Recreational & Family - Tag Along

Well, my life has changed. My Ma was raising one of my nieces who is five years old. Ma has passed away and I have (at the age of 50) assumed gaurdianship for this young lady.

I'm looking for some good quality tag-alongs. Anyone have some good suggestions?

Thanks

I have only used one, but the Trek Trail-a-bike works for me.

The Burley Piccollo is the best on the market.
A bit pricier than most, but quality throughout. It includes a special 'Moose rack' for on your single, or tandem, to which attaches the Piccollo. This trail-a-bike, unlike others, tracks the single bike 100%. Which means going around the corner the trail-a-bike will not clip the curb or go off the road's edge.
It also comes with a rear cog, so the youngster can learn how to shift, like a 'real' multi-speed bike.
Quality may cost a bit more, but it's worth it in the long run!

I would definitely get one with gears. I have one that's only one gear and don't get me wrong, it's nice but I wish I had spent the extra $$$ for one with gears.

My Two Cents !!

This has been discussed in the past week. See:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=94781

This has been discussed in the past week. See:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=94781
More like discussed to death. Use the search feature.

More like discussed to death. Use the search feature.

I got what I needed.

Thanks zonatandem, JoeOxfordCT, DCCommuter, and bcspain!

I got what I needed.

Thanks zonatandem, JoeOxfordCT, DCCommuter, and bcspain!
I do recommend NOT using the Ageis or the Cannondale tandem in your sig to tow one.

I do recommend NOT using the Ageis or the Cannondale tandem in your sig to tow one.

Okay, please elaborate. I don't plan to use one on the Aegis, but I do plan to use it with the RT3000 and a Raleigh R700 (with 9 spd Ultegra). Why not? Especially with the the Burley configuration?

I don't know which trailer you are using. I bought the Trek Mt. Train 241 this past week-end. It looks like it will do a pretty good job for a kid weighing 50 pounds to 80 pounds after I get the "set-up" dialed in.

But, the weakness of the Trek design is that all of the weight and pulling force created by the trailer is placed on the seatpost. During the past decade, there has been a "contest" to make seatposts lighter and lighter, uses advanced alloys. Placing a lot of extra stess on a light alloy seatpost makes me nervous.

After I decide which of my bikes will be the permanent "trailer" pulling bike, I'm going to look for the best quality steel seatpost I can find. I suspect bike stores are not used to hearing the question: "What is the heaviest seatpost that you can buy?"

Considering seatpost issues, how do the Tag-along seatpost configurations work with a "suspended seatpost"?

Okay, please elaborate. I don't plan to use one on the Aegis, but I do plan to use it with the RT3000 and a Raleigh R700 (with 9 spd Ultegra). Why not? Especially with the the Burley configuration?
I have no experence with Burley's set up. I tried with an Adams with my Cannondale R500, and the rear of my bike kept coming around after a turn. The slight moment when the trailercycle was not lined up with my bike, it would force the rear around, and I had trouble getting it straight.

I have no experence with Burley's set up. I tried with an Adams with my Cannondale R500, and the rear of my bike kept coming around after a turn. The slight moment when the trailercycle was not lined up with my bike, it would force the rear around, and I had trouble getting it straight.

Seems like that probably wouldn't be the case with a tandem, much more weight and length involved.

I have no experence with Burley's set up. I tried with an Adams with my Cannondale R500, and the rear of my bike kept coming around after a turn. The slight moment when the trailercycle was not lined up with my bike, it would force the rear around, and I had trouble getting it straight.

This is the exact problem that the Burley design solves. Since the pivot point of the hitch is directly over the contact patch of the rear tire, the trailercycle cannot impart a turning moment to the tractor bike.

Considering seatpost issues, how do the Tag-along seatpost configurations work with a "suspended seatpost"?
It can work. I used a suspension post before with a trailercycle. I came to dislike suspension posts for other reasons.

Well, all I can say is that the lowly Kent we ride doesn't have any of the problems you guys have described with towing. Granted, it doesn't have suspened seat posts, or forks for that matter, but we have never had any problems with our grand daughter on the trek trailer. We've towed it on gravel roads, pavement, and just plain dirt (you can see that in the picture). We don't try to set any speed records, but we usually make 10 or 12 miles per trip. Of course, being a department store bike, our tandem is made of steel and quite heavy on its own. We've also towed one of those little kiddie cars, the two wheeled carts with it. It hooks on the frame just ahead of the back wheel. It's harder to tow than the other one.

Just an update to our Piccolo procurement. So far we are very happy with it. We're now contemplating the possibilities of pulling a Burley Nomad behind the Piccolo. Our niece loves to ride!! Headwinds keep us down to 10mph, but when we turn back, it's 18mph ...flying!!!

Yes we were missing a stoker! She said it was too windy, so she flaked out on us! But you can't keep the hardcore road riders away, so out we went!