My oldest has outgrown the babyseat and is ready to move up. Can anybody with experience with any of the above make a recommendation?
Thanks!
Thanks!
SeaBass_
Trail-a-bikes, Alleycats, Tagalongs, 3rd wheels
I had two different models and rode a ton of off-road with them both. The first was an inexpensive model I got at Target. Paid $75, used for 4 years and sold on eBay for $60. Second was a Burley Piccolo. Bought it at a garage sale locally for $75, used it for 4 years and sold it for $350+ on eBay.
Both had their + and -.
Cheap one folded down for easy transport, but was really heavy and cheaply made with a heavy steel frame, steel wheel, BMX freewheel that didn't work, steel handlebars, and steel seat post. The clamp system required a bracket to be mounted on the seat post and pivoted on a plastic bushing. The plastic bushing would break and work out from under the clamp, causing the trailer to become unstable. Different sized bushings were required for different seat posts. The frame was also bigger, so wasn't as usable for the kids as early in their growth.
Burley model was lighter, had gears, was more adjustable, had chro-moly frame, alloy wheel, alloy bars, alloy seat post, and gears. The seat and handlebar adjustments were easy to make. Lower frame allowed for better stand over and let the kids start on it younger. Didn't hurt to have gears. When younger, the kids did not use them, but as they got bigger, they started learning with them. The attachment system, however, required a rear rack to be mounted to the bike. It was very safe, secure, and stable, and the pivot was smooth, operating on headset bearings. This required a dedicated trailer pulling bike.
Overall the Burley was the best unit, but if I had it to do over again, I would look for something with a quick release latch mechanism that could easily be moved between my wife's bikes and my bikes. I would still want it to be lightweight and decent quality and collapsible.
Both had their + and -.
Cheap one folded down for easy transport, but was really heavy and cheaply made with a heavy steel frame, steel wheel, BMX freewheel that didn't work, steel handlebars, and steel seat post. The clamp system required a bracket to be mounted on the seat post and pivoted on a plastic bushing. The plastic bushing would break and work out from under the clamp, causing the trailer to become unstable. Different sized bushings were required for different seat posts. The frame was also bigger, so wasn't as usable for the kids as early in their growth.
Burley model was lighter, had gears, was more adjustable, had chro-moly frame, alloy wheel, alloy bars, alloy seat post, and gears. The seat and handlebar adjustments were easy to make. Lower frame allowed for better stand over and let the kids start on it younger. Didn't hurt to have gears. When younger, the kids did not use them, but as they got bigger, they started learning with them. The attachment system, however, required a rear rack to be mounted to the bike. It was very safe, secure, and stable, and the pivot was smooth, operating on headset bearings. This required a dedicated trailer pulling bike.
Overall the Burley was the best unit, but if I had it to do over again, I would look for something with a quick release latch mechanism that could easily be moved between my wife's bikes and my bikes. I would still want it to be lightweight and decent quality and collapsible.
Funny you ask, I just picked up the Adams Trail a Bike last weekend for my daughter (5 years old) to ride, as she's horribly outgrown the tandem trailer that she used to ride in. I've managed to put in a few rides with it and so far am quite happy with it. It's great because it allows me and my daughter to ride together, she enjoys riding a "real bike" rather than the trailer, and gets a real kick out of being able to do all the pedalling for us both (when the terrain warrants).
Attachment is with a bracket that fits around the seat post. There are a number of plastic collars that help with a secure fit. The bracket then attaches to the arm of the trail a bike with a socket that is reminiscant of a socket wrench style of attaching, and uses a threaded pin/bolt assembly to further secure it...so once it's on, it's on. Turning is nice and smooth, and I can't feel the bike attached to mine in that respect.
The model I got has a grip shift w/6 or 7 gears on the back side, my daughter thinks it is neat to be able to shift gears, but the only thing is that it is hard for her hands to actually turn the shifter. Not sure if it is something that will loosen up over time, or if it is something she'll get with practice, but the added gearing definatly helps avoid her mashing the pedals at higher speeds and throwing the balance off.
The bike weighs in at about 20-25 lbs, so it isn't wickedly-heavy, and when riding with it empty I only marginally notice the added weight. Once my daughter gets on though, it is another story. Definatly make sure you practice with your offspring before doing any trails or the like...it has been four or five rides so far and my daughter is still getting the hang of balance and not wiggling too much. I can really feel her "push" the direction of the bike when she gets moving around sometimes.
Not too many negatives that I can speak of...I haven't put a really long ride in on it yet, but can't forsee there being any long term issues with it. The guy at the shop said it really isnt' for rooty singletrack type riding, and I'd agree that I probably wouldn't use it for that. Not from a durability standpoint, but unless my daughter really gets her balance down really good, a sudden change in bike direction can really throw stuff off. Easy singletrack I wouldn't think twice though, both her and I would love it.
The design looks quite similar/almost exactly like the Giant model, at about half the cost.
Hope that helps, if you have any other q's don't hesitate to ask...
Tim
Attachment is with a bracket that fits around the seat post. There are a number of plastic collars that help with a secure fit. The bracket then attaches to the arm of the trail a bike with a socket that is reminiscant of a socket wrench style of attaching, and uses a threaded pin/bolt assembly to further secure it...so once it's on, it's on. Turning is nice and smooth, and I can't feel the bike attached to mine in that respect.
The model I got has a grip shift w/6 or 7 gears on the back side, my daughter thinks it is neat to be able to shift gears, but the only thing is that it is hard for her hands to actually turn the shifter. Not sure if it is something that will loosen up over time, or if it is something she'll get with practice, but the added gearing definatly helps avoid her mashing the pedals at higher speeds and throwing the balance off.
The bike weighs in at about 20-25 lbs, so it isn't wickedly-heavy, and when riding with it empty I only marginally notice the added weight. Once my daughter gets on though, it is another story. Definatly make sure you practice with your offspring before doing any trails or the like...it has been four or five rides so far and my daughter is still getting the hang of balance and not wiggling too much. I can really feel her "push" the direction of the bike when she gets moving around sometimes.
Not too many negatives that I can speak of...I haven't put a really long ride in on it yet, but can't forsee there being any long term issues with it. The guy at the shop said it really isnt' for rooty singletrack type riding, and I'd agree that I probably wouldn't use it for that. Not from a durability standpoint, but unless my daughter really gets her balance down really good, a sudden change in bike direction can really throw stuff off. Easy singletrack I wouldn't think twice though, both her and I would love it.
The design looks quite similar/almost exactly like the Giant model, at about half the cost.
Hope that helps, if you have any other q's don't hesitate to ask...
Tim
Sounds like I should stay away from Target! I'll definitely be checking out garage sales though. He outgrew the seat last summer so he should be ready now. He's tall and about 40lbs.
I bought one of those inexpensive trail-a-bikes (TAB) from eBay and it was adequate for its purpose (to get my daughter out there with us when we go on a bike ride). I forgot the model but the interface between the coupling that I mounted on my seatpost to the front end of the TAB was loose and it would squeak. Holding my bike up the TAB would flop over to one side or the other about five degrees in either direction. This isn't a big deal until you are out on a ride and it flops from one side to the other, it will throw the balance of the bike and cause you to steer in that direction. Likewise, my daughter would lean to either side to see what was coming up on the road and that would throw the bike into a lean and I would have to steer into it to counteract it. I had to tell her repeatedly not to lean on her bike. She was about 1/4 my weight at that time and she was still able to influence the rider/bike package. Once, when starting out, my daughter exclaimed, "my glasses," just as I jumped on the pedal then the bike suddenly became very light. She flew off the back of the bike but luckily, she was laughing when I picked her up off the ground. After that I always let her know that I was starting so that she would ensure that she was grabbing on to the grips before jumping on the pedal.
I fixed the slop by shimming it but it would still squeak. It was better than nothing, though. Luckily for me, she finally figured out how to ride her bike so I'm going to eBay that thing and get rid of it once and for all.
I fixed the slop by shimming it but it would still squeak. It was better than nothing, though. Luckily for me, she finally figured out how to ride her bike so I'm going to eBay that thing and get rid of it once and for all.
I ride with a guy that takes his kid out on XC singletrack with a Burley. That's the coolest thing to watch. Talk about putting faith into a product.
Caz
Caz
Whats the youngest age you would take a kid off-road at? I'm hearing 4, my daughter will be 3-1/2 this summer. I'm thinking fire road and easy jeep roads.
The other thing I forgot to mention is the Adams Trail a Bike has two additional seat options for kids, one is a baby-seat style, and the other is a highback "bucket seat" style, so that if you have kids that are smaller/less bike experienced you can still take them on the trail a bike and they don't have to concentrate on keeping their balance as much.
As far as youngest age? My daughter is 5, and I'd take her on fire roads and relatively smooth singletrack that wasn't too technical, but nothing too crazy. remember, if you hook a handlebar on a tree or something of taht sort, you aren't the only one who will go flying. I'd hate to feel guilty because I hurt my kid because I was riding in a place where I really shouldn't have been.
Tim
As far as youngest age? My daughter is 5, and I'd take her on fire roads and relatively smooth singletrack that wasn't too technical, but nothing too crazy. remember, if you hook a handlebar on a tree or something of taht sort, you aren't the only one who will go flying. I'd hate to feel guilty because I hurt my kid because I was riding in a place where I really shouldn't have been.
Tim
Our regular family touring set up is me pulling a preschooler on an alleycat, which in turn was pulling a trailer with a toddler and all appropriate gear. My wife with a free ride. With this setup we've logged hundreds of miles last summer. This summer I think she's getting a kid now that they're bigger and shes stronger.
Regarding trail My youngest was about 14 months the first time he hit doubletrack, His brother not quite 3 1/2 with the full setup, they loved it I'm seriously considering some easy single track with just the oldest this summer. He really wants to ride the real trails. He even walked the long skinny at the last trailday we went to.
See how the kids handles being on the tag a long before hiting dirt with her, or getting too far from the car. Last summer my boy decided to get off the bike while we were cruising. He hasn't contemplated that since then as he got run over by this brother in the trailer, cried for a couple of minutes and got back on the bike to finish the last 20 miles. his 40some pounds can really move the rig around, if he gets unrully, m arms get a real workout keeping us on course., and that's rail trail.
Of and if your kid is getting out of the trailer they're gonna need more gear. Gloves are a must. My oldest has gloves, shorts, a mini mule for water, and a kid sized bottle for gatorade. I haven't found SPD compatible shoes in his size yet:skep:
If I had to do it again, I'd get something with a quick release. We have 2 hitches, one for my family tugger and another one which is on a spare seatpost/saddle for my main ride, for when we travel. it takes like 20 minutes to get a hitch on and off. at least on mine.
Regarding trail My youngest was about 14 months the first time he hit doubletrack, His brother not quite 3 1/2 with the full setup, they loved it I'm seriously considering some easy single track with just the oldest this summer. He really wants to ride the real trails. He even walked the long skinny at the last trailday we went to.
See how the kids handles being on the tag a long before hiting dirt with her, or getting too far from the car. Last summer my boy decided to get off the bike while we were cruising. He hasn't contemplated that since then as he got run over by this brother in the trailer, cried for a couple of minutes and got back on the bike to finish the last 20 miles. his 40some pounds can really move the rig around, if he gets unrully, m arms get a real workout keeping us on course., and that's rail trail.
Of and if your kid is getting out of the trailer they're gonna need more gear. Gloves are a must. My oldest has gloves, shorts, a mini mule for water, and a kid sized bottle for gatorade. I haven't found SPD compatible shoes in his size yet:skep:
If I had to do it again, I'd get something with a quick release. We have 2 hitches, one for my family tugger and another one which is on a spare seatpost/saddle for my main ride, for when we travel. it takes like 20 minutes to get a hitch on and off. at least on mine.
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