Riding with the kids

[limewave]

How old is your daughter now? I think we started my daughter on the tagalong when she was an old 3 (as in she was about to turn 4 that fall). She could barely touch the pedals, but she could balance and hold on alright.

We started with short rides, 2-3 miles and built up from there. Last summer we took her on a couple 15-18 mile rides on the tagalong, she was 5 years old. Although, she did nod off at the end of the 18 mile ride--somehow she managed to hang on while asleep. This summer we have plans for 30 mile rides.

It's an adjustment riding with the tagalong. You can definitely feel them moving about and you'll find yourself yelling at them to stay still! Or Don't lean to the side! But, you'll get the hang of it. You'll also have to take wider turns and stopping will is more of a challenge. You'll want to slow down earlier as you are towing that extra weight--it can be like trying to stop a freight train.

[hebe]

Thank you! B turned 4 in February. She rides her own little bike with stabilisers, but there's only one possible school with a safe enough sidewalk route. I'm sure she'd be ok holding on to the handlebars on something like the, but I wouldn't want to take her on the nursery run for example as there's too much risk if she came off. The Burley piccolos have a good press here because they are rack-mounted rather than seat-post mounted. I really struggled with a child seat on the bike, but am absolutely fine with the trailer.

[limewave]

Thank you! B turned 4 in February. She rides her own little bike with stabilisers, but there's only one possible school with a safe enough sidewalk route. I'm sure she'd be ok holding on to the handlebars on something like the, but I wouldn't want to take her on the nursery run for example as there's too much risk if she came off. The Burley piccolos have a good press here because they are rack-mounted rather than seat-post mounted. I really struggled with a child seat on the bike, but am absolutely fine with the trailer.

I really like the piccolo because of the rack mount. It's very convenient to attach and detach. And it puts less stress on the bike. We've bought higher end child trailers and tagalongs--I have not regretted a single cent I've spent for the quality and ease of use.

[hebe]

Thank you . Sorry for all the questions, but do you keep the Trek set up just for towing, or do you use it off-road too with the rack still on?

[Cynedra]

Limewave - I love that setup. I mentioned to my DH that I might want to try something like that and he just looked at me like I was crazy. When they are both out of school this summer, it would be great to get some rides like that. My 4 almost 5 year old loves being in the regular type trailer as long as brother isn't in there with him. Both my boys are short so my 6 year old is just barely tall enough for a tagalong. He loved it though when we rented one to see how he would do.

[limewave]

Limewave - I love that setup. I mentioned to my DH that I might want to try something like that and he just looked at me like I was crazy. When they are both out of school this summer, it would be great to get some rides like that. My 4 almost 5 year old loves being in the regular type trailer as long as brother isn't in there with him. Both my boys are short so my 6 year old is just barely tall enough for a tagalong. He loved it though when we rented one to see how he would do.

My DH was not keen on the idea of the tagalongs and bike trailers. In fact, he pretty much was flat out against spending money on it, he thought it would be a waste and that we'd never use them . . .
Hundreds of miles later, neither one of us regrets the investment. We bike with the kids all the time. So go for it!

[Hartmame]

I rode with my kids in the trailer for a long time, and then one spring it happened. I put them in and went off on a 17 mile ride. I felt like I was in really bad shape. When I got home I could barely walk up the stairs to the house. They had grown so much that their combined weight was well over 85 pounds. I did a number on my knees that took years to make better. Be careful how much weight you pull.