Recreational & Family - Long rides (100k+) with Bike Trailer... Do-able?

Now that my wife works on weekends I want to start taking my 5yo on some of the charity rides I do but I'm not sure how hard it would be to lug around a 21lb trailer and a 40 lb kid. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area so hills are just a part of life but the thought of pulling about 60lbs up the hills makes me worried. Plus add traffic and I get even more worried!

I want to do longer rides since I'm trying to get in shape for the MS150 ride at the end of September and I need to start logging in more miles.

How hard was it pulling your child around when you first started? Is it worth the $$ to buy a Burley or other higher end trailers? Is doing long rides oulling a trailer a PITA?

If anything I'll have super climbing thighs at the end of all this! haha!

Please share your experiences.

Thanks!

As long as you're geared low enough, I'm sure you could do it. But the question is, could your kid do 60 miles in a trailer? My three year olds' limit is about 30 minutes without a break.

As long as you're geared low enough, I'm sure you could do it. But the question is, could your kid do 60 miles in a trailer? My three year olds' limit is about 30 minutes without a break.

I have no clue... good question though. I guess I'll find out once I get a trailer. My guess is that she'd be on par with your kid and be bored out of her mind after 30 miles.

As for gearing, I just installed a compact crank so I think that'll help a lot.

Thanks for the input/question!

Get a comfortable trailer for the kid (think leg room) and bring coloring books and lots of snacks. Have some special toys/books that only get used in the trailer. I did a 32 mile ride with a 3 yo in our Wike trailer, and it slows you down but can be done.

You'll be taking more frequent breaks as noted. Every 30-60 minutes seems to work. If you want to get the ride done set a time limit for the break, try for 10 minutes. Keep the kid up and running about during that time, bathroom, food, drink, etc.

5 is getting toward the tail end of trailer riding. They should be transitioning into tagalong and individual riding this year or next. Definitely buy used if you go the Burley, Chariot, etc. route for the trailer at this stage. The ~$100 ones are almost not worth buying used.

Our hills in VA are nothing like yours. Low gearing and steady output are the keys. Up is hard on the legs while down can be dangerous due to your stopping needs. I remember many a hill that emptied onto major thruways. The trailer can push your rear wheel to the side if you don't keep your rear wheel weighted.

Something you would get a little more use from in terms of years riding would be a tag-a-long or trailer bike. However, how far you could ride would depend on the kid. They have less relaxing time and if they get tired you'll need to finish the ride in short order. I have done 50 miles with my 5 year old on our tandem but they have had the option of getting in the trailer with the 3 year old when they are tired, which they do. I think we could do 100 but that would take all day. Alot of stops and I bet there would be complaints from about 60-70 miles on.

How hard was it pulling your child around when you first started? Is it worth the $$ to buy a Burley or other higher end trailers? Is doing long rides oulling a trailer a PITA?




It is harder than you think esp. when there are a lot of hills. Downhill can also be tough. I haul my 2 kids around in mine and it can be quite challenging at times.

I have the Deluxe GoBug from Trek and it was well worth the money. We use it mostly on our evening dog walks as a double stroller and several times a month as bike trailer.

If you are going to use it quite frequently I'd advise you to spend the money on a quality trailer.

So I guess I'm doing the 30k instead of the 70k this first time out, eh? :)

Thanks again!

I did several decent rides with my now-6-year-old in a trailer. Throw some toys in for him. Give him a pillow. Take a stop after the first 30k for some time at the park, or a starbucks for a lemonade and a good treat. It's quite a bear pulling that thing over hills, but depending on your physique perhaps you're in for it. We had a used Burley single trailer I found for $180 on ebay, as I recall. It worked well and has since found a home with a friend who has logged many many more miles on it. It's probably got between 1000 and 2000 miles at this point?

Nika