FollowMe Tandem - Parent-Child Bicycle Coupling

Product Information

The FollowMe Tandem is a bike adapter invented by Swiss inventor Thomas Weiss. It allows parents to attach their kids’ bikes to the rear of their own bikes and then ride together with them. The major benefits of the system in my opinion are: It takes a handy person about an hour to do the initial setup. After that, it’s just a few minutes to attach and detach. It will probably take you between 1 and 2 hours. Depending on your skills and experience with bike repair and maintenance, though, your mileage may vary. Installation FAQ This tool is fantastic and flexible in that you can attach and detach it in seconds. It is also compatible with almost all types of bicycles. Overview of the FollowMe Tandem Lift the front wheel and the wheel tray off the ground and insert the balled end of the wheel tray into the clamp on the child’s down tube.

As for our FollowMe tandem, we ended up using it for a year or so then handing it off to another family. That family used it for a while and sold it again. It’s on it’s third home and still going strong. Fits On 12″ to 20″ Kids BikesI was curious as to whether the FollowMe tandem would get in the way, but it’s a doddle to hook up and is reasonably compact once you get used to the overhang at the rear. The coupler works on kids bikes with wheels sized between 12″ and 20″. It will NOT work on kids 24 inch bikes. They may think they are helping by applying the brakes at a junction, but not being able to pull away as you’d intended could cause problems! so is the FollowMe Tandem worth the money? A tow rope system, like the TowWhee or TraxMTB, is an alternative to a trailer-cycle that I often recommend. Compared to the FollowMe tandem, a tow rope offers a lot more ease of use and flexibility. They weigh virtually nothing, require little or no installation, can be swapped between parents and kids, and can be used for off-road riding.

Cycle individually, or be towned is the FollowMe motto. With the Follow Me Tandem Coupling Complete Set, you have the possibility of both safely towing your child through road traffic, or letting it cycle individually away from dangerous traffic. If you’re going to the trouble of towing your child on their own bike (vs a “half” tag along bike), it better be easy to allow them to ride solo, or hook them up for that “just in case” scenario. The FollowMe Tandem can connect or disconnect in just a few minutes, but does have quite a few steps you’ll need to memorize before your first ride. Lowering from Adult BikeIf you’re mechanically inclined, I’m sure you’ll have no problem. If you struggle to assemble Ikea furniture, for example, you might struggle with this is as well. Taking it to a local bike shop for installation is always an option. Riding your bike with the FollowMe and your kid attached in “tandem mode” isn’t harder than riding a bike all by yourself. The FollowMe “starter set” comes with everything you need to fit your “average bikes” as described above. Included are three main components: Component #1: The FollowMe Frame I have seen people riding with tow bars where the parent’s bike would tilt to the left and the kid’s bike tilt to the right at the same time! That is really dangerous. Safe and stable: The two-point suspension at hub height offers you safety, riding comfort and stability, since no levers act as with conventional fixations on the seat tube.

Constructed from steel and weighing 4kg (or four bags of sugar if you like), the FollowMe Tandem has a substantial feel to it, with powder coating and chrome plated steel very much on show. The alloy frame material makes it more complex, and you can climb hills comfortably. When attached perfectly, it keeps kids tagged carefully behind you when riding in traffic jams. However, if you happen to tow weights of more than 50 kg, it may result in damage to your FollowMe Tandem. Compatibility This ingenious device is the perfect solution for riding safely with self-sufficient kids. Install the coupler on the adult bike, and then link up the kid’s bike at will. Great for when the going gets tough, or just for fun. All you need to do is remove the two screws from either end of your rear axle adapter, pull out the splints and take the FollowMe frame off. All that remains is the modified axle itself.

how did the FollowMe Tandem perform?

The one thing to be aware of, however, is that the adult’s bike needs to stay upright while attaching or detaching the child’s bike. This can be a challenge. That said, there are still reasons why someone would want to choose the FollowMe over a tow rope. With a tow rope, your child is free to swerve side to side, so it doesn’t provide the same protection in traffic that the FollowMe does. Your bike (or your child’s bike) may require special adapters. Here are a couple of notes on bike compatibility: From a technical viewpoint, the FollowMe is a very stable and sturdy device. It really interconnects your own and your kid’s bike in a very stable manner.