Recreational & Family - Trail-a-bike on a 24" frame?

I am getting into cycling and have a 24" bike (Trek 4300). I wanted to be able to take all 3 of my boys (almost 5, 3 and 1) so I purchased a child seat for my bike and a better bike trailer (my previous used bike trailer was incompatible with the baby seat). I took them all on a ride today, and noticed that the baby was more comfortable in the trailer (he could sleep) but even my small 3 yo seems big in the bike seat (I kept bumping his feet - but the baby seat is a tight fit on my small bike). I am now wondering if I should have gotten a trail-a-bike for the oldest, and put the trailer behind it with the 3 and 1 year old, as I have seen pictures of others here doing.

My oldest is pretty athletic and likes to bike. Also when I have the kids we are usually stay on rural roads with low traffic. I see that the trail-a-bikes say they fit most 26" frames, so I am wondering if it will fit my bike. It will have to clamp high next to the seat since I also have a springer attached to the seat post (images below).





What options do I have for a safe, fun trail-a-bike on a 24" frame?
What issues do I need to watch out for with the bike + trail-a-bike + trailer combo?
I would like to be able to keep the rack the baby seat hooks to for intown trips. Is that possible?
Would an inexpensive (or used if I could find one) tandem + trailer be a better idea? (I have never been on a tandem.)


Thanks,

AJ

2. The length will requires that you take wider turns or turn later to ensure the tail does not run into whatever obstacle might be at the apex of the turn. The weight can be 150lbs or more, so slow down early.

4. A tandem is probably the better technical solution in terms of stability. You don't have the potential slop issues of a tagalong. The tandem can grow with your child if you use a stoker kit. However a tandem would likely be much more expensive than a tagalong. If you use the tandem, it could be well worth it.

1 & 3. For most trail-a-bikes the issue is clearance over the rack/rear wheel. Eyeballing your photos, it doesn't look like there'd be a problem if the attachment were mounted high just beneath the seat.

However, if you're keeping the springer, you'd have to raise the post another few inches to make room for the attachment, which on mine is about as tall as your springer. Probably make your riding position uncomfortable. Another (more expensive) type of t-a-b mounts to a propriatery rear rack I believe, rather than the seat post. Eliminates the springer conflict but you probably couldn't use the baby seat with that rack.

Another (more expensive) type of t-a-b mounts to a propriatery rear rack I believe, rather than the seat post. Eliminates the springer conflict but you probably couldn't use the baby seat with that rack.

The Burley (no longer made) is the only TAB that mounts to it's own rack, that I know of. It works extremely well and you likely would not be able to mount a baby carrier. I have never used a baby carrier so I won't say it can't be done but my guess is from how they are positioned over the rear wheel, you won't be able to use the two together.

If you do decide you are serious about a TAB, I can't recommend the Burley enough. I have had one for a few months now (craigslist). I do the train occasionally (tandem, TAB, trailer), when the 8 year old does not want to ride single. The Adams sound like they are the next best in terms of performance. I had a freebie Kent that my kids would not get on. Too much play and it would not stay vertical. Very scary for the kids.

The almost 8 month old had a first trailer ride yesterday. Short and easy, mostly enjoyable. The wind in the face may have caused the few tears.

You do not have a 24" frame, you have a 24" wheel, the frame is likely in the 13 - 15 inch range.

Anyway, the hitch portion of the trail a bike needs to be high enough off the ground that the trail a bike cranks still have sufficient clearance to the ground, if the mount point is low then the trail a bike will be tipped forward and the pedals could hit the ground. If the mount is high up on the seat post this is probably not an issue.
Having a trailer behind a trail a bike would no doubt be doable but would result in a pretty long train to be dragging around and would certainly be hard to stop if you ever got any speed going.

Anyway, the hitch portion of the trail a bike needs to be high enough off the ground that the trail a bike cranks still have sufficient clearance to the ground, if the mount point is low then the trail a bike will be tipped forward and the pedals could hit the ground. If the mount is high up on the seat post this is probably not an issue.
Having a trailer behind a trail a bike would no doubt be doable but would result in a pretty long train to be dragging around and would certainly be hard to stop if you ever got any speed going.

This is another advantage of the Burley mount. The hitch is not dependent on exposed seat post, only on the proprietary rack mountability. Rack heights do not vary a great deal.

The train does not allow for fine maneuvering. I also have not had a chance to test the brakes on any sort of downhill but then again, I will probably avoid that type of riding in this configuration if possible. Best suited for bike paths and light traffic roads with good shoulders.

Thank you all for your answers.


You do not have a 24" frame, you have a 24" wheel, the frame is likely in the 13 - 15 inch range.
I stand corrected it is a 14" frame :o

I have looked at the Burley, I wish it were still produced (it is/was pricey though).

As I am unwilling to get rid of the Springer and I won't be able to reach the petals if I raise the seat much more, I am looking at a tandem + whatever is needed for my oldest to stroke. (Otherwise I would need another bike + the TAB, and it makes more sense to me to just get a bike designed for 2 people, more stable and safer). I called a nearby bike shop, and the person I spoke to enjoys riding tandoms and said he will look around for used ones, failing that he can recommend / sell me a DiamondBack tandem at $800 (he has cheaper but didn't recommend them). I think I will take my oldest into their shop this week and see what they have. Now to decide what to sell so I can afford a tandem ... :D

AJ

Thank you all for your answers.
As I am unwilling to get rid of the Springer and I won't be able to reach the petals if I raise the seat much more

One more option. Get a second post & seat and swap em out when you ride with the kids. Of course, if you want to ride with the kids AND the dog....

One more option. Get a second post & seat and swap em out when you ride with the kids. Of course, if you want to ride with the kids AND the dog....

That is a really good idea - I'll have to call my bike shop tomorrow. And I have NO intention of riding with the kids and the dog, to dangerous - I'd check myself into the funny farm first :lol: .

Don't do it. I've tried numerous times over the past years with 24" wheeled bike and trailercycles with near disastrous results. Those trailercycles are engineered to work with 26" and 700c wheeled bike. When I've installed trailerbikes to 24" bikes, I observed an instability that looked like the center of gravity was too high on the combined rig.

So what do you recommend? Keep in mind I am 5'2" (if I stand up REALLY straight :) ). My choices seem to be:

Get a road style bike and add TAB to that, esp since I don't go off roads with my kids. (cheaper, I get a second & faster bike, less stable, may not last as long)
Get a tandem and a child stoker kit. (expensive but will last through all the kids, might be hard to fit me, more stable, perhaps my DH will ride with me) If a tandem is worth the price difference I can probably find the money. Thoughts?

I personally think a tandem is well worth the price. That said there are alot of potential pitfalls with a tandem. Cost, relationships, storage, transportation, resale.

They can cost a bit for a decent quality setup. With your height you will have a smaller pool to select from. I am by no means an expert on all the makes out there, but I am not sure if anyone makes an off the rack tandem that would fit your height with you as captain. If your DH is close in size that would be great in that you two could switch who captains if he does ride with you and does want to captain. My wife and I are close enough in size that we can do that on our tandem. You should visit a shop to figure out your sizing. Hopefully you will have a decent tandem shop in your area.

An old saying with tandems is "Where ever your relationship is going, it will get you there faster". I have seen first hand the bad side of this statement. I've read plenty of stories that exemplify the positive side. For you though, for better or worse with your husband, I don't recall any bad stories with kids. It will likely generate irreplaceable memories.

They can be difficult to store due to awkward size. I'd recommend protected storage at a minimum, preferably inside. Given the cost and upkeep on these bikes, it pays to take the extra care.

If you need to drive to get to a ride, you'll need to find a way to transport it. On top, on the back, inside or in a trailer are pretty much the options. Advantages and disadvantages to each.

You can recoup some or all of your money with resale. Again with your size this may be a blessing or curse.

If you are interested in finding out more about tandems, read through some of the posts in the tandem forum. Find a local shop that you can rent a tandem from for a day (with a child stoker kit hopefully). Try to rent at least a mid level tandem. I rented an el-cheapo plumbing tubing tandem once, it was rather miserable.

My husband is 6 ft :(

I think I'm going to visit a bike shop in a nearby town, they sell tandems. I don't know where I have to go to rent one though. I might go hang out in the tandem forum a bit though :) , thanks.