Oct 05, 2012 Trail Angel instructions Trail Angel. Sustainable Bike Trailer - Duration. Bicycle Train. Giant Bicycle, Giant Peapod Duo Trailer.

So which do you prefer (trailer or attached seat) and why? There seems to be pros and cons to both and so how does one go about picking the right type/model? I think we are leaning towards the trailer. If you have used either type, I would love to hear what you have to say on the brand and model. The trailers are quite pricey and so we want to make sure that whichever way we go, we make the right investment. Look forward to your feedback. Oh and if we go with the trailer, how many speeds should the bike have that will be pulling it??

Looking into buying this too, more of a comfort/cruiser type, so I assume they would work well together? Used trailers can be found on Craigslist, so you can save big bucks going that route and there are a lot of decent ones, some rarely used. Front mounted seats are popular for younger children, you can watch and talk to them without turning your head. A rear mounted seat is classic, but would suggest getting a 'step-through' frame so it is easy for you to get on and off the bike. The number of 'speeds' depends on your preference or what makes cycling with a trailer or a seat more enjoyable for both. A 3-speed is probably the minimum, with 7 to 8-speeds giving you more gearing options. Internal hubs have the advantage of shifting into whatever gear you want at a stop, while a cassette or freewheel equipped bike gives you an option of buying another cassette to give you different ratios that may better fit your local terrain and conditions.

Some say Target has the Schwinn Joy Rider bicycle trailer on sale periodically for a little over $100. Can see a video of it: There are other videos posted at YouTube for the more popular trailers, like Burley and Instep. For one kid, I like the bike seat. I use a trailer for 2. I have a the Trek Go Bug trailer which I like because we can also use it as a stroller. We use it more as a stroller than a bike trailer.

If you are going to shell out big bucks for a trailer, you may as well get all the use out of it that you can. If you get a trailer and if you have any hills, a granny gear definately helps. I would say go with a hybrid over a cruiser.

Yes pulling the kids uphill from their preschool to our house definitely shifted me onto a mountain bike. The trailer is the way to go. The bike mounted seats are really a poor idea since you have two problems: 1.) High center of gravity of the 'load'. Anyone who carries anything on a bicycle finds this out sooner or later: The taller the load, the more unstable the ride and the more likely there will be a crash sometime. If the 'load' is your KID? You don't want to risk them getting hurt if you drop the bike.

2.) The 'load' is a live one, and IT MOVES! No matter how tightly it's strapped in.

Those types of 'loads' are very difficult to control (even for the experienced at load handling rider) and still keep the rubber side down. If one is really serious about their 'other car' being a bike?

The up-front cost of a child trailer really should not be an issue since, once the kid is too big to use it, the trailer will work just as well for hauling anything that will fit in it. So which do you prefer (trailer or attached seat) and why? If you have used either type, I would love to hear what you have to say on the brand and model. How many speeds should the bike have that will be pulling it??

Trailer, can handle up to two kids and gear, (depending on trailer model). For my kids, trailers were not as easy to acquire, if actually available (1978 - 1982). I purchased two child seats and fit to my wife's and my bikes. The weight from adding a child, increase the center of gravity, and requires you to be more fairly strong and confident to handle the extra weight and shifting child.

If you go down the child goes down, and with them behind you there is even less than you can do as your instincts are to protect yourself, the child is on their own and helpless. I now have a Giant Peapod, we purchased at LBS from there closeout table, a bargain at $99, and LBS included extra mount so either wife or I could take ride with grandkids. We also purchased a Schwinn made trailer from Target, named InStep (IIRC), with resin wheels, (sale $80), and gifted to daughter along with a Schwinn 80 Suburban. SnL found additional mount hardware and also can attach to his bike.

Their present problem is the kids are bigger, and the total weight is approaching the 100# limit most trailers have, so it makes the ride a workout. Kids still enjoy, dad doesn't as much 3. This really depends on your riding terrain, and road conditions. If you are accustom to riding now without trailer, adding the trailer may require you to use 1 or 2 gears lower, definitely on start from dead stop.

A 21 or 24 speed bike will provide you more range, but from my experience, i really only use 8 (maybe) gears on majority of rides. Most comfort, hybrid, and MTB type bikes will have ample gear range to do as you need. Make certain that the bike/s you select fit you correctly, and you are comfortable riding it. Then the trailer and towing it will be much simpler to increase your enjoyment. Best wishes PS: Also, make certain you budget for HELMETS for everyone, these for children in the trailer as well.

As a child I ate pavement in a childseat. No one wore helmets those days and I was lucky I wasn't seriously hurt. In a childseat the child can shift around and make you lose your balance. There is a weight limit of 40 lbs in a childseat. It would be a challenge in trying to get a child in a childseat that doesn't want to leave the park. I have seen the front mounted childseats but would be VERY CAUTIOUS with them.

The mounting hardware mounts onto the stem of the bike and all the weight is very high. If you want an idea how it will handle, strap a backpack full of books on your handlebars and go for a ride. Child Trailers are expensive.

The Trek trailers range $400.00 to $650.00. Burley would be more affordable $350.00 to $555.00. With this said I have a Trek Doodle Bug Deluxe (Now called the Go Bug Deluxe).

My son has been riding in it since he was 10 1/2 mos ( June 06'). He eagerly goes into the trailer when the garage door is open, grabs his helmet and wants me to start pedaling. He is in a secure rollcage with a low center of gravity. If I fall on my bike he won't get injured.

It would take quite a bit of effort to tip a trailer over. As others have said you can carry groceries, go on picinics etc.

If I had to buy a trailer again I would buy a Burley. They fold easier, fold flatter and is at least 7lbs lighter than the Trek. Most of the Burleys are made in the USA. All Burleys have a rain cover.

Burley created the child trailer and helped create the federal safety standards. The Trek trailers have the largest cabin space than all the trailers in the market. If you purchase a trailer from a department store save the manual and 1-800 #. All parts and hitches are trailer specific and will not be cross compatable. I just bought the InStep trailer at Target last weekend on sale for $89. I've taken my 1 year old daughter out in it twice now.

She loved it and I can barely even feel the trailer when I'm pulling it. I'm also pretty confident that in most cases, if I were to fall, the trailer would remain upright. Plus, it can be converted to a stroller.

I haven't tried it out yet but I should be able to ride someplace, lock up the bike, convert the trailer to a stroller, and wheel her around. My dad had one of the rear mounted seats when I was little. I remember taking a fall in it once (no helmet of course). I didn't get a scratch. I think they're probably safer than they look. I don't like the fact that they shift the center of gravity upwards though. Overall, I think they have a much greater impact on the handling of the bike than a trailer does.

My experience is limited, but as of right now, I vastly prefer the trailer. As a child I ate pavement in a childseat. No one wore helmets those days and I was lucky I wasn't seriously hurt. In a childseat the child can shift around and make you lose your balance. There is a weight limit of 40 lbs in a childseat. It would be a challenge in trying to get a child in a childseat that doesn't want to leave the park.

I have seen the front mounted childseats but would be VERY CAUTIOUS with them. The mounting hardware mounts onto the stem of the bike and all the weight is very high. If you want an idea how it will handle, strap a backpack full of books on your handlebars and go for a ride.

Child Trailers are expensive. The Trek trailers range $400.00 to $650.00.

Burley would be more affordable $350.00 to $555.00. With this said I have a Trek Doodle Bug Deluxe (Now called the Go Bug Deluxe). My son has been riding in it since he was 10 1/2 mos ( June 06'). He eagerly goes into the trailer when the garage door is open, grabs his helmet and wants me to start pedaling. He is in a secure rollcage with a low center of gravity. If I fall on my bike he won't get injured. It would take quite a bit of effort to tip a trailer over.

As others have said you can carry groceries, go on picinics etc. If I had to buy a trailer again I would buy a Burley. They fold easier, fold flatter and is at least 7lbs lighter than the Trek.

Most of the Burleys are made in the USA. All Burleys have a rain cover. Burley created the child trailer and helped create the federal safety standards. The Trek trailers have the largest cabin space than all the trailers in the market. If you purchase a trailer from a department store save the manual and 1-800 #. All parts and hitches are trailer specific and will not be cross compatable.

You answered a lot of my questions. I have been stalking craigs for a burley, I have been a little slow on the trigger, so I haven't gotten any. I also took a spill as a child in a seat. I actually thought they were illegal for awhile. I have too many kids to even think about not having a trailer. I have seen the front mounted childseats but would be VERY CAUTIOUS with them. The mounting hardware mounts onto the stem of the bike and all the weight is very high.

If you want an idea how it will handle, strap a backpack full of books on your handlebars and go for a ride. Well, I OWN one (bobike mini), and have absolutely no problems with it. In fact, I rode my daughter, the bobike and my Electra Amsterdam through some fairly hilly and rooty singletrack the other weekend.

No, it wasn't intentional. We intented to take a dirt path around a lake and took a wrong turn onto the hiking trails. Anyway, the point is that I didn't think twice about carrying her on a dirt path with it. --------- I bought my wife a Burly D'Lite trailer (used) because she was bugging me. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to research the options myself first. I wish I had. Compared to the Chariot line (cougar and up), the D'Lite is a POS.

The trailer itself is well-designed, but the seating area is horrible. The inside of the cougar is much nicer - better seat, better designed crotch strap, better helmet recess. I will be selling the Burley and purchasing a Chariot at some point. Rhymester The Best Of Rhymester Rare. Yes, they're expensive, but if you buy one used, you'll be able to sell it for the same amount when you're done with it.

This is generally the case with high-quality kids gear. Buy something cheap though and you'll be getting a nickel for it at the yard sale. Well, I OWN one (bobike mini), and have absolutely no problems with it. In fact, I rode my daughter, the bobike and my Electra Amsterdam through some fairly hilly and rooty singletrack the other weekend. No, it wasn't intentional. We intented to take a dirt path around a lake and took a wrong turn onto the hiking trails. Anyway, the point is that I didn't think twice about carrying her on a dirt path with it.

--------- I bought my wife a Burly D'Lite trailer (used) because she was bugging me. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to research the options myself first.

I wish I had. Compared to the Chariot line (cougar and up), the D'Lite is a POS. The trailer itself is well-designed, but the seating area is horrible. The inside of the cougar is much nicer - better seat, better designed crotch strap, better helmet recess. I will be selling the Burley and purchasing a Chariot at some point.

Yes, they're expensive, but if you buy one used, you'll be able to sell it for the same amount when you're done with it. This is generally the case with high-quality kids gear. Buy something cheap though and you'll be getting a nickel for it at the yard sale. If the Bobike Mini works for you fine.

Most people (Not all) who do not commute or is use to having the center of gravity up high just need to be aware of weight shifts. The Chariot does have some nice features but I wouldn't go as far as calling the D'Lite a POS.

Ajustments to center one child or have two next to each other. The padding is not overkill for rides over an hour and nos not retain body heat. Earlier models of the D'Lite (pre 2006) did have shallow helmet recesses. I had both a burley trailer (old style) and a child seat. I much preferred the trailer; the kids preferred to be in the bike seat: higher up, closer to us, better view. I think the trailer is much safer.

My memory is that toddlers are not supposed to sleep in the child seat, since they are right over the rear wheel and the bumps can hurt their neck, but at that age they will sleep for sure. Download Berry Linoff Data Mining Techniques Pdf there. I don't think I am uncoordinated, but my biggest issue with the child seat was getting on and off my bike with the child on the back. There is no way to pull your leg over the back off the bike, so you have to get it over the top tube, while holding up the bike and child. I was never all that comfortable doing that alone, so usually would ride with my partner: I would get on the bike first and hold it up, then she would put the child in seat. Alone, you have to hold up the bike (with your legs presumably) while putting the child in the seat and strapping them in. This probably means you are backwards on the bike, and need to turn around while holding the bike and child up.

It is doable, and maybe there is some secret trick I never figured out, but dumping them in the trailer with the bike laying on the ground was so much easier. I found the trailer pretty efficient and fun to ride with. I noticed wind resistance more than weigh, although as the kids got bigger and heavier, I started to feel the weight more and more. At my limit, I pulled both kids and the trailer on a 25 mile charity ride, in Vermont but only moderate hills, and I think the total weight of the trailer and the kids was around 100lbs.

I now have two burley piccolo trailer bikes, and just took the kids out on those again. At this age, 9 and 7, they can really pump hard in the back.

In my case, climbing over the child seat was not a problem, although I prefer to swing my leg over the rear rack. And since I'm used to loaded touring bikes, riding the bike with a child on board never was a problem. The two problems I had were: - Trying to keep the bike upright, picking the kid and installing her into the bike seat (and the reverse operation). It would have been great if I had three or four hands! - Packing the rest of the stuff: panniers had to be moved in front, load balanced. The trailer was more stable, much much easier to load and unload, and the cargo capacity was most welcomed. We have 2 kids and have used both a trailer (rental on vacation) and the CoPilot Limo seats on our bikes.

Honestly I recognize that it's safer for a kid in the trailer in the case of a fall. However, I have a few reasons for perferring the CoPilot seat.

- I do actually feel more in control. Yes, the center of gravity is different, but the bike also handles drastically different with a trailer, and I would say that it handles more like a regular bike with a seat than a trailer. - Turns are much easier with a seat. - I hear hear my kids much easier in the seat. Personally, I feel more safe with the seat than the trailer, maybe because I have hundreds of miles on the seat vs trailer? Advantage to the trailer for being able to take 2 at a time.but with my two they dont last long that close together without fighting anyway, so it's not an option for me.

Anyway, that's my point of view. Hmmm, I've had a couple of kids trailers and really didn't notice that much of a problem with handling, just a bit more sluggishness pulling the weight. My first trailer was when the kids were young, one of the old Cannondale Bugger trailers. The kids faced backwards, a both good and bad thing. The kids didn't feel as confined, but I couldn't connect with them very well.

For my grandson, we bought an In-step. While its not a light weight, it pulls fine, seems sturdy, and my grandson loves riding in it. I never bought a child seat for one of the bikes as I've seen more than one spill, most happening when at slow speeds and mostly at the beginning of the ride. I'm anxiously awaiting the time when my grandson will no longer want to ride in the trailer or is too big.a state he is rapidly approaching, not from a weight standpoint, but from height.very tall 5 year old. The trailer will become a cargo trailer and also be converted to haul my kayaks and canoes 6 miles to the lake.

Burley D'Lite Child Bike Trailer Green. This cutting edge product is ideal for the avid user or occasional cruiser with great taste. It has seating for one or two children and includes cutting-edge features such as bowed-out sides for enhanced shoulder room, adjustable suspension system, reclining seats, tinted UV protected windows, retractable sunshade, latching system for easy folding, and release buckles for easy removal of the seat for washing or running kid-free errands.