I almost killed my 6yr old this morning
09-12-07, 11:30 AM
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Yeah the first thing I did was show him how I made the mistake.
It is actually a trail-a-bike, not a trailer
I got the trail-a-bike second hand from a friend, and the seatpost shim was the wrong size for my bike. While getting the seatpost attachment on my bike, I slightly deformed the hitch just enough to make it difficult to push the two pieces together.
I thought the hitch was all the way on and inserted the pin, but the pin didn't go through the hitch. I spent some time today investigating and fixing the part, and this won't happen again. Too late though!
It is actually a trail-a-bike, not a trailer
I got the trail-a-bike second hand from a friend, and the seatpost shim was the wrong size for my bike. While getting the seatpost attachment on my bike, I slightly deformed the hitch just enough to make it difficult to push the two pieces together.
I thought the hitch was all the way on and inserted the pin, but the pin didn't go through the hitch. I spent some time today investigating and fixing the part, and this won't happen again. Too late though!
datajunkie...Ditto!
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You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
09-12-07, 01:13 PM
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From the start, I've wanted to get the boys operating their own vehicles (mostly) safely.
09-12-07, 11:22 PM
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Junkdad, nearly the same thing happened to me a few days ago. The numerous similarities are uncanny, including the overwhelming feeling of guilt. But, it was a good lesson about making mistakes (parents make them too) and being careful, and we're still enjoying riding together. Glad your son is okay!
09-13-07, 12:00 AM
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My neighbor told me that the latest research on trail-a-bikes is that they may create bad habits in kids riding because they allow the kid to feel like they are on a bike pedaling, but not having to look forward. Once on a real bike, the child may have a tendancy to take their eyes off their forward field of vision too much.
09-13-07, 06:56 AM
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Don't beat yourself up unnecessarily here. While the kid took a fall, I'm sure you took other necessary precautions (helmet, not riding 30mph) such that a fall wouldn't be outrageously dangerous anyway. People make mistakes, even parents (don't get my wife started on me!). I've injured my kids from parental stupidity. We all have.
On the bright side, he's one step closer to being an engineer, as he'll be checking anything you put together from now on!
Just kidding. Don't worry too much, you've clearly learned from the experience.
On the bright side, he's one step closer to being an engineer, as he'll be checking anything you put together from now on!
Just kidding. Don't worry too much, you've clearly learned from the experience.
09-13-07, 07:16 AM
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making mistakes is a fact of life. Every dad has accidentally hurt or disappointed their child. It happens.
Unfortunately you will probably hear about this incident again, from your wife and from your son, when he screws up.
Take heart, a child's love is unwavering. Get him ice cream and throw some dirt on it.
Unfortunately you will probably hear about this incident again, from your wife and from your son, when he screws up.
Take heart, a child's love is unwavering. Get him ice cream and throw some dirt on it.
09-13-07, 07:29 AM
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I rolled a trailer too. My kid was helmeted, strapped and sleeping. He was pretty mad to get woke up looking upside down at the asphalt.
The trailer was a Schwinn with a very poorly designed hitch. If it loosened up, it would slide into the spokes thus destroying the wheel. At the time I rolled it I had been in negotians with Schwinn to redesign the hitch and give me a new one as they had already bought me four new rear wheels. I called the engineer who had designed the trailer and he was incredulous that I could possibly roll the trailer onto the roof. I calmly explained the concept of center of gravity and inertia due to a load shift.
End of the story, Schwinn completely redesigned the trailer and gave me a brand new one. I put a couple thousand miles on it and sold it when the kids got too big.
The trailer was a Schwinn with a very poorly designed hitch. If it loosened up, it would slide into the spokes thus destroying the wheel. At the time I rolled it I had been in negotians with Schwinn to redesign the hitch and give me a new one as they had already bought me four new rear wheels. I called the engineer who had designed the trailer and he was incredulous that I could possibly roll the trailer onto the roof. I calmly explained the concept of center of gravity and inertia due to a load shift.
End of the story, Schwinn completely redesigned the trailer and gave me a brand new one. I put a couple thousand miles on it and sold it when the kids got too big.
09-13-07, 07:34 AM
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My neighbor told me that the latest research on trail-a-bikes is that they may create bad habits in kids riding because they allow the kid to feel like they are on a bike pedaling, but not having to look forward. Once on a real bike, the child may have a tendancy to take their eyes off their forward field of vision too much.
Don't worry, they figure out that forward field of vision pretty quickly once they hit their first parked car. Seriously, I've taught several kids to ride bikes. None of them instinctively know where to look. Most get fixated on the front wheel so I teach them to look 20-30 feet ahead of them and the bike will naturally follow.
Don't worry, they figure out that forward field of vision pretty quickly once they hit their first parked car. Seriously, I've taught several kids to ride bikes. None of them instinctively know where to look. Most get fixated on the front wheel so I teach them to look 20-30 feet ahead of them and the bike will naturally follow.
09-13-07, 07:41 AM
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I'd just go with this for now.
Seriously, I'm glad to hear that your son was not hurt badly. On the upside, you BOTH have learned a lesson. Bring him back into the fold when you're both ready.
You must have been scared to death when it happened. I can only imagine.
... Brad
Seriously, I'm glad to hear that your son was not hurt badly. On the upside, you BOTH have learned a lesson. Bring him back into the fold when you're both ready.
You must have been scared to death when it happened. I can only imagine.
... Brad
09-13-07, 07:50 AM
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Glad he's okay. I never did either the trailer or trail-a-bike thing, but I do have kids, so I know how awful you must feel. But this too shall pass, you just have to get through it. I suspect your wife could have just as easily done the same thing, although it may not help you to point that out to her... 
09-13-07, 10:39 AM
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My neighbor told me that the latest research on trail-a-bikes is that they may create bad habits in kids riding because they allow the kid to feel like they are on a bike pedaling, but not having to look forward. Once on a real bike, the child may have a tendancy to take their eyes off their forward field of vision too much.
That said, for me, it is much more gratifying and fun to be out with kids when they're on their own bikes.
09-13-07, 11:33 AM
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REI's version of the trail-a-bike that they were selling earlier this summer had a defective clamp that was failing and turning lots of youngsters loose on their own. They have now been recalled. Think how bad REI and the manufacturer (and their lawyers and liability insurers) must feel, because they've been responsible for many incidents like yours. It's like an epidemic -- toddlers disassociated from their parents rolling through intersections everywhere. Actually, I'm sure since there is only a rear wheel to these things, that once they become detached the "fall-down-go-boom" follows pretty immediately.
09-13-07, 11:41 AM
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Those things scare me!!!! I am glad there were no serious injuries!!
09-13-07, 11:53 AM
#39
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As long as you tell them not to let go of the handlebars and try to stay seated on the saddle the precious cargo will be fine.
Thomas
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09-13-07, 12:19 PM
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My neighbor told me that the latest research on trail-a-bikes is that they may create bad habits in kids riding because they allow the kid to feel like they are on a bike pedaling, but not having to look forward. Once on a real bike, the child may have a tendancy to take their eyes off their forward field of vision too much.
09-13-07, 12:34 PM
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09-13-07, 03:59 PM
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Update:
We rode again this morning. He was a little skeptical at first but we did our "Safety Check" and everything went great. Thanks for all the support and advice!
We rode again this morning. He was a little skeptical at first but we did our "Safety Check" and everything went great. Thanks for all the support and advice!
09-13-07, 03:59 PM
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Glad to hear he is okay. On my first ride with my daughter (last year, when she was four), I went down a trail by her favorite playground. It was my first time on this trail, and I thought it connected to another trail, which connected..... well, it didn't; trail looped around then took a steep uphill climb.
Unused to the extra weight of the trail-a-bike and its precious cargo, I slowed way down, and dumped bike, trail-a-bike, and both of us.
Fortunately, we were in woods and the trail side was soft dirt. I tried to make the best of it by telling her this is why we wear helmets and gloves.
At the beginning of this summer, we took the training wheels off her bike, and she's not that interested in the trail-a-bike; she is fully independent on her bike.
Unused to the extra weight of the trail-a-bike and its precious cargo, I slowed way down, and dumped bike, trail-a-bike, and both of us.
Fortunately, we were in woods and the trail side was soft dirt. I tried to make the best of it by telling her this is why we wear helmets and gloves.
At the beginning of this summer, we took the training wheels off her bike, and she's not that interested in the trail-a-bike; she is fully independent on her bike.
09-13-07, 04:07 PM
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What does he do? Look up. At the sky. Luckily he didn't crash.
Glad the OP's kid is okay. In 5 or 10 years it'll be a favorite story of his....
09-13-07, 05:56 PM
#46
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I almost crashed into my teenage son this afternoon.
Coming home from work, I met him on his bike coming the other way. I pulled a U-turn and started riding with him. Then we turned left into a new subdivision development in progress. He sprinted ahead. I sped up to catch him. He slowed while I was fiddling with my GPS. You can see where this is going. It was just luck that he had pulled to the right in the lane, while I continued past him in the center of the lane. Potentially, a very embarrassing situation to have to explain to the wife. 
Coming home from work, I met him on his bike coming the other way. I pulled a U-turn and started riding with him. Then we turned left into a new subdivision development in progress. He sprinted ahead. I sped up to catch him. He slowed while I was fiddling with my GPS. You can see where this is going. It was just luck that he had pulled to the right in the lane, while I continued past him in the center of the lane. Potentially, a very embarrassing situation to have to explain to the wife.
09-13-07, 07:14 PM
#47
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You done good. Now when he's 16 he will make sure his seatbelt is on before starting the car and hopefully know that accidents CAN happen, even to him.
09-13-07, 08:58 PM
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Junkdad, I do feel for you buddy. I had a symilar incident two weeks ago we were enjoying an evening ride and I was encouraging my nine year old to ride fast and catch her 13 year old sister, well she wiped out and had wicked road rash! Thank Goodness for helmets! I felt like it was my fault, I felt helpless when she fell. Please move on and realize accidents do happen. The important thing is your little guys is okay and he will ride again happily one day soon.
Hang in there and God Bless!
Hang in there and God Bless!
09-13-07, 09:29 PM
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Not to be overly dramatic, but I have come here to seek solace after one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
I have been riding to school with my kid for a few years, and this year my younger son started Kindergarten. It's a little too far for him to ride his own bike so i got a Trail-a-bike.
I have been having a little trouble with the connection from the trail-a-bike to my bike, and this morning when I inserted the bracket and pin, the bracket wasn't in far enough so the pin didn't actually go through the bracket.
About a quarter mile from home the trail-a-bike disconnected from my bike and my son took a vicious fall. Thanks goodness he is okay. he has scrapes on his knees, hand, and face. He thought it was his fault!
I don't think he wants to get on a bike again for a while, but that should be the least of my worries.
Have pity on this careless dad...
I have been riding to school with my kid for a few years, and this year my younger son started Kindergarten. It's a little too far for him to ride his own bike so i got a Trail-a-bike.
I have been having a little trouble with the connection from the trail-a-bike to my bike, and this morning when I inserted the bracket and pin, the bracket wasn't in far enough so the pin didn't actually go through the bracket.
About a quarter mile from home the trail-a-bike disconnected from my bike and my son took a vicious fall. Thanks goodness he is okay. he has scrapes on his knees, hand, and face. He thought it was his fault!
I don't think he wants to get on a bike again for a while, but that should be the least of my worries.
Have pity on this careless dad...
09-13-07, 10:18 PM
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If you've ever seen a Burley Piccolo, you'll feel much reassured. It's connection looks and is solid. I only hope Burley starts making them again soon. I'm thinking they will just to end the harping letters, emails, and phone calls they must be getting from irate parents.
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"Real wars of words are harder to win. They require thought, insight, precision, articulation, knowledge, and experience. They require the humility to admit when you are wrong. They recognize that the dialectic is not about making us look at you, but about us all looking together for the truth."
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