Recreational & Family - Experiences with Trek Mt. Train 241 trailer?

Hi all,

I recently bought a Trek 7.3 FX a hybrid bicycle that I like very much.

I have a 5 year old daughter that likes to bicycle and I came across this trailer, Trek Mt. Train 241 and I am wondering how it performs with a hybrid like mine?

Any thoughts?

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/kids/trailers/mttrain241/]This one here? (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/kids/trailers/mttrain241/)

I don't know much about it myself but I've been wondering myself if these slow you down a lot or if you really feel their weight? Can you go on daytrips?

Does anyone know?

I don't think you will have any problems physically hooking it up to your bike. These only need a little bit of seat post to attach to and an unobstructed path behind the seat (i.e. not compatible with rear child seats, beam post bikes, etc).

Some seat post mount TAB's work better than others. I think folks were reporting that the Trek works well. Most problems with seat post TAB's are centered around the hitch. If the hitch gets sloppy it lets the TAB lean side to side which throws the lead rider off balance. It can be very disconcerting for the lead rider and scary for the TAB rider depending on the amount of lean. The Burley attachment method is rock solid. They cost more but are well worth the expense if you will be using the TAB quite a bit.

The TAB's themselves perform about the same. If the hitch works well, about your only other choice to make is single speed or geared. If you are not going to be using the bike more than once or twice a week and on fairly even terrain, save money and get the single speed. If you will be using more often and/or have alot of hills where you will need your rider to work more than going to get ice cream, consider the geared version. You will likely need to teach them how to shift and tell them when to shift and to which gear, but it can make a difference on the tougher climbs.

That leads to the last issue. You will be pulling ~100lbs +/-30lb. That rider won't be giving you alot of extra power....some but not alot and not consistently. You will probably find yourself riding 1-2 even 3 gears lower than you normally do. Have low enough gearing for the terrain you need to do.

You can go on trips as long as you think your little rider can handle. Carry a spare tube for their bike. The tires are usually pretty hefty on them, but better to have one than not.

That is about it. You'll be experienced by your third ride.

They work fine. I have the Trek. I did need to put a piece of PVC pipe on my seatpost to get the hitch above my rack rather than take the rack off. I installed a rack on the TAB so we could still bring "stuff" Gotta have stuff with kids. I put a computer, mirror, bottle cage on handlebars, a little bag, so she had plenty of snacks, water, busy stuff to check out. She actually used to fall asleep on it.

Yes it will slow you down, bigger turns \etc. Also if you're not too heavy they will move you side to side a bit when they stand to pedal hard - like up big hills. Day trips you need to bring the correct wrench if you have a flat tire on it. I had a seat bag with patch kit and the wrench on it.

You will often see them on charity rides with yet a trailer behind the TAB. Look for used ones - kids outgrow them pretty fast and many get few miles.