Kids Co-Pilot Bike

[wxman1]

We are debating buying a co-pilot tag along type of bike like this for our 4 year old. He loves riding his bike with training wheels and wants to go on rides with me. Anyone have any experience with them?

Amazon product

 

[VeloClone]

Linked Amazon pics always come through as a generic Amazon ad for me. I assume you are talking about the single wheel bike add on that clamps to the seat post of your bike. We had one but it was a little sloppy so the kids always rode leaning to one side just a bit. We got a heck of a lot of use out of it even with just two kids. It was handed down to us and and we handed it down to someone else.

One other thing the geometry was kind of weird so when you would lean to make a turn the tag-a-long would lean slightly in the other direction. I was always worried that it would cause bad habits when they got on their own bike but there was no problem.

I know this sounds like a bad review but overall, I was glad we had this to transition between the Burley style trailer and them trying to keep on their own.

If you get it make sure you have the conversation about keeping the feet on the pedals even when stopped. My son once stood up while we were stopped for a crosswalk light. I started up and gave him a pretty good scare while his feet were on the ground.

I even pulled our Burley style trailer (actually a Trek) behind the add on bike at times as well without any problems. It just made for a really long rig.

 

[wxman1]

Linked Amazon pics always come through as a generic Amazon ad for me. I assume you are talking about the single wheel bike add on that clamps to the seat post of your bike. We had one but it was a little sloppy so the kids always rode leaning to one side just a bit. We got a heck of a lot of use out of it even with just two kids. It was handed down to us and and we handed it down to someone else.

One other thing the geometry was kind of weird so when you would lean to make a turn the tag-a-long would lean slightly in the other direction. I was always worried that it would cause bad habits when they got on their own bike but there was no problem.

I know this sounds like a bad review but overall, I was glad we had this to transition between the Burley style trailer and them trying to keep on their own.

If you get it make sure you have the conversation about keeping the feet on the pedals even when stopped. My son once stood up while we were stopped for a crosswalk light. I started up and gave him a pretty good scare while his feet were on the ground.

I even pulled our Burley style trailer (actually a Trek) behind the add on bike at times as well without any problems. It just made for a really long rig.

That's the one. Thanks for the tips! Here is a link to Target.

https://www.target.com/p/weeride-co...WYBf6eZIRRGaUJ4Y6MwaAgJVEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[JM4CY]

I bought one last summer. The kind that they can peddle along with and it connects to the seat stem of the main bike. I think I finally got everything tightened up enough but it took a while to get it so it wouldn't stay directly behind me after a half mile or so and got to be damn hard to pull. Would have me leaning in the opposite direction to off set my kids weight.

 

[jbindm]

Linked Amazon pics always come through as a generic Amazon ad for me. I assume you are talking about the single wheel bike add on that clamps to the seat post of your bike. We had one but it was a little sloppy so the kids always rode leaning to one side just a bit. We got a heck of a lot of use out of it even with just two kids. It was handed down to us and and we handed it down to someone else.

One other thing the geometry was kind of weird so when you would lean to make a turn the tag-a-long would lean slightly in the other direction. I was always worried that it would cause bad habits when they got on their own bike but there was no problem.

I know this sounds like a bad review but overall, I was glad we had this to transition between the Burley style trailer and them trying to keep on their own.

What age did you move them from the trailer to the co-pilot? My eight year old still hasn't learned how to ride, and at this point he's too big for the co-pilot or training wheels so he's just going to have to learn the hard way sooner or later. I'd like to get my two year old riding on her own eventually but I'm just wondering when to transition from the Burley. Obviously she's not ready now but I was thinking maybe next spring.

 

[VeloClone]

To be clear, mine wasn't this brand - every one is different.

 

[VeloClone]

Also, the reverse lean issue was only on a very tight turn when the trailer bike would swivel. It has to do with connecting to a seat post that isn't straight up and down. Most wider turns it isn't an issue.

 

[VeloClone]

We did relatively young, but it really comes down to when you can trust that they will hang on consistently, stay firmly on the saddle and they won't try to get off when you stop - or worse slow down.

I don't know how much your 8 year old weighs, but if you are getting it for the other one there would be no harm in trying to see if he could try it a few times. Getting comfortable with the leaning required for biking is a huge help in eventually learning to ride. For some uncoordinated kids it also helps to get the pedaling action down.

 

[VeloClone]

It's often helpful the first few times to have another adult riding behind so they can tell you to stop if there are issues, can give the kid pointers as you go, etc. There is only so much you can see while captaining.

 

[jbindm]

We did relatively young, but it really comes down to when you can trust that they will hang on consistently, stay firmly on the saddle and they won't try to get off when you stop - or worse slow down.

I don't know how much your 8 year old weighs, but if you are getting it for the other one there would be no harm in trying to see if he could try it a few times. Getting comfortable with the leaning required for biking is a huge help in eventually learning to ride. For some uncoordinated kids it also helps to get the pedaling action down.

Thanks for the input. He's pretty tall for eight but skinny and pretty uncoordinated. Maybe we'll give this a shot.

 

[cyclonesurveyor]

Def recommend if you want a longer ride, ride a decent speed and the kid won't wear out so fast. We had an Adams that I bought on Amazon which was pretty good. It included shims so the tag along wouldn't lean unless the kid was doing it on their own which will happen.

I've seen Dad's ripping down and climbing single track with these in Fort Collins, kid always seemed to be having a blast (and holding on for dear life).

 

[CyCloned]

The biggest think I would suggest is make sure you are able to take a lot of the play out of the connections while still being able to disconnect the tag along with relative ease. The one you posted looks like it has a quick release, but might want to look at it to see how quick it really is, and how secure it is. The one we had had a bolt and locknut for the "quick release", which was way short of quick.

Great way to take the kids along after they are sick of the buggy.

 

[VeloClone]

Thanks for the input. He's pretty tall for eight but skinny and pretty uncoordinated. Maybe we'll give this a shot.

If the seat post is short it is possible you could take the seat post and saddle from another bike as long as they are the same diameter. A tall kid will need that saddle pretty high.

 

[VeloClone]

Also, don't be too quick to get rid of the Burley when you make the transition. First there may be times you are going farther and the young kid isn't ready for that long of ride on the tag-a-long. Second, we pulled the burley with beach towels and snacks when one was on their own bike and the second was on the tag-a-long on the way to swimming. It is still handy for carrying stuff as long as you want to bring it.

 

[VeloClone]

Thanks for the input. He's pretty tall for eight but skinny and pretty uncoordinated. Maybe we'll give this a shot.

Hey, my son had all sorts of issues especially when he was younger including executive functioning disorder and needing occupational therapy for coordination and strength issues. He was extremely uncoordinated. With the help of this he was able to master riding a bike which I was concerned he would never get. Now we have a hard time getting him off of it.

 

[wxman1]

Also, don't be too quick to get rid of the Burley when you make the transition. First there may be times you are going farther and the young kid isn't ready for that long of ride on the tag-a-long. Second, we pulled the burley with beach towels and snacks when one was on their own bike and the second was on the tag-a-long on the way to swimming. It is still handy for carrying stuff as long as you want to bring it.

We are keeping the wagon as my daughter can use it now. I just don't need to be pulling 55 ponds of kids in a wagon.