If you enjoy the adrenaline rush and the great outdoors, bikejoring might be the perfect activity for you and your active dog. Believe me, there’s nothing more pleasant than heading out on trails with your four-legged companion. Joring sports are also ideal for keeping you both healthy, fit, and happy. However, you must have some essential bikejoring equipment such as an antenna for attachment before getting started!
Then, you will also need an appropriate harness, leash, and maybe some extra gear. But for now, let’s keep our focus on the bikejor attachment. It’s simply an antenna that’s designed to prevent the joring line from getting stuck in the front wheel. If you’re looking for the best option on the market, my recommendation is the Non-Stop Dogwear Bike Antenna! (Check It Out On Amazon)
If you just find out what is bikejoring, it’s normal to have plenty of questions. To be honest with you, I’m not an expert either. My goal is simply to share everything I’ve learned to help as many people as possible to enjoy this awesome sport. At the end of your reading, you will have all the information you need to start biking with your dog on cross country trails!
What Is Bikejoring?
Just to make sure everybody understands what this urban mushing sport is, let me explain it to you real quick. It’s simply a bike or a scooter connected to a dog. Then, he will pull the bicycle on trails following the rider’s commands. If you’re still not sure, watch this video to see exactly what is bikejoring!
Why Do You Need An Attachment For Bikejoring?
The attachment is the little antenna on the bike that restricts the leash from getting tangled in your front wheel. That’s why this safety accessory is essential to prevent injuries for both you and your dog!
On the other hand, it’s not designed to attach the line directly to the hole of the antenna. The head tube of your bike frame is the only appropriate place to fix the bungee leash. Bikejor attachments aren’t strong enough to withstand the dog’s pulling force. Its only function is to support the joring line to keep it as far as possible from the front wheel!
How To Connect Your Dog To Your Bike For This Joring Sport?
To allow your buddy to pull you and your bicycle on trails, you must be attached to him. That’s where you will need an appropriate bungee line and an antenna. Those two essential pieces of equipment allow you to connect the bike to your dog safely. If you don’t have any of this gear, let me share with you my recommendations for bikejoring!
My Favorite Attachment For Bikejoring → The Non-Stop Dogwear Bike Antenna
Lightweight, strong, and flexible, this is not the most popular option on the market for no reason. Whether you’re just getting started or you’re looking for one of the most performant bikejor attachments, the Non-Stop Dogwear Bike Antenna might be ideal for you. The spring on this metal extension is very efficient to prevent jerks on trails and to keep the line from getting caught in the tires of your bike!
This attachment is also designed to fit on any standard bicycle, scooter, or kick bike headset with a diameter of 1 ⅛ inch (28.6 mm). The antenna is also easy to install, durable, and it stays in place well if properly installed. On the contrary to most other bike arms available, this one is specially made for bikejoring. Thus, it’s the most appropriate gear of this type to keep you and your dog safe on trails!
The Ultimate Bikejoring Bungee Leash → The Neewa Tug-Line
Without any line to connect your bike and your buddy, he won’t be able to pull you on the track. That’s why you must have an appropriate leash to get started with bikejoring safely. My favorite option is the Neewa Dog Joring Tow Line for a few good reasons.
Foremost, the reinforced bungee cord is essential to avoid yanks when your dog is pulling the bike. This type of line will absorb shocks to improve the joring experience for both of you. Then, the quick release hook is another great feature to ensure your safety by unleashing you from your pup if needed!
If you’re new to this whole world of urban mushing, this tug line will also be great to try other joring sports. Whether you want to enjoy canicross, skijoring, or hands-free walking with your dog, this is an excellent bungee leash to have!
The Neewa Tow Line is also available in two sizes (1.5 m / 5 ft & 2 m / 6.5 ft). For bikejoring, the leash you select must be long enough to keep a safe distance between the bike and the canine. That’s why I highly recommend you to opt for the length of 2 meters (6.5 feet)!
How To Choose The Best Attachment System For Bikejoring?
If you don’t want to purchase my favorite gear, it’s alright. However, you still need to understand what makes a good connection set-up between your bike and your dog. Therefore, here are some of my general guidelines to invest in the best bikejoring antennas and lines out there!
For the attachment, you only have to find something that’s keeping away the leash from the front wheel. Side-pulling bike arms might be suitable to bike alongside your dog, but they aren’t safe or appropriate for bikejoring. If you want him to pull you on trails, make sure to have the proper gear for this purpose!
For the tow line, you might wonder if the leash you’re using on daily walks is suitable for joring sports. Well, it’s an excellent question and there’s no good answer to that. You will probably be able to figure out something that works for bikejoring. Nonetheless, it won’t be as comfortable, performant, and convenient as bungee lines!
If you don’t want your everyday leash to break, using it for joring sport isn’t the best idea. Moreover, it won’t be fun for you and your dog to have constant jolts while biking on trails. That’s why shock-absorbing lines are much more appropriate for joring sports. Then, it’s also great if to have a connection line that’s durable, lightweight, and easy to hook up on your bike!
Other Essential Gear For Biking With Your Dog On Trails!
Now, you almost have everything you need to start bikejoring. The antenna and the bungee leash are among the most important things to enjoy for this joring sport, but it’s not the only gear that’s required. For example, do you know where you will hook the other end of the line on your dog?
If you thought his collar could do the job, it’s not the case. His neck isn’t strong enough to support all his pulling force so you must find another attachment point. The harness is the only gear that’s suitable for joring sports. Otherwise, it won’t be safe for your companion to pull you on trails!
Bikejoring Harness.
Most adventure harnesses can be OK to connect your bike to your dog. However, choosing gear that’s designed for pulling sports will definitely be more convenient and performant. My ultimate recommendation would be the Freemotion Harness made by Non-Stop Dogwear. It’s ultralight, provides a full range of motion to your dog, and distributes the pulling force optimally!
Bicycle, Scooter, Or Kick Bike.
If you have nothing to ride on, you won’t be able to start bikejoring. Furthermore, you should also be quite agile on a two-wheeler before you consider getting pulled by your dog on it. In general, I would recommend investing in a good mountain bike for this joring sport. It simply offers more traction, control, and suspension!
The Gravity 2020 FSX 1.0 could be an excellent option to have the best experience possible on trails. However, almost any bike can be fine to start urban mushing if it’s comfortable to ride and has good brakes. Thus, the bike you have in the garage might be another option to consider!
Safety Bikejoring Equipment.
If there’s something more important than having fun while biking, is to make sure it’s safe. That’s why you should always wear protective gear to minimize the risk of injuries if you fall off the bike. This joring sport can be extremely dangerous, so don’t take any chances!
The most important item to ensure your safety is the helmet. You should invest in a good one and always wear it when you’re riding on trails. Then, there are other things you could need such as biking goggles, gloves, or mirrors.
Paws Protection.
Bikejoring isn’t only risky for you, your buddy could also hurt himself while he’s pulling you. The most common injury for mushing dogs is on their paws because they are running on rough surfaces. Thus, investing in booties might be the perfect solution to protect your companion’s paw pads on trails!
Unfortunately, he will probably not enjoy his shoes right off the bat. That’s why protection paw wax might be worth considering. In my opinion, every dog owner should have the Musher’s Secret Paw Wax to start any type of outdoor or joring sport!
The Ultimate Bikejoring Gear List:
- Water & Food.
- Bike.
- Harness.
- Tow Line.
- Antenna.
- Safety Biking Equipment. (Helmet, Gloves, Etc.)
- Doggie Boots or Paw Wax.
- Proper Clothing.
You’re Ready To Go Bikejoring!
Now, you only have to pack up some water and food before to be ready for heading out on trails. You could also invest in plenty of optional gear, but it’s not necessary to get started. Nonetheless, things such as a bike saddlebag, hydration backpack, or portable dog bowl might be extremely useful for your outdoor adventures.
Here’s an excellent sum-up video that shows the basic equipment you need for bikejoring with some tips! (Thanks To DoggyU)
Products Mentioned In The Video:
- WalkyDog Bike Attachment (Repurposed)
- Howling Dog Alaska Harness
- Musher’s Paw Wax
My Tips To Get Started With Bikejoring!
Before letting you go, I’ve some information you might be interested in. Having the proper gear is extremely important for dog sports, but it’s not the only thing you should think about to get started safely. There are several other ways to prepare you and your companion for bikejoring. That’s why I would like to share with you my top advice for beginners!
- Start Out Slow & Improve Gradually.
- Teach Your Dog The Basic Mushing Commands.
- Bikejor On Grass or Dirt Trails For Your Dog’s Paws.
- Don’t Forget To Warm-Up & Cool Down.
- Go To An Event To Ask Your Questions & See How It Works.
- Have Fun!
Last Thoughts About Antennas & Attachments For Bikejoring!
Finally, it’s not too complicated to connect you and your dog on trails. You only need to invest in the right equipment before getting started. After gearing up properly, you might have some other preparation to do such as training or physical conditioning. However, I’m sure the energy, time, and money you will invest for bikejoring will be worth all the fun you will have riding outdoors with your companion!
The only attachment you will need for this joring sport is a metal extension to prevent the leash from getting caught in the wheels. In my opinion, the Non-Stop Dogwear Bike Antenna is the best option available. I hope my article helped you understand how this bikejoring accessory works. Now, it’s time to find all the gear you need to go ride on trails with your dog.
Take Care & Have Fun!