What age to move from trailer to tag along?
#1
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What age to move from trailer to tag along?
Ok so my son is turning 3 next month and is a big guy (41 lbs). Wife and I want to be able to take him biking with us but I am starting to question weather or not a 2 wheeled trailer is a good choice. He has started to ride a bike with training wheels and loves it so I was thinking that the single wheel/tag along style trailer may be a better investment than a 2 wheel trailer. Thoughts on this? He is fairly advanced (sure all parents say that but our day care is saying it too so maybe he really is ) and clearly he is pretty big (only a couple of inches shorter than his 5 yr old cousin). How safe are the pedals/tag along style trailers?
Thanks
John
Thanks
John
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He will develop assurance with time. so the sooner you start, the sooner he will be steady. So, I would suggest the tag along as opposed to the trailer, unless you need to do lengthy rides. The big question remains: are his legs long enough? My oldest one started on her Trail-a-Bike at 4, with the saddle at the lowest point and blocks on the pedals. OTOH, my youngest one started on her Piccolo at 3.5 and was able to reach the pedals, even though the seattube of the Piccolo is 0,75 inch longer than that of the Trail-a-Bike.
As for length of rides, my eldest was riding 80-90 km/day at 4... but she was coasting a good part of the distance. My youngest is really tired after 50-70 km/day, but she actively pedals most of the distance.
As for length of rides, my eldest was riding 80-90 km/day at 4... but she was coasting a good part of the distance. My youngest is really tired after 50-70 km/day, but she actively pedals most of the distance.
#3
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Originally Posted by Michel Gagnon
He will develop assurance with time. so the sooner you start, the sooner he will be steady. So, I would suggest the tag along as opposed to the trailer, unless you need to do lengthy rides. The big question remains: are his legs long enough? My oldest one started on her Trail-a-Bike at 4, with the saddle at the lowest point and blocks on the pedals. OTOH, my youngest one started on her Piccolo at 3.5 and was able to reach the pedals, even though the seattube of the Piccolo is 0,75 inch longer than that of the Trail-a-Bike.
As for length of rides, my eldest was riding 80-90 km/day at 4... but she was coasting a good part of the distance. My youngest is really tired after 50-70 km/day, but she actively pedals most of the distance.
As for length of rides, my eldest was riding 80-90 km/day at 4... but she was coasting a good part of the distance. My youngest is really tired after 50-70 km/day, but she actively pedals most of the distance.
Any other thoughts?
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Originally Posted by Grasschopper
He is pretty happy to be on his bike (with training wheels) and will ride as long as you let him and as fast as he can go.
FWIW, she gets pretty bored now in the trailer so we will be getting a tag a long bike soon. Our concern is the length of our rides and the speed.
Originally Posted by Michel Gagnon
My oldest one started on her Trail-a-Bike at 4, with the saddle at the lowest point and blocks on the pedals. OTOH, my youngest one started on her Piccolo at 3.5 and was able to reach the pedals, even though the seattube of the Piccolo is 0,75 inch longer than that of the Trail-a-Bike.
-murray
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Look at other threads in this forum. The Piccolo is twice the price and not available everywhere (especially hard to find in Eastern Canada), but it is much, much better.
In defense of the Addams, I would say that it was very stable at first, before the universal joint wore out. Since most people won't ride 1000 km in the lifetime of the bike, it serves their need fairly well. But since I ride much more than that each year, I obviously need a system that won't wear out.
As far as the Piccolo is concerned, I had to replace the rear wheel during the first winter, because it felt like it was rolling on salt rather than bearings. I replaced the cheap hub with 6-speed freewheel by a LX hub and a 9-speed cassette.
And after 3 years of intensive use, the Piccolo needed new bearings in the cranskset and in the articulation. Total cost of the job: $60
In defense of the Addams, I would say that it was very stable at first, before the universal joint wore out. Since most people won't ride 1000 km in the lifetime of the bike, it serves their need fairly well. But since I ride much more than that each year, I obviously need a system that won't wear out.
As far as the Piccolo is concerned, I had to replace the rear wheel during the first winter, because it felt like it was rolling on salt rather than bearings. I replaced the cheap hub with 6-speed freewheel by a LX hub and a 9-speed cassette.
And after 3 years of intensive use, the Piccolo needed new bearings in the cranskset and in the articulation. Total cost of the job: $60
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I have had my daughter on a trail-a-bike when she turned 4. I feel she may have been ready for it at 3 but wife was hesitant. My child has been on bicycles since she was 9 months old, first in an attached child seat, until age 2, then into a 2 wheeled forward facing trailer, at age 4 the trail-a-bike. By all means, avoid the brand KENT. I bought 1 of these from Ebay for $5.00. It had very little use on it, but it weighs a ton more than the adams or trek. The hitch witch attaches to aduld bike consists of 6 inches of 2X2 steel tube, and the steer pivot is a 1" threaded headset. Vertical pivot is a 3/8 steel bolt. But it works.
#7
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I have a somewhat similar situation, althought my question is "how much longer can I use the trailer? (my daughter is about to turn 6). The trailer keeps her dry in the rain, warm in the winter, and has space for her backpack full of stuff.
Paul
Paul
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It depends. I have used my Chariot once or twice in Winter when my oldest daughter was 6.5 and had a cold or was really tired. Vertical clearance was OK, but lateral clearance wasn't good, especially with another 3 year old child and Winter clothing.
OTOH, my youngest daughter generally preferred to ride in the trailer with the doors open (even in rain or snow), and good Winter clothes would keep her warm on the trailercycle.
OTOH, my youngest daughter generally preferred to ride in the trailer with the doors open (even in rain or snow), and good Winter clothes would keep her warm on the trailercycle.