Recreational & Family - Special Needs Bike Trailer

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View Full Version : Special Needs Bike Trailer


HugeHusker
09-22-08, 10:26 AM
Hi,
I have recently gotten back into riding, and have my wife convinced she would like it too. However, we have a somewhat unique problem. We have a 4 year old daughter who has significant special needs, (cerebral palsy, developmental delay, cognitive impairment, etc.) She has very poor trunk/head control that will most likely not improve dramatically as she gets older and we use several positioning aides at home. We would like to find a trailer for her to ride in to join the family fun but are having difficulty finding much information through simple web searches. Anyone else have a child with special needs have any testimonial experience? I would appreciate any help and suggestions.


masiman
09-22-08, 02:51 PM
There are two companies I know of that make special needs bicycle trailers:

Wike (http://www.wicycle.com/)
Cycletote (http://www.cycletote.com/special_needs.html)

I do not have any special needs experience. I do own a Cycletote. Both companies make excellent bike trailers.

The Cycletote seat is okay but it has no lean adjustability on the stock version (material slung between two offset beams). It looks like some of the special needs trailers on the Cycletote page have "custom" seats. I am not sure if they were supplied by Cycletote or by the owners. The Wike seat seems to have a little more lean to it. I wish our Cycletote had a little more lean but it is not bad.

I'd contact each company. From personal experience, Cycletote is not a hard sell company. If they follow history, they will give you straight answers. Wike seems to be the same way.

The best of luck to you. Update us if you get a chance, I am very interested to know if you are able to find what you are looking for.

I wish I were half the father that Dick Hoyt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Md3Vldcj0&feature=related) is.

sunflowerflyer
09-30-08, 11:34 PM
Don't know if I can help any with the trailer suggestion, but wanted to congratulate you for taking your child biking. Our son is mentally handicapped, and rides in our Chariot Cougar 2 just fine. Although he doesn't have any muscle issues to deal with. Our problem is, he is going to outgrow it, and really likes the tandem, but I'm not sure I trust him on it for any real length.