Advice on Buying a Trailer Bike for Cycling with Children
A tag along is a specialty bike offering safe cycling for young children via secure attachment to an adult bicycle. Here are some tips for selecting a tag along.
Young children usually learn to ride a bicycle using stabilizers, eventually losing the training wheels when they get confident with balance. Whilst they then progress to riding short distances or playing in the back yard, most young children tire or get bored very easily making it difficult to plan a family day out using ordinary bicycles.
Tag alongs, otherwise known as trailer bikes, offer a unique way for the whole family to enjoy several hours in the saddle. The parent does most of the hard work whilst the child has fun learning to pedal and change gear or simply enjoying the ride at the back. Read on for how to choose the best tag along for your needs.
What to Look For in a Trailer Bike
Basic models come with no gears and a maximum weight restriction of around 36kg or 80lb. Prices start at around $130/£80 but rise to over $500/£300. The following are things to look for:
- Foldability – very important for transportation.
- Alloy wheels which won’t rust.
- Robustness of the attachment mechanism and frame. High quality brands like Burley have a special carrier rack with a unique hitch system for added safety.
- Spare attachment brackets to allow different bikes to be used for pulling.
- Gears – only really required for 5-10 year old kids as smaller children won’t really use them.
- Suspension seat posts for added comfort over bumps bearing in mind the child won’t see them coming!
- Safety flags to warn there is a small rider at the back; these are usually included but it’s worth buying a spare.
- The tag along is quick and easy to put on and take off.
- Stability of the trailer bike. Basic models may not offer adequate stability especially for heavier children.
Consider how often the trailer bike is likely to be used before buying an expensive model. They are best suited to dry conditions so there is little point in buying a top of the range bicycle if it usually rains. A better option in this case would be a child trailer where little Johnny is enclosed in his own enclosed buggy pulled along behind the bike.
Which Kids Bike Trailer Brand?
There are many niche brands on the market but better known names include: Burley, US industry leader making high quality trailer bikes and child “buggy” trailers; Adams with their trademark trail-a-bike whose range even includes a tandem trailer for carrying two small children at once; Roland and Avenir.
Tips on Cycling with a Tag Along
- Always make the child wear a helmet and, if riding at night, put lights everywhere especially on the rear of the child’s helmet.
- The long length of the tag along attached to a normal bike makes it difficult to negotiate tight bends and get through gates so extra care is required.
- A mountain bike is the best option for the host bike as it offers greater stability than a lighter road bike.
- When planning a day out, check the terrain and likely gradients as it can be exhausting pulling an extra 40-50kg on a steep hill.
- Take extra care going downhill as stopping distances will be longer due to the additional weight being “carried.” Most bike trailer brands recommend cycling at a maximum speed of 16mph even on flat terrain.
Buying a Trailer Bike
If looking for a safe way to cycle with young children, consider buying a tag along. Determine how often the bike is likely to be used, how robust it needs to be for the intended terrain and whether the child is old enough to practice gear changing. Then choose between a budget bike trailer costing around $120 or a higher spec bike offering multiple gears and even brakes.