Maeve

I'd like to get the Piccolo but have a large, heavy Dutch bike (40lbs). We've got a few fairly steep hills around here, and wonder if I'll have to hop off and haul it all up hill. My son is just four (45lbs), so unlikely to contribute to the effort of riding. Is this a fairly common issue for trailerbikes?

Also, we cross some busy, crazy streets. My son has been in the trailer, so fretting about him walking beside me hasn't been an issue. I'm planning on getting the seat back w/safety strap, and would like to keep him strapped in while I walk across. Is it fairly easy to hop off, cross a street but keep the trailabike stable with a kid on the back?

I just hope this thing will fit my bike!

Thanks for any input!

masiman

You will have more room with the Piccolo than with other TABs to swing your leg over the rear due to the mounting positions. I do not consider it to be much of an issue to dismount with ours.

At 4 they may be starting to be able to contribute some but don't expect it to be much or consistent as you have already experienced. The seat and strap will give you extra piece of mind. If you cannot get the rack to fit with the stock connection parts, there are various aftermarket kits that can attach almost any rack to any bike.

If it does not work well with your bike, consider getting a new bike. I say that because you should be able to find something lighter if your bike is indeed 40 lbs and I would guess with better gearing. That better gearing may get you up some hills that you now find too difficult.

Enjoy the Piccolo!

Maeve

I should have clarified that better: Mine is a step-through. I'm more concerned with the stability of him on it while I walk it across a street, not so much about hoping on and off, which is super easy on my bike.

I looked on the internet today for the aftermarket kits. No luck, do you know of any sellers off hand? I've had no luck with Burley US or NL, and now am trying to contact Batavus. Unfortunately, I have no local dealers for the piccolo, so I can't try it out.

Thanks

masiman

With the step through, getting on and off will be simpler.

The Piccolo is the most stable of all the TABs. The only thing that would be more stable is a tandem or trike. It's not too bad balance wise, just give yourself extra time to get it going and to get across the street.

As for aftermarket kits, I was referring to fitting the Piccolo specific rack to your bike. Your bike will likely not have any attachment issues, but if it does I would recommend having your LBS do it. If you are comfortable with fiddling around with kits then try The Touring Store. They have pretty much everything needed to attach difficult racks. Again, I don't suspect you will have any problems with yours.

As for getting a Burley, I would not worry about fit too much. If your child fits on any of the other brand of TABs, then they should have no problem on a Piccolo. I even found the Piccolo to be a better fit for my range of kid riders 3-9 than a Kent Co-Pilot we briefly had. I have no reservations about pointing to you an online dealer if your LBS can not get a Piccolo for you. I have personally dealt multiple times with Lickton's and Bikeman. I have not personally dealt with BicycleTrailers but I think I have heard good things about them.

One thing to consider if you go the Piccolo route is to get an extra rack if you want to ride the TAB on multiple bikes.

Maeve

Thanks so much for the help!

KimberlyL

I don't have the piccolo, but we have one of the Trek TABs. My daughter just turned 5 last week, and even without a safety harness or anything, she has no problems staying on the TAB when I get off to walk it across streets. I hear the Piccolo should be even more stable than the one we have (although the Trek is a LOT more stable than the Schwinn cheap one we started out with! That one wobbled all over the place). So I doubt you'd have any difficulty leaving the kiddo on while you get off to walk.

sunflowerflyer

We had a Trek, until it disappeared one day. It was about the only Trek product we have been disappointed with. I really don't think it was much better than the cheap models. The arm is very heavy and long.

But we found a deal on a Burley, and it has been wonderful so far. Honestly we just picked it up when had the chance, and waiting for the day our son outgrows his trailer. We do plan on buying a backrest and seatbelt before letting him ride it extensively (he is slightly mentally handicapped).

We had to get a couple pieces to make the rack work from our LBS, but they charged me a whole $3 from their parts bin. The hitch is rock solid and doesn't wobble like the Trek did. The whole bike is much lighter and more compact with the one piece alloy arm.

I honestly don't know if you will have trouble with him mounted, and yourself walking the lead bike. I'm guessing this is one place your heavier bike will help you out =]. Some of it may come down to your strength and size. I can handle many of these types of situations that my wife simply can't.

Let us know how it goes, but I think you will love it.

I keep wanting a real tandem, but we have the Burley...

pathdoc

I purchased a Piccolo last week. My 6 year old daughter (45 lbs) loves it. Its not nearly as hard to pull as I thought it would be. Construction is pretty solid and the rack mounting system quickly locks into position allowing the large knob to screw the trailer in place. Overall its a well thought out product. Seven speeds really allows your child to help power things along. There are tabs on the rear if you wanted to add a rear fender.

LouD-Reno

Here's a pic of our Piccolo..... Easy and stable..... have used it with a solo bike as well (I have a second "moose" rack.... takes about a minute to mount..... we ride all over with it.....

Gil Elvgren

+1 on Piccolo and 2nd rack works great!

kuan

Can you mount a rack on the Piccolo too?

And do most panniers fit well on the Burley Moose rack?

vanilla ice

Speaking of stability- we have an adams and it does have some side to side movement. The side to side movement comes from the hitch. Where the hitch pin enters the hole its not a high tolerance fit. If you don't disconnect the hitch often you could make the connection permanent with brazing, welding etc. That would take out 96% of the lean/sway/whatever you wanna call it. I was thinking about trying some red loctite first, the high strength stuff should do it. It would be nice if a stiff rubber or urethane bushing was used on some future designs to allow "give" while eliminating that sway.. some bushings like your car has on its suspension joints.