel of the small bike in front of the pannier to find the right position.
• Check that :
• the wheel barely protrudes forward
• the bottom of the wheel is 10 to 15 cm from the ground
• the small bike's pedals do not touch your rear wheel when cornering
2. Adjust the height of the vertical straps accordingly.
3. Place the wheel of the small bike in the pannier.
4. Reclip the rear vertical strap, either over or through the spokes, depending on the configuration.

 

Fastening the straps: keep the front wheel parallel

1. Green strap: clip on the male buckle and adjust to center the wheel on the bicycle axle.
2. Yellow strap: clip on and tighten slightly to maintain alignment.
3. Red strap: clip it behind the handlebars or around the frame of the small bike, depending on its geometry.

💡 The important thing is that the rear wheel of the little bike follows your trajectory perfectly.

 

First tests: towing the child’s bike

• Train a little in a quiet environment: the bike should follow you well and you should feel comfortable.
• Then check that the straps are still tight.

 

Small problems? The solutions!

Here's some useful feedback:

• A strap loosens?
• Reposition the lock correctly (see instructions).
• You can also use the green strap without using the clips: attach it directly between the small wheel and the chainstay.
• Is your child's wheel rubbing against your rear wheel?
• The luggage rack is probably too short.
• Solution: add a Bakkie stiffening batten to provide better support at the rear of the bag.

 

In a nutshell

Towing a child's bike is easy, stable and safe with the Bakkie saddlebag. Once you've found the right settings, you'll be able to ride with confidence. It's a great way to extend your outings... without risky carrying!