Childrens Pedlec

[glassman]

Childrens pedlec......do they exist ?

I'm ideally after a pedlec for my 4 year old, she perfectly competent on her bike but lacks the leg power to do any distance over hilly terrain

She has a 16" Isla bike at present which is about as light as you get for this size bike so the next step is some power assistance, if an off the shelf pedlec is not available would any retrofit kits errr fit.

Thanks

 

[Nealh]

In law it is illegal for any one under 14 to ride one in public and probably not very wise at such a young age.

 

[Alan Quay]

Childrens pedlec......do they exist ?

I'm ideally after a pedlec for my 4 year old, she perfectly competent on her bike but lacks the leg power to do any distance over hilly terrain

She has a 16" Isla bike at present which is about as light as you get for this size bike so the next step is some power assistance, if an off the shelf pedlec is not available would any retrofit kits errr fit.

Thanks

When I ride with my son (now 8, but riding since about 2) we use a Trail Gator. This connects our two bikes and allows me to tow him when he's tired, then un-hitch and let him ride.

I have considered adding a limited electric assist to his bike, but as already pointed out, it is illegal.

If I were to do it, I'd probably use something like a 36v 201 rpm hub motor, laced into a 16" wheel and run with a 24v controller/battery, which would limit the speed to around 6mph. If you went to 36v you would get about 10mph.

Either way though, it would have loads of torque and be almost unstoppable

 

[RobF]

KTM offer a 24" wheel bike for children.

My ignorance of the average size of a four-year-old means I've no idea if it will fit.

http://www.ktm-bikes.at/en/bikes/e-bike.html?action=bike_details&bike_id=163&cHash=96cf698cb01b9a372a7b6a12e031f381

 

[JohnCade]

Doubt it unless she is going to be a giantess. 24” wheels are for people up to around 5’ tall as I recall and four years olds are around half that.

 

[flecc]

I'm ideally after a pedlec for my 4 year old, she perfectly competent on her bike but lacks the leg power to do any distance over hilly terrain

It depends where you are, only the nanny-state UK has this ridiculous minimum age restriction. No other European country or the EU Commission find it necessary.

In my view if someone can ride a bike, they can safely ride a pedelec.
.

 

[Nixtoo]

We use a follow me tandem it's a great addition for towing kids up to 20" wheel and much more stable than other options.

 

[anotherkiwi]

It depends where you are, only the nanny-state UK has this ridiculous minimum age restriction. No other European country or the EU Commission find it necessary.

In my view if someone can ride a bike, they can safely ride a pedelec.
.

Belgium seems to be on the way to nanny state too with threats that this spring pedelecs will be forbidden for the under 16s... I don't know if that law passed or not.

 

[flecc]

Belgium seems to be on the way to nanny state too with threats that this spring pedelecs will be forbidden for the under 16s... I don't know if that law passed or not.

Hopefully not, it's bonkers.
.

 

[Alan Quay]

KTM offer a 24" wheel bike for children.

My ignorance of the average size of a four-year-old means I've no idea if it will fit.

http://www.ktm-bikes.at/en/bikes/e-bike.html?action=bike_details&bike_id=163&cHash=96cf698cb01b9a372a7b6a12e031f381

Roughly speaking:


Age:Whelesize

2: 12"
3: 14"
5: 16"
7: 20"
10: 24"

 

[EddiePJ]

KTM offer a 24" wheel bike for children
http://www.ktm-bikes.at/en/bikes/e-bike.html?action=bike_details&bike_id=163&cHash=96cf698cb01b9a372a7b6a12e031f381

The 1.10 minute point in this clip made me smile.

 

[Artstu]

I'm ideally after a pedlec for my 4 year old, she perfectly competent on her bike but lacks the leg power to do any distance over hilly terrain

In my experience it's the mental side that takes time to develop. So even an easier ride isn't going to help with the concentration required.
I've ridden 16 miles with a 4-year old and it was her mental state that was first to fail.

Lower your expectations and build up more slowly.

 

[RobF]

In my experience it's the mental side that takes time to develop. So even an easier ride isn't going to help with the concentration required.
I've ridden 16 miles with a 4-year old and it was her mental state that was first to fail.

The same can be said of adults.

I spoke to quite a few endurance cyclists on the London Edinburgh London audax.

A common theme was the head 'goes' first when trying to do the last miles of a ridiculously long day.

Same with climbing.

Look up, you see what lies ahead, think 'oh no' and grind to a halt.

Which is why many cyclists say it's easier to climb in the dark.

 

[Artstu]

Very true Rob. I think that has been a big factor in what I've been able to achieve on a bike, despite living with what is a considered a very debilitating illness.

That 4-year old girl is now a mentally very strong determined 9-year old racer.

 

[EddiePJ]

Artstu, I was telling the lads at BikeGoo just this very morning about the above girl.

We were discussing cyclocross.

 

[Artstu]

Artstu, I was telling the lads at BikeGoo just this very morning about the above girl.

We were discussing cyclocross.

Her and her brother are collecting their club trophies tomorrow, U9 cyclocross champion, and U12 hill climb champion for her brother. I'm surprised at just how exciting spectating at cyclocross has been, the circuit races could be a bit boring in comparison.