Recreational & Family - which child trailer??!!

I think I have over-researched and have confused myself over which child trailer to buy. I believe I have narrowed my choices to the Burley Solo or the Wike Premium Single. I like the Wike because it seems more "open", and it is very easy to fold and transport. Folding is an issue for me, because I will have to drive to safe bike trails here in south Florida. I'm not willing to take a chance on the roads with the drivers here. I have read plenty about the Burley line of trailers but have not been able to find much information about folding a Burley trailer. I have also been watching for used Burley Solo trailers, but I haven't been able to find much feedback on the previous design (I believe pre-2004 with the composite wheels). I'm trying to save a buck looking for used, but I see they have excellent resale value that I wonder if it's just best to buy new.

Your input is very much appreciated. :)

Go with the Wike. I got info from Burley advising my company they will no longer support older equipment.

You might also consider the Trek GoBug or SoloBug (since you seem to want the single-kid trailers)

We have a GoBug (previously had a Doodlebug, had a warranty issue). Trek didn't have the parts so they sent us the newer year model. Great support from both Trek and the LBS (Cycling Spoken Here in Cary, NC).

It's very well put together, fixes basically all of the design issues we had with the Doodlebug (seat support, problems with zippers on the fabric coming unstiched, other fairly minor issues - the seat support was the big one), and works well. Trek does a good job supporting the trailers, and they're cheaper than the Burleys last time I looked.

We use it on real roads for errand runs and such (bike kid to grocery store, bike kid and groceries home) as well as on local trails for fun rides (based on the stupid pedestrian tricks I've seen, I'd rather ride on neighborhood streets. I'm really too fast for the greenways/MUPs/etc anyway.)

Let me know if you have any other questions about the GoBug and I'll try to answer them. (note to those who would accuse: I am not a shill. I am not involved in the bike business in any way other than as a customer. I have plenty of negative things to say about other things Trek does, like building a 'commuter' (portland) with paired spoke wheels and a carbon fork. However, the product and support on the trailer have been exemplary.)

If you think you might want a trailer that converts into a good jogger, I would heartily recommend the Chariot. It's a bit spendy but very well made.

Even if you don't want a convertible one, Chariot is a very good option. Their cycling-only trailers are actually a bit less heavy and have good storage room behind the kids... and they are much cheaper.

In terms of new trailers, I would rate fairly equally the Chariot, Burley and most likely the Wike trailers too. And as far as I know, there never were any "quality control" issues at Chariot.

We have a Chariot Caddie, and we LOVE it, and so do the kids. It has fewer options than the other higher end options that Chariot offers, but you will definitely be incredibly pleased with any Chariot product! In my avatar, that is an old Schwinn Sidewinder pulling a Chariot Caddie.

Bumping to ask how well the Chariot models really do as joggers? I'm not a serious runner (and I haven't run at all since I got pregnant), but I do go for long walks with the dog over bumpy terrain, and the sidewalks are pretty bad in my neighborhood, so we were thinking that we would probably get a jogging stroller as our main stroller. But we are trying not to accumulate a huge collection of baby gear, so if there is a trailer out there that really does convert well to a jogger, we'd consider it ... it's just that all the conversions look pretty awkward to me.

I've only used the Burley Solo, but it seems like a good unit.

BTW, check your consignment stores. I found this nearly NIB Solo (tires still had the nubs) for $70.

Chris

I don't have any basis for comparison, but I have been very happy with the Chariot Cougar 2 as both a bike trailer and a jogger for my twins. They will soon be three and we have logged many miles in the 2+ years we've had it. Most Sunday mornings I'll take the kids for a 4 or 5 mile run and we've also done a dozen 5 and 10Ks. (In fact, the Davis Turkey Trot now has a special baby-jogger division and we came in 3d in 2005).

The Chariot has slots that aluminum tubes slide into. To change to a baby jogger, you slip in tubes on both sides that support a nice big center wheel. It tracks straight and rolls easiily. My only complaint is that there is no fender for the front wheel and if you run on a gravel or muddy path the front wheel tends to kick dirt into the kids' passenger compartment.

If I had to do it again I'd probably get a Chariot or switch over to an Xtracycle setup. I have a Burley D'Lite and while it works fine it is bulky to store even when folded up which I don't do since I like to have it ready to go. The double struts keep breaking on me. They're made out of plastic and tend to snap off if you overtighten the rear seat strap. Burley's replaced it twice now to their credit but it is a design flaw (I think). Mine is a 2004 model so perhaps they have fixed this in the current lineup. This one requires a kit to convert it to a stroller but I have seen the converted stroller and it looks ungainly and I wouldn't run with it.

Thanks for the reviews, caloso and hairlessbill. The Burley has never looked to me like anything I could run with, or that would work well over the long haul as a stroller. I have liked the looks of the Chariot but the cost scared me off, especially when you add in the cost of the different modules. But I'm not sure it's any more expensive than even a used trailer and a new jogger (which is where we were leaning), and it helps with reducing the amount of stuff we have to store. I like the description of the adjustable suspension on the Chariot, as well.

You might also consider the Trek GoBug or SoloBug (since you seem to want the single-kid trailers)

We have a GoBug (previously had a Doodlebug, had a warranty issue). Trek didn't have the parts so they sent us the newer year model. Great support from both Trek and the LBS (Cycling Spoken Here in Cary, NC).

It's very well put together, fixes basically all of the design issues we had with the Doodlebug (seat support, problems with zippers on the fabric coming unstiched, other fairly minor issues - the seat support was the big one), and works well. Trek does a good job supporting the trailers, and they're cheaper than the Burleys last time I looked.

We use it on real roads for errand runs and such (bike kid to grocery store, bike kid and groceries home) as well as on local trails for fun rides (based on the stupid pedestrian tricks I've seen, I'd rather ride on neighborhood streets. I'm really too fast for the greenways/MUPs/etc anyway.)

Let me know if you have any other questions about the GoBug and I'll try to answer them. (note to those who would accuse: I am not a shill. I am not involved in the bike business in any way other than as a customer. I have plenty of negative things to say about other things Trek does, like building a 'commuter' (portland) with paired spoke wheels and a carbon fork. However, the product and support on the trailer have been exemplary.)

Do you have the GoBug, GoBug Sport, GoBug Deluxe? I plan to carry two children - 18mths & 4yrs, a daily commute to school. I've been looking at Burley & Chariot as well but the Trek seems sturdy and offers good leg and head room but seems heavy(?). Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

We did buy the Chariot Cougar I, but I thought I'd mention for others that REI has their whole Chariot line on sale right now. Those things rarely go on sale so it's worth taking a look. We got about the same deal by using our annual 20 percent member coupon on the chassis, but now we'll probably pick up the bike kit and possibly the infant sling and jogger.