what mtb tow rope f...
 

[Closed] what mtb tow rope for towing kids on a ride?

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started taking the 7 year old out a bit more and he still struggles a bit on hills./ I was thinking about getting a towrope for him. The shotgun ones are £55. I have heard some people bodge theirs out of other things. What has anyone used that would be worth giving a go to?

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 12:44 pm
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2 innertubes linked together works for my ebike uplift tow rope.

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 1:05 pm
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I use a Trax, basically a kevlar retractable lead.

https://traxmtb.com/en/trax-2/

Brilliant, I just leave it attached and hook it on and off as required.

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 1:08 pm
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Trax user here, we've got two of them. Chose it over others for the ease of usability - quick to deploy as required, and no need to carry/stash it in your backpack when not in use. Mini-a11y's both quickly perfected being able to unhook themselves on the move when we reach flat/downhill bits.

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 1:16 pm
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I use a kinetic tow rope with woven loops as opposed to the big metal shanks. Was around £15 iirc on a euro car parts offer

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 1:21 pm
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There was a thread or info about making a 'towee' elastic tow rope on here a while ago....

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 3:57 pm
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There was a thread or info about....

There are absolutely loads of threads about this exact subject.

Do a search.

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 4:04 pm
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Any idea where breninbeener?

the trax system looks good.

cant find any shorter kinetic tow ropes .... al of them seem to be 10m long!

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 4:06 pm
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Any idea where breninbeener?

If only there was a large multinational company that had made billions by being the one stop shop for things like this 🙄

Just go to Google and type in:

site:singletrackworld.com/forum towhee

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 4:27 pm
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There's loads of them cheap on ebay from China

I have one it's great but awkward to keep hooking unhooking

I'm gonna get a retractable one

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 4:49 pm
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If you have a go outdoors nearby.

a length of tubular webbing from the climbing stuff + elastic threaded through the middle, tie knots to ‘compress’ it and then two loops - or do the same but sew it for a neater look.

ours has been doing sterling duty for 5 years now, where they see the £55 value in the towee one is beyond me!

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 5:50 pm
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I recently ordered 5m each of the webbing and shock cord linked below. Aim is to end up with something akin to the towwhee but for ~£10 (including shipping) in bits.

https://www.profabrics.co.uk/products/tubular-webbing-25mm

https://www.profabrics.co.uk/products/5mm-shockcord

PS. The plan is to use a double run of 2.0/2.5m of the shock cord inside of the 5m (minus end loops) of webbing. I’ll be using some heavy duty bonded nylon thread to hand stitch the ends together.

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 9:42 pm
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Use a retractable dog lead with a bit of bungee attached to the lead end.
I used releasable zip ties to attach it to the seat rail, so you can take it off quickly.
The Retractable lead takes up the slack in the tow rope.
Wrap the lead around the stem then get your sprog to hold the end of it against the grip. If they want to stop they just release the lead.
It was less than £10 and was great👍

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 10:56 pm
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The retractable dog lead allows you to quickly reel in the lead if you want a break from towing without stopping.
Do not hook or tie on to the lead to the kids bike!

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 11:03 pm
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I got one of these from decathlon and cut the plastic tube out of the handle leaving the straps and small carabenas works a treat, my daughter hooks the strap round her bars and stem and off we go. When not in use I wear it like a belt 😀

Decathlon exercise rope thing

 
Posted : 18/01/2022 11:16 pm
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If only there was a large multinational company that had made billions by being the one stop shop for things like this 🙄

Just go to Google and type in:

As a sarcastic device you’ll find this is far more effective…

https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=singletrackworld+towhee

 
Posted : 19/01/2022 7:50 am
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As a sarcastic device you’ll find this is far more effective…

I would have done, but couldn't find it...😒

 
Posted : 19/01/2022 10:34 am
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Why bodge something?

You can buy a ready made one for a tenner?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353760859319

puzzled.

 
Posted : 20/01/2022 2:48 pm
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https://singletrackmag.com/shop/towwhee/

 
Posted : 20/01/2022 4:38 pm
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Mines on one of those other threads, it's a bit of stretchy dog lead and some paracord loops. About a fiver altogether.

 
Posted : 21/01/2022 2:01 am
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Trax - all the other options above are a massive faff in comparison. Ok it's more than a tenner but it just works and once your child has gotten used to the live unhooking it an be done without stopping let alone having to stuff something into your pocket/pack.

I do have to swivel mine around to ride any dh though is it hits the tyre if using any significant wheel travel whilst in the aft facing position. Just added a bit of 3M tape to the post to stop it rubbing but that's probably not a bad idea generally.

 
Posted : 21/01/2022 1:30 pm
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Why bodge something?

You can buy a ready made one for a tenner?

why by more crap when you can use 2 innertubes you no longer need?

 
Posted : 21/01/2022 2:37 pm