With more and more people in the UK beginning to recognise the fun you can have mountain biking with your dog, I thought I’d write a short blog with the top things you’ll need when starting out bikejoring.
The bike – Although any old bike will do to begin with, it is worth having something with good brakes and front suspension. You are likely to be encountering lots of bumpy ground and obstacles which you will need to brake for, so the comfort of suspension and safety of good brakes are a requirement.

The harness – Your dog will need a good fitting harness and whilst it has been debated many times what type of harness is best for bikejor, it is my opinion that if your dog is comfortable in the harness and it can still work properly with the higher point of attachment that you get from a bike, then you can use a harness for all the dog sports (canicross, bikejor and dog scootering). If you need any advice on this feel free to get in touch – emilyt@k9trailtime.com.
The line – Must have bungee in it and be long enough to ensure your dog is not restricted and too close to your bikes’ front wheel. On the flip side of that, if your dog is likely to stop and sniff, then a longer line will drop more and may result in getting tangled in the front wheel. You need to decide if your dog is likely to stay out front or drop back and choose a length to suit your individual set up.

The attachment – I would recommend an attachment of some description to help prevent the line dropping onto the front wheel if there is any slack in it. There are many types available and I currently stock three of my favourites which I have found to be both popular and practical. https://www.k9trailtime.com/product-category/bikejor-scooter-attachments/
The safety equipment – Never go bikejoring without a helmet and gloves on. Even if you are the most competent of bikers and your dog is impeccably behaved, you can’t predict every environmental factor you will encounter therefore it is always better to be prepared for the worst!

Good BRAKES and front suspension 🙂
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 2013 18:39:12 +0000 To: steve_cutler@hotmail.com
emily, what is the difference between the solid arm and the more flexible plastic ones any pros and cons please
Personal preference really. The Windog is better if your dog is likely to stop frequently as it is the most flexible and if your dog is mainly out front then the rigid ones just keep the line off the wheel if they do stop 🙂
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