Buddy Bike: family cycling for kids with special needs

Now children with autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X, Aspberger’s syndrome, or other special needs can actively ride a bike. We thought that was pretty cool, so we added this brand to our lineup and became one of the world’s largest Buddy Bike dealers. The adult (rear) rider must be at least 5’3″.

On markdown: We have a demo model Buddy Bike Family Ltd. with the Nuvinci n360 hub. Normally $2025, marked way down to $1499. It’s been used as a test-rider for several months but shows no signs of wear. Includes optional foot pegs. Full manufacturer’s warranty.

The child sits in front, in a low stoker seat, while the adult sits closely enough behind to steer using the wraparound handlebars. This setup is ideal for kids with special needs who wouldn’t otherwise be able to enjoy the thrill of actively riding a bike, but it’s also great fun for all kids and their parents. It even makes a nice date bike for two grownups–the front rider can be up to about 5’11″ and still ride comfortably. Buddy Bike is easy to ride, solo or together.

With the basket shown here, you can convert the Buddy Bike to a cargo bike for shopping or giving your best friend a thrill. It takes just a few seconds and the flip of a quick-release lever to put the basket on or take it off.

Buddy Bike makes three models, ranging in price from $1790 to a little over $2000. For more information about the bikes, please visit Buddy Bike on the web or @buddybike on Twitter.