Comparison of Various Bicycle Configurations

Want to tour with your kids? Trying to decide what configuration of bikes to use? There are pros and cons to just about every configuration possible. Here are some thoughts from our experience.

 
pro's
con's
singles
  • give kids greater sense of accomplishment
  • kids have more freedom
  • kids have more responsibility
  • cheaper (if you already have the bikes)
  • slower
  • can only go shorter distances
tandems
  • parent in control
  • time to talk with your child
  • no age limit
  • if one parent slower, that kid doesn´t get break
  • child must go to run errands
triple & single
  • parent in control
  • time to talk with kids
  • kids have companion on bike
  • equalizes differences in strength between parents
  • can send single for errands
  • maneuverability issues
  • difficult to transport
  • hard to fit in hotel rooms