Tag a-longs???

[ridenread]

Hi I am a relatively new riderwho has been lurking here for the last month or so.I have been getting back into riding over the past few months and am loving it. I have a few different bikes my recent love being a KHS FLite 300. Problem is I have a six year old who is not all that enthusiastic about riding which limits my riding time. I always rode as I kid and would love for him to find the joy in riding as well. He has a bike with training wheels and is still trying to master it. He is definitely having problems with balance. So.....I was wondering if he would be more successful with a tag a long attached to my bike. I have never used one and was wondering if any one could share their experience with them. I know once he feels and sees what a bike can do he will love it as much as I do but for now he is just frustrated and not all that interested. Any insights who be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[fastdogs]

I'll be watching the responses too, I have an older gary fisher trail a bike that I got used but have never used. My son is 4 and can't reach the pedals yet. He also rides a bike with training wheels, but not fast enough to stay up with even a very slow rider like me, and he still gets very distracted by everything as we're riding. He doesn't like riding in a trailer, though, so we don't even take it out any more.
My concerns with the trail a bike is that it might be hard to handle if he shifts his weight- there is some play in the connection, so the bike can sort of shift side to side kind of like he does with the training wheels.
vickie

[ridenread]

Thanks for responding Vickie. My son is very slow riding with the training wheels In fact,I walk beside him. He has trouble on even the slightest incline. When he picks up speed going down even the slightest hill, basically what most people would refer to as flat, he tends to panic and either brakes or falls over. I don't know if he could manage a trailer but am thinking that I would provide most of the balance but really don't know how sturdy they are. Again any help would be appreciated. thanks

[IGGY]

Hi guys-my neighbor has the "bike on a stick" where it basically attaches their bike to yours, you do all the work, they sit back there and pedal or not and hold on. A lot of the autisitc kids I teach use them because they are very proficient riders, but no sense of danger. My 4 year old who is very slow on her training wheels took a spin on it the other day and was frantic. However, her friend who is a good rider, LOVES IT, and that family goes all over-they are constantly stopped and asked for photo ops and questions about it.
I think if we were to take it to a parking lot and just toodled around a flat area for a good while, and she got a feel for it, she'd eventually like it. She wants to ride with mom, so she does have some motivation.
My husband took my 8 year old on it, (she's a good rider, just not a lot of stamina) and he said she was really wiggly and he could feel her moving around a lot. In her defense she has long legs, and looked really cramped. Her knees were coming up really high.
Take all that info. for what it's worth!

[DebW]

We got my nephew on one of those last year when he was 4. He did great on it after a a little practice. The adult's bike does tend to lurch when the child moves, so I recommend using it mainly when you have a wide lane and room to manuever.

[ridenread]

Thanks for the input. I was thinking we would use it mainly on paved bike paths without much traffic until he gets the hang of it and I get the hang of towing. Before I get one I am trying to get as much info as possible to see if it would be worth the expense. I am also going to check the LBS that does bike rentals , to see if they might rent them out to give it a try.
Thanks

[Irulan]

We got my nephew on one of those last year when he was 4. He did great on it after a a little practice. The adult's bike does tend to lurch when the child moves, so I recommend using it mainly when you have a wide lane and room to manuever.

I know of more than a few people who use these on easy singletrack.