Need ideas -- trailer bike

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I have an adult mentally handicapped daughter. She is physically capable of riding a bicycle, but doesn't have the judgement to be turned loose with one. I've been looking at the tag along bikes for children and wishing I could find one big enough for an adult. Does anyone know of a source for such a thing, or would I need to try to build one? I don't want to get a tandem as most of the time I'll be riding by myself with a cargo trailer behind. (Please e-mail me if you have a reply, because it may be a while before I have time to check back here, and she has really been bugging me for a bike, as she knows I'm getting one.)

Kathleen

[Raiyn]

http://www.sandsmachine.com/a_rod_t2.htm http://www.sandsmachine.com/a_bil_t8.htm
Would something like these float your boat?

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http://www.sandsmachine.com/a_rod_t2.htm http://www.sandsmachine.com/a_bil_t8.htm
Would something like these float your boat?

Weeeeellll, yes, that's the general idea -- maybe. But the price is way out of my range. I've been looking at a trike called the SUV that could be bought and fixed with seats for way less than the Eight Ball costs. And it's still higher than I really should pay.

Thanks for the try, though.

Kathleen

[johann]

Not sure of the availability in the US, this British product is designed to take adults as well...

Add+1 from Pashley (http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/contemporary/add_1/features.html)

since it has two wheels it might be a bit more stable and easier to support.

[Michel Gagnon]

The Bikenki coupled bike shown at the above link works for 2/3, 3/4... riders, but not for 1/2. Besides, with the price of singles, it's cheaper to get a non-coupled tandem and a non-coupled single than a coupled tandem.

As for bikes, the ultimate bike would indeed be a tandem. Depending on the mileage you intend to do on your own, it's fairly easy to ride the tandem by yourself, although if you tow too much cargo, it might be wise to also use panniers -- especially on sand or ice -- to add weight on the rear wheel, and therefore traction.

If she is fairly good on the bike, the Tandem bar shown here http://www.tandembar.com/anglais.html could work, but I really don't know how it would stand the test of practice.

Regards,

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Thank you all! I'm checking those links out. I really like the Add-1 from England, but wouldn't be surprised if it's too expensive. Still, a good idea. And I think the tandem bar looks worth trying -- maybe with some practice on a tow-line, so to speak, I'd be able to turn her loose to ride by herself.

Kathleen

[DieselDan]

The tandem bar looks fine, but I see a flaw: brakes. Her judgment problems may cause an accident with two riders and two sets of brakes. One solution would be to disable or remove the brakes.

I did check the two wholesalers I deal with at work, I even called one of the service techs at one, and they didn't know of a US based manufacturer outside of a few local fabracators in Flordia.