Everyone in my family has a bike.
A nice bike.
And we really do enjoy riding them.
But the 4 year old with the training wheels has a hard time keeping up, so we rarely ride our bikes all together because it just hasn’t been possible to take Abby with, especially on the local streets. I’ve never been interested in a rear mounted seat because of stability and those trolleys that you pull seem odd in that the child is far beyond you and it just doesn’t seem safe to me.
At one time I did have a seat for her that mounted sort of under my handlebars but she quickly outgrew it. She did love our rides but she had gotten too tall for the seat.
Recently I was introduced to a product called Tyke Toter, and with it, Abby now enjoys coming along on bike rides with me or with the whole family.
Tyke Toter was invented by a dad who wanted a solution to take his two year old on bike rides with him and his older children.
Interactive Front mounted design puts the child up front in the middle of all the action.
Safe Driver can see the child & the road, center location means better handling.
Simple Quick-Release Installation & Removal, Easy to store and pack, lightweight.
Universal Fit Every bike has a seat post, clamp fits all sizes
I can’t say enough great things about this bike seat. It literally gave Abby and I our freedom back. She can now go wherever we go on our bikes. She is safe, comfortable and LOVES being right there so we can talk about the silly (yet oh-so-important) things she likes to talk about.
It was super easy to install. Simply clamp the Tyke Toter to your seat post and velcro the foot peg to the bike frame and away you go! No tools required. It’s also just as easy to remove.
The Tyke Toter is designed for kids ages 2-5 with a weight limit of 45lbs. Obviously each child is different. Abby is 4 and weighs around 34 lbs and she has plenty of room to grow where we will both still be comfortable. If your child is larger, you should keep in mind that you need to be able to support their weight and size. My knees do bow out slightly when pedaling because of where he body is sitting.
Tyke Toter does not have straps or harnesses, so it does rely on the child’s ability to hold on and sit still, in fact it mimics the bike riding position with the hands on the handlebars and the knees slightly raised. It helps the child feel as though they are not just along for the ride, but really participating in it. As their website says, Tyke Toter is INTERACTIVE!
Abby asks me every day if we can go for a bike ride together. I bought a basket for the front of my bike and we now use the bike to go to the library and other local places, as well as just to spend time together and get some fresh air. The Tyke Toter has not only allowed her to participate in bike rides, it has provided for some bonding moments and experiences that we might not have had otherwise. We chat about all sorts of things on our rides, sing along to my iPhone and have a great time.
You can purchase Tyke Toter from Amazon.com or direct from their website.
Purchase on Amazon: TYKE TOTER Front Mount Child Bicycle Seat
Purchase direct: TykeToter.com
ENTER TO WIN A TYKE TOTER
The main mandatory enter requires leaving a comment on this post telling me why you NEED a Tyke Toter. Follow the Rafflecopter widget to enter and for extra entries.
Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on July 3, 2012 at 12:01 am EST. Winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winners will have 48 hrs to respond. Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter. If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.
Note: I received compensation from the National Peanut Board to share this promotion. Prize provided by the National Peanut Board. Opinions expressed are my own.
No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning are not increased by a purchase.
About Kimberly Grabinski
What keeps your kid from extending his or her legs and sticking their feet between the frame and the wheel or getting it into the spokes when turning?
Turning was not an issue on my bike. You set the footrest where you need to on your frame for the best fit and location for the child. It really is for kids who can hold themselves up and follow directions, meaning – “keep your feet on the pegs or you can’t ride with me.” Even if she extended her feet, my daughter would have to contort herself to get her foot into the spokes. Because of the nature of having to hold on and the fact that they are having fun, most kids won’t have the time to try and mess with the wheel, plus you really are aware of every twitch of their muscles because you are so close.
For my little ones.. they love bikes.