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The children's MTB can't have enough gears if the kids have their way. Children love cycling. Especially mountain biking - bends, waves, berms, small jumps and action. Even more than adults, they don't mind bad weather. On the contrary: jetting through mud puddles is even more fun.
On the other hand, children quickly lose interest on climbs. Sometimes they simply lack the strength and stamina. A towing system for children's bikes can make family bike tours much easier. The tow rope increases the radius of use and keeps the kids' spirits high. We tested four current systems. Of course, it goes without saying that you should start off carefully, slow down and only use the system on climbs.
BikeZipper
BikeZipper is the smallest towing system and works like a ski pass zipper. A 120 cm long tow rope is rolled up in the weatherproof housing, which is simply attached to the stem of the child's MTB with Velcro. If the offspring runs out of breath, you grab the small cork ball and use it to pull the offspring behind you - and the ride continues.
Thanks to the yoyo function, the cord always remains under tension and does not get caught in the tyre. Once at the top, the cord automatically rolls back into its housing like a snail. Even though the cork dumpling sits comfortably in the hand, one-handed riding quickly becomes tiring in the long run.
Good: The pull can be finely regulated when setting off, so the child is not jerked out of the saddle. Also practical when tobogganing or on the way home from kindergarten.
Price: 29,90 Euro / Length: 1,20 m / Weight: 30 g >> available here
PLUS:
- Low weight
- Compact size
- Simple assembly
- Intuitive, easy to use
- Inexpensive to purchase and always with you
MINUS:
- More suitable for short distances
- released up to approx. 25 kilos
- Towing driver drives one-handed
Kommit tow rope
Either the Bavarians are particularly resourceful, or they run out of breath particularly quickly, because like the BikeZipper, the Kommit tow rope also comes from the southernmost German state. The two metre long nylon line is rolled up and waiting under the saddle of the tow vehicle. Although it is a little fiddly to fit and the system sometimes rattles while riding, it is always ready for use: simply grab the loop and thread it over the stem and off you go.
Top: Both hands remain on the handlebars when towing, which makes the ride more relaxed. What's more, the kids roll exactly in the lane of the person in front. Because the towing force is a whopping 120 kg, adults can also tow themselves. The Kommit is not cheap, but the robust construction has already proven itself on numerous trips.
Price: 69.95 euros / Length: 2.0 metres / Weight: 138 grams >> available here
PLUS:
- tool-free assembly
- Robust construction
- Tidy under the saddle, always with you
- Rope stays cleanly in tension, retracts quickly
- Simple operation
- Also suitable for adults
MINUS:
- somewhat expensive
- lies directly in the dirt track of the rear wheel
- Jerky when starting off and while driving
Kids Ride Shotgun Tow Rope
The squeaky blue Tow Rope from Shotgun works in a similar way to a bungee rope and stretches to almost twice its length when pulled. As it is approved for up to 225 kg, adults can also easily tow themselves along - although children will probably be more attracted to the design of the small transport hip bag, which also transports the motivational sugars.
For towing, place the loop of the tow rope over your own saddle and then the other end around the stem of the child's bike or attach it to the head tube with the carabiner. This also keeps your hands relaxed on the handlebars. The coloured rope is also clearly visible to other bikers. The ride is particularly pleasant for the towed rider because the stretchy rope minimises jerky movements. However, by the time the tow rope is stowed away again, the other kids have long since dusted through the first berms.
Price: from 60 euros / length: approx. 1.65 - 2.90 m / weight: 170 g >> available here
PLUS:
- Particularly pleasant and smooth towing
- Simple handling
- Child-friendly hip bag with storage space for snacks
MINUS:
- Expensive system
- Must be stowed away after each driveway
Trax MTB
The Trax also works according to the skipass zipper principle. The 1.90 metre long Kevlar rope is kept under tension during the ride and automatically retracts into its housing after use. As with Kommit, the small lasso is simply thrown around the stem. Attaching and detaching is no problem at all for the youngsters. Only when starting up should you take your time so that the start is not too jerky.
Mounting is a little more complicated. The Trax is firmly attached to the seat post using cable ties. In the case of telescopic seat posts, this can limit the stroke on the one hand, and on the other hand - if mounted too low - the system can rub against the tyre. Quick conversion to other bikes is difficult because of the cable ties. In places, the cable snags like a hoover cable when it is rolled up - a bit annoying because the cable can get caught on the bike so quickly. The weight allowance of the Trax ends at 90 kilos, which means that it can only be used to a limited extent by adults.
Price: 39.95 Euro / Length: 1.90 m / Weight: 95 g >> available here
PLUS:
- Inexpensive system
- Rope stays cleanly in tension, retracts quickly
- Independent uncoupling possible while travelling
MINUS:
- Slightly jerky when starting off and while driving
- not optimal when using a telescopic support
- Can only be used on different bikes with some effort (cable ties)
