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Parents know: There are few things better than getting your children excited about their hobby. However, caution is advised when going on bike rides together. "There's a fine line between challenging and overtaxing," says father and bike veteran Holger Meyer.
The excessive demands and the ensuing drama usually await on the first ascent. This is because the difference in strength is simply too great. The bike industry has now discovered this problem and has the solution: e-bikes for kids. They are supposed to make up for the lack of oomph in children's legs and enable them to go for rides with their parents. But is this really the most elegant solution to the uphill problem?
The power variant
The question of the morality of children's e-bikes has the potential to conjure up a number of shitsorms on the internet. We don't want to get into that. Soberly and without a moral component, there are two solid arguments against E-bikes for children and young people. Namely the weight and the price. Father and specialised journalist Stephan Ottmar knows: "When it comes to children's bikes, weight is extremely important. Even fullys without power, weighing around 12 to 13 kilos, feel as if we adults were pedalling a 25-kilo bike," says Ottmar. Although the weight may not be noticeable when pedalling due to the assistance, it is noticeable in handling on the trail when not pedalling.
The train system variant
Towing systems are a more elegant and cheaper solution. There are now a number of variants, such as the Commitment, the TowWhee, the Tow Rope from Shotgun or the Kidreel. This allows the child to be towed by the parent on uphill sections. The tow truck has to make up for the lack of pressure on the child's pedals. The Kommit towing systems are manufactured by the trail park employees in Treuchtlingen (Heumödern Trails). A clever idea to compensate for the pub's lack of income due to coronavirus.
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How the Kommit train system works for biking with children
"I'm a total fan of systems like this - it keeps my son's bike light and manageable and I get my training effect on the climbs," writes one user on Facebook. The concept is simple: the cable system is attached to the saddle frame - the loop at the end of the cable is attached to the stem of the bike. Children's bikes. The advantage over the makeshift version with a bicycle inner tube: the Kommit tensioning system always remains under tension, making the ascent more comfortable for both pilots. It is also easier to handle.
The makeshift variant
The economy version costs next to nothing, but has weaknesses compared to the 50 euro Kommit system. This is because the knotted tubes do not automatically keep their tension. This is not a problem on steep uphills, but as soon as a somewhat flatter passage follows, sensitivity is required - from the tow truck and the towed rider. "The tube concept is perfectly adequate for kids who are fit enough and only need support now and again on steep climbs," says biker and father Dimitri Lehner.
Laurin Lehner
Editor
